Davidson River Campground(Pisgah National Forest), Pisgah Forest, NC

Date of Stay:  Tuesday June 2 – Monday June 8, 2015 (6 nights)

Rate:  $19/night (Access Pass discount)

Website:  Davidson River Campground
   1346 Pisgah Highway (use gps coordinates N35.28108 W82.72277)
   Pisgah Forest, NC 28768
   828-862-5960

Description:  In the NC mountains close to the small town of Brevard and the Blue Ridge Parkway.  We stayed in site 130 of Hemlock Circle which has 50A electricity but no water/sewer.  More than half of the sites here don’t have any electricity.  Along with each loop having a few fresh water spigots to fill your tank, there is a dump station near the exit with fresh water also.  All roads are paved and so are the parking pads.  The park is generally level especially for the mountains.  Very thick with trees so no satellite tv.  No cellphone (or internet) in the cg but good reception just a couple of miles down the road at the shopping center.  Swimming area in the cool waters of the shallow Davidson River.  Fly fishing and tubing are popular right at the entrance to the cg.

Trash and Recycle:  Each loop has a dumpster for garbage and two bins for recycle (plastic and aluminum cans).

Activities:  The Brevard area has been a favorite of ours for many years but this is the first time that we have stayed in Davidson River CG.  In the past when we had a 33 ft. MH, we stayed in Cascade Lake CG near the Dupont State Forest.  Davidson River CG is better suited for big rigs although there are some low branches that need trimming.  We wanted D&T to experience a little of what this area has to offer so I went hiking with them several times to some local water falls (Looking Glass Falls, Moore Cove Falls and Second Falls in Graveyard Fields).  Dan got his smoker out one day and we all enjoyed some good pulled pork.  We all enjoyed a ride up to the BRP and over to Courthouse Falls which is tucked away on Forest Service Road 140.  It was a very private setting near an other worldly waterfall.  Dupont State Forest is close by and a great place to spend a day on the trail.  We saw Hooker Falls, Triple Falls and High Falls all on a four mile hike.  The town of Brevard has a vibrant downtown with several blocks of tourist shops if hiking trails aren’t your kind of thing.  The area is also known for white squirrels.  Even though we have camped in the area at least three times before, this is the first time that we have seen one.  Tricia found one at the birdfeeder of a camp host and we even saw one in a tree along side the road near Looking Glass Falls.  It’s just a magical place!

 

Hemlock Circle site 130

  

Footbridge on Moore Cove Trail

   

Moore Cove Fall… yes you can easily walk behind it like Dan did

 

Nice trail at Graveyard Fields on the BRP…

  

…but so many steps!

  

Love all the rocks along Second Falls at Graveyard Fields

 

Graveyard Fields is often crowded but we timed it right

 

Driving to Courthouse Falls can be an adventure in itself!

  

Courthouse Falls is such a private place

 

Hooker Falls in the Dupont State Forest

  

Triple Falls in the Dupont State Forest

  

High Falls at Dupont State Forest has a covered bridge at the top of the falls

 

White squirrel at the feeder ran up the tree after a while

Tom Johnson Camping Center Rally Park, Marion, NC

Date of Stay:  Saturday May 23 – Tuesday June 2, 2015 (10 nights)

Rate:  $25/night (rally rate) and $27/night (regular rate for two nights)

Website:  Tom Johnson Camping Center Rally Park
   373 Resistoflex Road
   Marion, NC 28752
   828-724-4105

Description:  The Rally Park is basically a field of nicely cut grass with gravel roads.  There are (50 A)FHU pedestals in the field for the sites.  Some sites are more level than others but all are flat enough.  The dealership is large and across a small creek from us.  The Catawba River borders it all.  Across the street is the service department and a separate campground for the dealership.  The Rally Park is large enough so that the 60 rigs here used every other site for space and there were still several vacant spots.  There is an open pavilion and large community campfire ring for rally events.  Tawanda spent a day in the service department since our “check engine” light came on about 30 miles before our arrival (fuel filter change).

Trash and Recycle:  Leave your trash bag out in the morning and they will pick it up.  No recycle.

Activities:  The first ever RV-Dreams Reunion Rally was held here and we signed up fairly early for eight days of good times with RV friends from the past RV-Dreams rallies hosted by Howard and Linda Payne.  We met up with Tricia and Dan at a nearby rest area so we could arrive and park together.  Bill and Nancy, Bruce and Laura, Gail and Rick were already there.  Many of the people we had met at the Spring 2014 rally were there (Pat and Bridget, Red and Pam, Tracy and Lee among others) along with several others from the 2010 rally (Roger and Diane, Jim and Dee, Mike and Terri, Jim and Linda, Denny and Char, Jim and Pat… Miss Alfie).  There were several catered meals, a potluck dinner, and a game day organized by H&L plus many events that had to be preregistered for such as wine tours, foodie tours and white water tours.  I actually signed up for zip lining even though I’m uncomfortable with heights.  It was great to just hang out with all these wonderful folks too.  Gin and I took a nice ride along the Blue Ridge Parkway up to the Linn Cove Viaduct.  I joined a group of about 20 folks for a hike to Linville Falls along the BRP and then D&T, B&N and I hiked the Viaduct Trail under and around the viaduct.  Very nice.

 

Parked next to D&T, B&L and G&R

 

Empty space between us made for a nice buddy patio

 

Tom Johnson Service Center and their other campground

 

Dinner at the Pavilion

 

David and Nancy in the Frisbee relay

 

Hoola Hoop relay                                      Nancy at the water balloon relay

 

Water balloon relay

 

Mountain laurel and rhododendron along the BRP

 

 

Chestoa View Trail along the BRP

   

 

Views along the BRP

 

Grandfather Mountain and the Linn Cove Viaduct

 

Ready to go zip lining!                                  Still alive on the platform!

   

Bruce, Rick and James were all very comfortable in the trees…

   

Rope bridge in the trees        Zippin’ (guide took a picture of her feet)       I’m a bit nervous