We arrived at Cades Cove Campground in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park at around 3:30 on Sunday, May 14. The campground had been open for Mother’s Day, allowing folks to picnic at the sites during the day. It was crawling with volunteers making sure that everybody was on Bear Alert with their picnics.
We had reservations for 5/15 to 5/18, but decided to take advantage of the weather and go a day early. The campground reservation season begins 5/15, and we were lucky to snag the site we had reserved, B83. It is on a corner lot, near the facilities, and roomy.
After setting up, we rode our bikes around the campground. The office was closed when we arrived and had a sign that said late arrivals should check in between 8:30 and 9:30am the next morning. We had wanted to get an early start to Laurel Falls, but okay. After short spell of watching the fire, we were tired and retired. Before we went to bed, Casey set the digital clock in the camper, asking me what time it was. I told him whatever, but I was reading my kindle and didn’t pay too much attention.
We woke up the next morning (5/15), early, and Casey checked the clock and said it was 8:18… I wanted to get down to the office and get on to Laurel Falls, so we jumped up, threw our clothes on, and practically ran down to the camp office. It was not open, but we could hear people talking inside. We were befuddled, but stood and waited for a bit before I griped my way back to the campsite for some morning tea. Back at the site, I grabbed my phone and discovered it was only 7:40… We couldn’t fire up the generator until 8, so I went from befuddled to disgruntled. At the real, actual 8:30, we were first in line for check-in.
We finally piled into the Expedition to head out for a hike…started the vehicle and an alarm went off. Back to befuddled, Casey check the back passenger tire as directed and it was nearly flat! Damn the luck. It just so happened that the volunteer rangers were still hulking around the camp, so we were able to drive it down to the office and they brought out a small compressor so that we were able to get into Townsend and really air it up so Casey could do his little science experiments regarding air loss. We put off the Laurel Falls hike until the next day, and after several hours of experimenting, Casey finally changed the tire. We had our foil meals for supper that evening and drank the beer we’d picked up in Townsend.
Casey was already fast asleep when I heard a noise outside…
The next morning (5/16), we had the time right and were up early (though without coffee or tea, dammit) to take the Laurel Falls Hike. When Casey stepped outside, he discovered that a Bear had been in camp, clawing and chewing on an empty cooler he had left under the trailer… Shortly, a veteran CCove camper found a bag of our kindling that had been dragged into the woods, and there is a bag of twigs in a canvas bag that we never found. Dumfounded, we endured a lecture about Bear precautions and a threat of a fine if the rangers ever found out. Seems the bear regularly come into the campsites there, especially so early in the reservation season, and this year a record number have been visiting…
By the time all of this took place, we had missed our opportunity for early hiking again. What to do? Go into Gatlinburg and have a nice meal and some drink. We ate a nice meal at Loco Burrito and tasted some good moonshine at Ole’ Smoky Moonshine, buying some Apple Pie ‘shine.
Later, we drove the Cades Cove loop and saw some bear from the distance I prefer….
Cades Cove Loop Road
When we got back to camp, we did have a fire, but were Verrrry careful to put it out and bring in everything…
On Wednesday, 5/17, we Finally made it to Laurel Falls…and early enough to have it practically to ourselves…though I did spot a small-ish bear scrambling up into the laurel when we came around a bend…(no picture, though)
We have visited the Smokies dozens of times over the years, and will return again to hear the water rippling and rushing over the rocks…
…and to feel the heartbeat of the mountains…
…but I will stay in a campground that does not require me to share my site with bears…
Happy Trails…