Smokemont Campground GSMNP (Aug 24-27)

Monday - We had a good trip over and came through the Nantahala Gorge, encountering more 18-wheelers than we remembered. Maybe we will return through Franklin on US 441 to US 64. We met up with our friends Bill and Jean and they invited us over for delicious Low-Country-Boil. It was quite warm in the afternoon, so we put our chairs on the creek bank and watched the water go by. The water is very low, so our expectations for fishing are not very high.
Tuesday - We put our wading boots and inserts on and wet waded up from our site. John caught a nice brown trout in the first five minutes, which raised our hopes, but probably shouldn't have, with only a small rainbow and Joan losing one as the only action for the day. We met our neighbors Bill & Kay across the road, who are from Okeechobee, Fl., and chatted with them. In the evening we had Bill & Jean over for chicken & rice we prepared in the Dutch oven. It has cooled off nicely, which is making for great sleeping. We are running the generator for an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening, which seems to be working. 
Wednesday - We got up early, put our boots on and hiked to where the road crosses the Oconalooftee River and comes into the campground. We fished a nice hole under the bridge and saw a few trout, but could not get them to bite. We fished a few other promising areas, but had the same result. We are not seeing other fishermen, which is very telling.
Thursday - We went on a hike this morning on the Bradley Fork Trail that follows the creek of the same name about two miles up from the campground. We saw some bear signs along the way, but no bears. John brought the Tenkara Rhodo and tried an olive Woolley Bugger in a few good spots and only got one good hit for his effort. 
Friday - We had a good trip back to Trackrock, but this time avoided the gorge and took US 441 to US 64. There were a couple of steeper and longer hills, but we didn't have to worry about 18-wheelers not staying in their lane. It is good to be gone, but always great to be back.

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