2002 GSMNP - 3. Pre-GSMNP

“Link to previous segment:
2002 GSMNP - 2. Introduction

The trip started about two weeks late. My daughter and I left home about 2 pm, August 20th. I had decided that we would not be backpacking along the way to her college in Iowa. The car, a small Nissan, 240 SX, was fully loaded to the ceiling on the inside. My daughter had all the necessary equipment of a college student, a guitar, a keyboard piano, and so on. There was camping gear for both of us and a collection of my bp'ing gear.

I quickly realized that I had forgotten my OR hat, so we returned for it. Later, we discovered a few other items missing:

my medicare card - for a free flu shot in Bryson City, NC, with no waiting.
the correct notebook with the balances of my bank accounts.
food - two large bags were back on the trailer floor.
a large aluminum pot and lid - resulting from a miscommunication from me to my daughter.
an insulated food bag - lightweight, I sometimes carry it with on the trail.

We stopped for gas near I-95. One of my bank cards would not work. This was a result of carrying the card in a wallet in my hip pocket and sitting on it. The card was badly bent. Most of my money was now inaccessable.

We drove north on I-95 about 388 miles and then a few miles east into St. George, SC. We went to a very inexpensive, family-operated motel that I recalled. It had been sold, apparently to folks from India, like many of the small motels. The price was now more than double what I expected, but we stayed. The room was clean, but lacked most of the light bulbs, had no extra towels, no washcloths, no remote control for the TV and my daughter had to go to the office to request toilet paper.

In the morning, Aug. 21st, we continue to Bryson City, NC, and set up camp in GSMNP at the Deep Creek Campground. Then we ventured on a dayhike through the 375 yards tunnel to the end of the paved surface of the 'Road to Nowhere.' (The Issue may have a solution, finally. Swain County will have to decide upon a road or a cash settlement from the Government.) In town we bought a little food, first shopping at Dollar General and then at ingles. After fixing and eating lunch we both took naps. Then we took another dayhike along Deep Creek, which was not deep enough for tubing. We went past Big Tom Falls to the upper end of the tubing area. We continued up Indian Creek Trail to Indian Creek Falls. A steep path led a short distance down to the base of the falls. My daughter was there in seconds, but the path was a killer on my knees. While returning we received some rain, although walking in sunshine.

Aug. 22nd we rose early, broke camp and crossed the park on 441. There was no problem. We never saw another vehicle traveling in the same direction, in front or in back! Road construction work had not started for the day, yet. Made a reservation at the Sugarland Visitors Center for Icewater Spring Shelter on Sept. 7th. Continuing, we made it to Davenport, IA. The were many long backups along the Interstates, but they were all in the opposite direction. Motel-8 cost $56.49, more than double the previous motel.

Aug. 23rd we made it to her college and, eventually, had her unloaded. She was real happy seeing some of her classmates again, giving many of them hugs. I had set-up camp at Rock Creek State Park (RCSP),
Picture, and again hiked to the dam that holds back the water for the lake. After sharing an evening and vegetarian pizza with my daughter, I kissed her goodbye and retired to RCSP. I worked on the bank card and managed to bend it back into a flat shape. It worked OK the rest of the trip.

Aug. 24th Left early and drove to Bardstown, KY. Stayed at 'My Old Kentucky Home
State Park.'
That night they had the season's last Stephen Foster Music Concert in the park. This park had a golf course, too. Noticed an interesting Civil War museum in town near a park of log cabins. Bardstown, also, had a number of horse drawn carriages, most of which were filled with newlyweds. However, I took a short drive south to see the Abbey of Gethsemane. And here is a story.
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STORY

Summer, 1993, Pecks Corner Shelter, GSMNP - I arrived early in the afternoon. Shortly a man and his young son arrived. The son departed down the trail to inspect a maintenance building that I had mentioned to him. While engaged in conversation with the man, I mentioned a toenail that was giving me a bad problem. A little later he offered to look at it. He identified himself as an MD from Tarpon Springs, FL. So I said OK and he confirmed that I had toenail fungus. Without tools there was nothing that he could do to fix a spot where the nail was cutting into my toe. But, while he was looking at my toe, a lawyer arrived from Washington, D.C. (Probably to see that no malpractice was occurring. LOL) While he and the doctor talked, I listened. The lawyer had been in special operational services in Vietnam and swore that he would never again venture into the boondocks. But here he was. The lawyer mentioned Thomas Merton and his best seller, "The Seven Storied Mountain." (See Life of Thomas Merton
THOMAS MERTON BOOKS )
This book was immediately a best seller and it made Thomas Merton very well known. At the time of his death in 1968, he was the best known trappist monk in the world. Well, this lawyer decided that he had to visit the Abbey of Gethsemane, where Merton had lived, to discover how a monk, who lived in a place where people did not talk to each other, could be so knowledgeable about the world. And the lawyer went and spent several days there. The Abbey of Gethsemane is located in Kentucky between the towns, New Hope and New Haven.

At home I read Merton's best seller and had trouble setting it down until I finished it. I read several other works of his, as well as writings about Merton. These other writings gave more insight into this famous monk. Since then I, too, have wanted to visit the Abbey of Gethsemane.
END OF STORY
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So I visited the Abbey of Gethsemane. It was beautiful. I only walked around outside and took some pictures, since it was dinner time on a Saturday.

Back at My Ole Kentucky Home State Park I retired early. Quickly I learned that just to the south was a Drag Racing Park, which was very active on this Saturday night.

During the day I had observed (sometimes counting) that 50% of the vehicles on the Interstates were large trucks. And a number of them were getting traffic tickets.

August 25th, Sunday - Arrived at Maryville, TN, Walmart at 1 pm. Shopped there and at Target. Went to a new Kroger, but got mad at their discount system. Drove to GSMNP's Abrams Campground(CG), prepared for a hike and ate supper.

End of 3. Pre-GSMNP.

Segments to be posted soon.
2002 GSMNP - 4. Pre-AT Hikes
2002 GSMNP - 5. Backpack Contents
2002 GSMNP - 6. Food
2002 GSMNP - 7. AT Hike
2002 GSMNP - 8. Post-AT Hikes
2002 GSMNP - 9. Back in Florida
2002 GSMNP - 10. Summary
2002 GSMNP - 11. Photographs
2002 GSMNP - 1. Index & Links”

“Thanks. Enjoying your tales.”

“Keep 'em coming...”

“I agree keep the reports coming. Looking forward to the next one.”

“Very nicely written, nowslimmer. Look forward to the other reports.”

“Hey nowslimmer, I started a hike thru GSMNP on 8/25 at Davenport Gap. Too bad we didn't get to shake hands. Good story so far!”