It’s been one week! I am trying really hard to not get a Bare Naked Ladies song to get stuck in my head. We have learned a lot so far. Just when you think you’ve mastered securing everything in the camper from falling….you haven’t. Also, just when you think you’re “there”….you’re not. Everything takes longer with a camper. I have a love/hate relationship with the camper right now. I really do love the camper. I love sleeping in the camper especially. It’s so comfortable! When it’s pouring rain outside, it’s amazing to be able to come inside to a warm and dry area. (We saw two unfortunate souls setting up a tent last night in a ridiculous rain storm. There was nothing we could to to help, although we tried to come up with a way.) On the other hand, a van would be so much easier for driving and camping location purposes. It has only been one week. Let's check back about the camper feelings in a few weeks.

So we brought too much crap. Who knew? The knife block I had to have for that “homey” feeling is now sitting in a storage tote in the back of the truck. That was dumb but there was no talking us out of it. We should probably suck it up and mail home all the stuff we don’t need. I think we will find many more things to “put in storage” between now and October.

Good news! I have finally mastered the art of making homemade Kombucha after months of trying! Although we will never really know for sure. The Kombucha splashed all over the camper for the last week while driving. We tried putting plastic over it but it just found a way onto the countertop amongst other places anyway. We saved what we could but we pitched it yesterday, it was a sad day. I miss it already.

We, somewhat reluctantly, left the comfort of Lake Powatan Campground today. The on-demand warm showers were hard to let go. The campground itself was very well maintained and everyone that worked there was extremely nice. We even met a man that lived in Colebrook, NH half of each year! What are the odds? We would recommend this spot to anyone. It was quiet and just what we needed in a time of complete frustration. Completely worth $22/night, in our humble opinions.

North Carolina has been a state Ryan has said many times that he could live. Between you and me, I think he will be saying that about a lot of places! The people have been very pleasant so far. Just in the last couple days, people have actually stopped their cars to get out to see Cooper, our neurotic Weimaraner ! He has been a huge hit down here! Maybe we’ll try to pawn him off on some innocent bystander. Just kidding, I love him dearly. In all seriousness, though, NC loves “the gray ghost”.

Before the pelting rain came, we explored a small amount in Asheville, NC. We went to Pour Taproom. At this place, you could pour your own beer and try whatever you wanted. You had to wear a bracelet that kept track of what beer you tried and how much you tried of each. No waiting for someone to take your order and no getting a shitty beer and not liking it!

Pour Taproom

Draft selection at Pour Taproom

We flipped a coin while hiking this morning (it was actually a multi tool, 'cause who has change in their pocket while hiking?!) to see if we should head south or west. In our hearts, we secretly wanted that multi-tool to tell us west. It said west. The faster we get out west, the more time we have out there. But are we missing out on what the south has to offer? I mean, Alabama and Mississippi would be very interesting to go through! We’ll see. Maybe that needs to be a whole other trip.

In the meantime we have landed in Granville, Tennesee, a cute little po-dunk town about an hour and a half outside of Nashville. We chose this spot because of free camping and a short drive, only about four hours. You never know with these free camping sites if they will lead you on a wild goose chase or if they will be exactly what you want and expect.

We lucked out! We are literally camping on the Cumberland River, like in the Old Crow Medicine Show song. Yes, I relate most things in life to songs lyrics and/or FRIENDS episodes. It is a little slice of heaven here at Cordell Hull Lake Horse Trail. We have the place to ourselves and even have a 3 sided shelter which is ideal due to the pouring rain that seems to have followed us from NC. At least we will be well rested for the next leg of our journey.

Our amazing free campsite.

Nice geologic backdrop!

See you soon!

~Emily