Cave Run Lake

Zilpo Campground
7/26 - 7/28/18 (2 nights)
2018 bag nights: 23

We met some local friends for what is turning into an annual car camping trip (I think this was the 4th summer in a row). Our plans were to relax while the kids (we have 3 and they have 3, all under 10) played together and swam in the lake. I also brought my inflatable kayak for them to play with.

I had done a little research, so we ended up with two sites next to each other with very easy access to the water. It made for a very relaxing couple of days.

Our own private beach

The kids had fun swimming ...

... and paddling the kayak, at one point all 6 kids managed to squeeze in

Waiting for the stars

Woke up to a foggy sunrise

A very relaxing way to spend a couple of days.

Car camping in NC

7/8 - 7/13/18 (5 nights)
2018 bag nights: 18
Van Hook Glade Campground near Highlands NC

We met friends for our annual family camping trip at one of our favorite campgrounds in NC. We spent a lot of time splashing in the creek.

We hiked up to Ranger Falls

Ranger Falls, the kids really liked climbing on the rocks

One day we drove over to Panthertown Valley for a day hike. We started at Salt Rock Gap and did a short loop to Wilderness Falls and Frolictown Falls. This area had been on my list for a couple of years, so I was glad to check out a small part of it.

Frolictown Falls

Some people refer to the area as the "Yosemite of the East" because of the granite domes. I'm not sure I would go that far, but the area is very pretty.

A great way to catch up with old friends and to just relax a bit.

Rockcastle campground

Rockcastle Recreation Area (Daniel Boone NF)
11/17 - 11/18/17
2017 bag nights: 29

I was given permission to escape into the woods for a couple nights, but unfortunately I got stuck in a meeting on Friday afternoon and a big storm was coming though the state on Saturday and I had to be home on Sunday. On top of that the storm on Saturday was forecast to bring 20 mph winds, so no paddling. In other words, my outdoor potential was limited. I decided to leave straight from work and head to the Rockcastle campground where I took the kids last fall.

On the way out of town, I got gas and a bundle of firewood and headed south. Unfortunately, I was driving when the sun set, but I was hoping to have a clear night for some astrophotography. I got to the campsite just as it was getting dark, got set up and realized that the clouds were not going to cooperate. So, I started a fire and cooked dinner and just relaxed.

Woke up the next morning, started a fire and enjoyed my coffee before going on a short hike to check out the Scuttle Hole trails in the area.

Up the Dutch Branch trail to a cool cliff face ...

...and then up about 100 steps up through the Scuttle Hole ...

...and then a short walk along the ridge to some great views of the intersection of the Rockcastle and Cumberland Rivers (now submerged by Lake Cumberland).

I was back to my car about 11:30 and home a little after 1:00. A very short overnight trip without the photography I was hoping for, but still a nice change of pace.

Abrams Creek (GSMNP)

8/3 - 8/6/17 (3 nights)
Abrams Creek Campground
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
2017 bag nights: 24

I took my 3 kids to Abrams Creek Campground in the Smokies to meet a friend for a little bit of relaxing and splashing/tubing in the river. My oldest and I had passed through the campground last summer and we both thought it looked like a good place to return.

We got there on Thursday and had no problem getting two sites on the creek, showing up on Saturday would have been a problem. We mostly just splashed in the creek the first day.

The second day we drove up to Look Rock to check out the view.

We got back and the kids played some more in the creek before it started to pour. We had strung a big blue tarp so we had no problem staying dry and it lasted less than an hour.

The next morning the kids practiced their fire starting skills, they had a head start with all of the hot coals from the night before. Then a short hike and more playing in the water.

The last morning, another small fire and packing up.

Abrams Creek Campground is in a great location, but the sites are too close together and there are no trees separating the sites. It would probably be fine in the middle of the week, but it is too crowded on a nice weekend. If I go back, it would be show up on Mon/Tues and leave on Thur/Fri.

Laurel River Lake (again)

Holly Bay Campground, Laurel River Lake, Daniel Boone NF
7/29 - 7/31/17 (2 nights)
2017 bag nights: 21

We went back to Laurel River Lake for what is turning into an annual camping trip with friends from Danville. It was a beautiful weekend and there were only a couple walking tent sites left. We were lucky to get a double site with easy access to the water. For the future, the walk-in sites on the G Loop are a decent way down hill. It was a bit of a haul setting up camp, but we made it.

After getting set up, I inflated the kayak and squeezed all three kids in for a short paddle.

When we got back to camp, our friends had arrived and it was time for a swim.

Woke up to a beautiful day.

The kids had fun throwing rocks ...

...and then we played in the water. The oldest kids had fun paddling around in the cove.

The last day I took the oldest three for a short paddle and swim.

Both nights is was clear enough for astrophotography, but the first night I walked down to the shore, there was group of people with a lantern or something, so I headed back to the tent and went to bed. Thankfully, the second night no one was around so I got to play with my camera a little bit. It turns out there is a ton of light pollution to the northeast (I assume it is London). But I still got to practice.

As an experiment, I tried a whole bunch of slightly zoomed in photos. This is a stack of 35 8 second photos at 48mm. Not sure why, but there is a bit of blurring on the edges, the center still looks ok. Next time, I'll have to aim at a specific part of the sky and see what happens.

 
And then a couple milky way photos over the trees.

For the future, I think I will avoid Holly Bay on the weekends, it is way to crowded feeling when it is full. But, all in all, a great couple of nights with friends.

Grayson Highlands

7/4 - 7/9/17 (5 nights)
2017 bag nights: 18
Campsite: Beartree Campground in Mt. Rogers NRA

We met friends from school at Beartree Campground outside of Damascus VA for 5 nights of camping. All together we had 7 adults and 9 kids between age 1 and 9 (8 were older than 4).

We got our tents set up and strung up some tarps since rain was expected. And then the adults spent a lot of time hanging out and catching up while the kids ran wild. We were the only people in the group site for the first 3 nights, so there was no one to be bothered by our noisy kids.

The campsite was surrounded by blooming rhododendron. I spent a little bit of time one morning with my camera.

The highlight of the trip was an excursion to Grayson Highlands State Park for a little bit of hiking...

... and to check out the famous ponies.

A great way to spend a couple days with old friends.