I saw a bear finally!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Part 2 of our fabulous trip
After the rally with 40+ people we were tired. Debby and Bob invited us to go with them to Cades Cove, TN and enjoy the scenery.

We followed them all the way from Waynesville NC to Townsend TN. Rather boring watching the back of their towed vehicle, but we were very impressed with how Bob managed that 40+ foot behemoth.

Debby and Bob were great hosts. They have been coming to this area since the 80's and I think they have been in every restaurant and shop in Sevierville. 

Once again we stayed in a very nice big campground, KOA Townsend. We highly recommend it. Usually we stay away from KOA's but this one was big, clean and nice.http://koa.com/campgrounds/townsend-great-smokies/

We had to deal with some dumb birds trying to build a nest in our hitch box and dive bombing us every chance they got. I found out how slow my reaction time is as I tried to take a picture of the little varmints. We had to put a bag over the hitch and tape it shut to keep them out.

We shopped til we dropped in Sevierville,TN and ate at the Old Mill in Pigeon Forge.Oh my at the food....Then on to Cades Cove for a day.Erwin was thrilled that he did not have to drive and could just sit back and enjoy.

There is an 11 or 12 mile loop that you follow around the cove. In some areas there are buildings and roads to turn off on.

The visitors center is great with  lots of gifts to buy, books to skim, and buildings to tour.

We did it all. Then the wild life! I have been going through the Smokies, the Blue Ridge and the Appalachians since I was a child. I had never seen a bear. We were either too early or too late or too hot or too cold, you get the picture right? But this time not one bear but three bears

, one turkey

, a herd of deer

and beautiful flowers

. What more could I ask for?

Whoa there, Nellie

I have been home almost two weeks from our extended travels.
This is the first chance that I have gotten to look at the pictures we took and try to get my mind wrapped around the fun we had,the sights we took in, and the general happiness we felt from being back on the road again.
Of course, being totally addicted to Bejeweled Blitz on Facebook has not slowed me down one bit...Whoa, that's a lie.



We had planned our trip to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan




a couple of years ago. But we didn't make it then due to problems with the camper,leaking water, repairs,etc.This time we were determined.I. didn't want to leave my car in the garage for 2 months so we took the car to the Daughter and left it with her and traveled northward from Oshkosh...
Oh you don't know about Oshkosh? It is the biggest fly-in in the US. For about a week there are all sorts of planes in this small town in Wisconsin.Big planes,



little planes, experimental planes, flying wings, planes that actually look like a beach chair with a motor.



Planes, planes and more planes.

It is crazy. Erwin and his friend go every year for a week of male bonding, airplanes and beer. They have a blast. This year was even better because the weather behaved. It was actually cool the whole week. They work the flight line doing who knows what and enjoy being on the pavement in the sun for days.

In the meantime, I am in Chicago having a wonderful time with a great friend and her family.(..Babies, they have babies and kindergarten fun!)and visiting with Serge and Buddy. Movies, knit shops, make up store, Macy's and chocolate.

We left Oshkosh and all its planes behind and drove to a small town called Lake Linden in Michigan

.

So pretty. The weather has been cool up there all summer so the flowers





and grass and trees are gorgeous.We had a nice site right near the Lake



and spent a few days exploring the area.

We especially liked Lac la Belle and the Bear Belly Bar





Have you ever heard of thimble berries? They are a type of raspberry/blackberry that grows along the side of the road up there. The bear really like them I am told, but this Tiger



had to pick some like the natives Yupers.