Saturday 10th April Off through the Smokey Mountains

A beautiful sunny morning as we set off through Wesminster for the Smokey Mountain Trail. Highway 76 &441

Very pretty drive, lovely blossom

Dillsboro

We drive through some really neat places

We arrive at The Smokey Mountians State Park

We had a great drive to get to the Smokey Mountains stopping off at Franklin and Cherokee visitor centres.

Sadly the day took a big downturn as being "nice" folk we decide to pull into a layby to let the cars behind us through and we clip a granite kerb stone and rip one of the back tyres.

5 hours and a lot poorer we are back on the road. Many thanks to Carmen the Park Ranger as there is no cell phone signal for any network up in the Smokies. Monday we need to buy a new tyre !!

We arrive late at the campsite but again the Rangers had been brilliant and contacted them to say we would be delayed so they stayed open for us. No cooking for us this evening lets eat out !!! Haha it was very mediocre, so no comfort from the big fattening burgers!!

We would be very naive to think we could get through the whole trip without an incident but upset it happened in an area we had been so looking forward to visiting and on such a beautiful day when all had gone so well.

But there we are it's all part of life's rich tapestry !

There's a tale to tell about the guys who came to change out the tyre but I'll save that for another day.