Hickory Nut Campground ~ Lake Lure and More...

After a full year of traveling almost every month, we were forced to take a break at the end of 2017.  Greg experienced some unexpected health problems, my Mom died, his Dad fell and has been hospitalized or in rehab since and then just everyday life got in our way.  Things have been a little more crazy than usual ever since the week before Thanksgiving.  Oh well - that's just life.  We are going to try and get back out there at the end of this week for a short trip back to the beach.  Looking so forward to that!! Miss Lucy is ready to go again!!

Before the Apocalypse in October, we traveled up to North Carolina and visited the Lake Lure area and camped at Hickory Nut Campground just down from Chimney Rock.  This is such a beautiful area and so perfect for a Fall trip. There is so much to do there and great food and fun.  If you haven't been to this area, do put it on our list.  It's well worth the trip.  Part of the campground sits on a beautiful stream and our site was backed right up to it.  We could hear the rushing water and it was so relaxing!!  Lake Lure is also just down the road and it is absolutely gorgeous!!

The campground is nestled in a little part of the mountains and the sites are fit in between rocks and trees - its very natural and a great place to walk.  Of course Lucy loved it and all of the dog friends she made.  Lots of the sites are permanently set up and privately owned so it has a very homey atmosphere.  So many campers told us they had been visiting for years.  Our neighbors had been coming every year for 25 years.  We would love to return in the summer when it would be cooler than our very hot temps in West Columbia.

One of the main attractions here is Chimney Rock. We had been through that area but never stopped in.  We visited this beautiful state park and went as far as we could up the mountain - Greg made it almost to the very top and I made it up to Pulpit Rock.  It was such an extraordinary view and we ate lunch - awesome hots dogs made at a food truck at the base of the mountain -  sitting in rocking chairs with our legs dangling at the mountains edge.  We met so many awesome dogs who made the trek up and of course that was my favorite part.  We didn't take Miss Lucy up because she is a little chunky and we thought it might be too much for her.  She hung out at the campground and was perfectly happy to nap and watch the activity out of her favorite window. 

This was an eventful trip as we made our first trip to the local ER and that was way too much fun.  While making Reuben's for dinner, Greg dropped a chef's knife and as he reached for it, it sliced through his finger.  That was quite a drive through the mountains to the closest hospital 30 minutes away.  Five hours and several stitches later we returned to a worried Lucy sitting watch on the dinning table.  This made for a little bit tricky pack up but we made it through just fine.  Thanks goodness we had a full hook-up so not much to do in the way of black tank stuff.

This was our first trip to mountains of this type with the camper.  We learned a few things that we will remember for next time.  We may need to look into 4 wheel drive - our tow vehicle is a Ford Edge - 6 cylinder and for the most part if does fine with our Retro 166.  We did experience a little trouble on one of the roads inside the campground that was gravel and Greg had to back down the road because the car just could not make it up.  Slow and steady is definitely the rule with mountain driving with a camper.  If you're camping in front of a fast and furious stream, back into the site very slowly so you don't go in the drink.  I think I lost some hair with that set-up....seriously.  All is well though and we were still speaking after it all.

Hopefully we will get back on somewhat of a regular schedule with our adventures soon.  We still love our Little Red Retro so much but I have to admit that we are dreaming of a little bit bigger camper....not a lot...maybe a 177 or something similar.  That will mean also getting a new tow vehicle.  We will keep you posted.  Until next time....see you on the road.