4-22-18 and 4-23-18 Hiking and Camping at Happy Holiday

Having fun camping

Sunday April 22, 2018 Hiking Smokemont Trail

 

What a beautiful morning, woke up to a cool morning in the 40’s. We had breakfast and then we went for a hike. The trail we took was Smokemont, it started at the campground. We hiked for 1.4 miles to a sign that started Smokemont Loop Trail, which was 3.8 miles long. If you go to the right it puts you on the horse trail. We went to the left, where only hikers are allowed. As soon as we turned left there was a single log bridge that went over the river. Now we know why the horses couldn’t go that way. The trail took us gradually up a steep hill, we weaved around multiple hills and kept going up in elevation. It seemed like we were never going to get to the top. We finally got to the top after 2 miles. The rest of the hike was downhill, it was easier but you had to watch out for the tree roots, rocks in the trail and leaves. The trail was very challenging and got our heart pumping. We rested now and than to catch our breath. We didn’t see any wildlife but we did see hoof prints of deer and elk. We hiked about 6 miles, took around three hours.

Having fun crossing the creek via one log bridge

Larry hiking the trail through a canopy of trees

Wildflowers we saw during our hike

The end of the trail came out by the dump station. Our neighbor was filling up his RV with water and we stopped and visited with him. By the time we got back to the Minnie we were sweaty and tired. We didn’t have time to rest because it was time for us to get the Minnie ready to leave.

There is suppose to be a rain storm come through this afternoon and stay around for a couple of days. We wanted to go somewhere that had power so we can keep warm until the rain is gone. Yesterday we did laundry at Happy Holiday RV Village and decided we would stay there to sit out the rain. We didn’t have any internet in the park. Once we got checked in a gentleman directed us where to go. Larry thanked him and told him we were going to town. We went back to the casino so I could gamble. I came back $12.00 richer. I had a fun time at the casino.

When we got back to Happy Holiday we went over and took a shower. Then we spent the rest of the day relaxing in the Minnie. We had a great day. 

Monday April 23, 2018 Happy Holiday Village Campground 

 

It rained all day so we spent day inside reading. The internet in the park was down all day yesterday and today so when the rain stopped for a bit at 4:30 we walked down to the office. The office was closed and the ladies that work in the office were on their way home. Larry asked them if the internet was up and one of them said it was up in half the park and not in the part where we were. Larry only wanted to get to the internet to check on the weather. He got connected and found out that the rain was suppose to stay in through most of tomorrow.

Happy Holiday RV Village is a very nice RV park. It has a snack bar and laundromat. The campground has RV sites and tent sites. Some of the sites have full hook-ups and others have water and power. There is a beautiful pond with a lot of ducks on it. There are RV sites around the pond. The tent sites backup to a pretty creek. We had a RV site with water and power at the far end of the park. There are bath houses throughout the park. The park is well maintained.

The creek that ran through Happy Holiday Campground

Camping on the duck pond