The Outer Banks - Newport, NC - March 31, 2023

 After an 11 day stay in western North Carolina, we moved 265 miles to the east coastal area of NC and the Outer (and Inner) Banks. The RV park, Whispering Pines Campground is a Trails Collection park and we will be here 4 days.

We had received emails with instructions for checking in. As I was driving here, I clicked on the email I received and went through the check in process. Then when we arrived, we were to pull up to the security gate, open the 'Arriving campers' mailbox, and find our arrival packet with our name on it. It was there and we opened it and got the access card (to get us through the gate), a map with out site number on it, rules, and a TV remote control. This park has lots of long-term tenants and one row of sites for the 'travelers'. We got site 17A which must be the smallest site they have. We had to back into a spot between the electrical ped and a small tree. I got in, but there was not enough room to open our slides. So I pulled forward till our slides cleared. I still had room to park our truck in front. Ok ... It will work. 

The row of 'traveler' sites are all 30 Amp and full hook-ups. Beside the power ped is a box with a Cisco TV router in it, hence the remote control. I hooked our TV cable to it and programmed the remote to work on this cable box and was surprised it actually worked. Quite a few channels, even Showtime. I was surprised it did work because the box would not close, and I know it gets wet when it rains, or they water the grass. Kinda weird to point the remote out the window to change channels.

This is the 'travelers' row.

Here is some of the park tenants.

While here, we did drive over to some of the Outer Bank's barrier islands. They call this area the Crystal Coast. We made a day of it, driving a big loop, visiting an old Fort, and even getting into the Atlantic Ocean. Here are some pictures. Then drove through Morehead City and Beaufort, more touristy spots.

Heading to the Outer Banks

An old fishing pier.

Another public beach. They are all along the coast.

The water felt pretty nice this 75 degree day.

Shells everywhere.

And on to Fort Macon State Park, a really cool old fort.

Very well done. Lots of history here.

The powder room.

Tomorrow, we enter a new state for us and get to add the Virginia sticker to the map.

The Fergs out .......

Smoky Mountains to North Carolina - Advance, NC - March 24, 2023

 Before we left the Tennessee area, we took a day trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. On the way there, we drove through Sevierville. It looked like a cool town..

but nothing like Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg.

Our drive through Pigeon Forge was crazy. So much to look at. Tourist attractions all over. A family could spend a lot of money here making memories.

Then it was on towards the National Park and Gatlinburg. There were people everywhere and the traffic crawled through town. It was another crazy tourist town.

We stopped at the Gatlinburg Visitor Center, after cruising through the crowded streets.

We bought some post cards and a magnet and picked up maps of the area. Then on into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Yep, it is the most visited US National Park. This was a Thursday, and it was crazy busy. We stopped at the Sugarlands Visitor Center. Just a short drive in the park for us.

Then it was back home.

Then it was time to head into North Carolina. 

Another state sticker for us. We are now at Forest Lake RV Campground near Advance, NC.

It was pretty cold the first few days here, lows around 23. But it is finally warming up now, in the 80s. One thing we have done while here, is switch from Verizon to T-Mobile. We each got a Samsung Galaxy G23 5G phone and each a Samsung Galaxy Watch5. All at no cost! And we each have the protection warranty on our phones. And each got a $200.00 gift card for switching to T-Mobile. And best of all, our Verizon phone bill was $123.00 per month, now it is $146.00 a month. So far the data is pretty fast. We will see how it goes.

We also met up with some friends here. Patti & Carl, who we last saw at the RV Show in Tampa, are here. We visited late yesterday and went out to lunch today. Connecting with friends on the road .... it is what it is all about!

Our campground map showed a Pioneer Cemetery Historical Landmark, So I had to find it, and try out my new phone camera. 

Found it!

We are here for 11 days. Waiting for Spring to spring...

The Fergs out .......