Saturday, July 26: After packing yesterday, we left around 3am and arrived in Tennessee at 11. We spent the day recovering and hanging out with Mom and Dad. We also looked for a new car as the Envoy gets smaller by the day!
Sunday, July 27: After church, Scott's Uncle, Aunt and Grandad came by for lunch. We had a birthday party for Rebekah and Kara. Kara's favorite present was a helium balloon. Rebekah loves the pretty dresses Nana bought.
Monday, July 28: We decided to stay one more day at Nana and Papa's house. It is so much fun being around them, the girls agree! Grandad treated us all to dinner at a wonderful Italian restaurant. Had some really great pizza.
Tuesday, July 29: Our great adventure begins! We headed out early in the morning for Elkmont Campground just south of Pigeon Forge. On the way we stopped at Scott's favorite store, Smokey Mountain Knife Works. I actually found a nice skillet for the kitchen. Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg are so busy, we were glad to get out of there. We made it to our campsite around dinner time. There was a nice couple staying by us, they were obviously grandparents, and the gentleman was very excited about being "camp host" next year. He must have told us about it a dozen times while we were there. Rebekah and Kara like the outdoors. Kara immediately started to eat rocks and Rebekah helped put up the tent. After dinner, we went for a nice walk and saw some old buildings they are restoring, they were used by wealthy Knoxville residents during summer vacations before the land became a national park.
Wednesday, July 30: What a day! We woke up this morning and headed to Mount LeConte, 10 mile round trip with 6593 feet of elevation. It took around 8 hours including a 2 hour break at the top. I had Rebekah on my back, Scott had Kara on his front and a backpack full of supplies on his back. It was very difficult and we both had sore muscles for days. Once at the top, however, we got to visit the lodge which is supplied by llamas, horses, and helicopters. It has a central lodge and several basic cabins surrounding it. We ate lunch and explored before heading back down. Everyone had a comment to make about us: "That looks hard" "Wow. You're brave", etc. The girls did great, they enjoyed the scenery, took naps and never once complained or cried.
Thursday, July 31: We packed up our things and headed to Carolina Hemlocks to meet up with Nana and Papa. On the way we drove through Cades Cove, an old settlement in the Smokies. We finally arrived in the evening and had dinner with Nana and Papa.
Friday, August 1: We spent the day relaxing today. Kara took a nap in her car seat and the rest of us read books, napped, ate, etc. After that we went to the river and played for the afternoon. It felt good as we had not showered for several days. I caught a small minnow in a container which Rebekah loved. We made a dutch oven meal of beef stew and then apple crisp over the fire. Delicious! Rebekah roasted marshmellows for the first time - just like Curious George in the camping book!
Saturday, August 2: We drove up to Mount Mitchell, the tallest mountain east of the Mississippi, and although the peak was closed for renovation, hiked around the area. We then had a picnic but got rained on. It continued to rain for the rest of the day; however, we managed to cook hamburgers after it cleared.
Sunday, August 3: We left Caroling Hemlocks and headed to our cabin near Dillsboro, North Carolina. What a beautiful place... we were up on a hill with a magnificent view, hot tub, showers, kitchen, laundry. On the way, we found out that Dillsboro had "Thomas Days" so we got to ride on Thomas Train. Rebekah thought it was great and she still talks about it.
Monday, August 4: After a relaxing morning, we went back up to an old farm in the Smokey Mountains. They had pigs, chickens, and roosters. Then we went to the Cherokee Indian Reservation and visited their old Indian Village and some stores.
Tuesday, August 5: We packed up our stuff and headed to Virginia. On the way, we stopped at the Jim Chambers' Flintlock store where Scott bought materials to make an authentic flintlock rifle. The store was amazing, once made his guns sell for many thousands of dollars. After a stop in Tennessee to pick up stuff at the house, we headed to Loft Mountain. It was a long drive but we made it! 
Wednesday, August 6: Kara woke up last night multiple times, she did not sleep well on the whole trip. Sleeping in a tent is not the easiest thing for her but she is a troooper. We visited Big Meadows camping area and had a picnic. Following that, we took a hike down to Herbert Hoover's retreat when he was president. There are still several buildings standing, including the one he and his wife stayed at. Rebekah and Scott took a dip in the river to cool down during the hike.
Thursday, August 7: We headed home today but did stop at the Old Mill in Charlottesville and later went to Fort Burnham/Harrison. It was a fort from the Civil War, first held by the South, then the North.
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