The Canadian Coddiwomplers: 2024 South-West USA ("Not all those who wander are lost.")

    *Coddiwomple: “to travel in a purposeful manner towards a vague destination. HANGIN’ WITH THE HANKS , Sevierville, Tennessee. Elizabeth,  Kyle and Renee Hanks, Jerry Kyle and Renee Hanks are a fun young couple who have been on the road for 6+ years.  They are ER nurses and decided to become travel nurses working short term (12 week contracts) at different hospitals in the USA.  Thinking the best way to do Travel Nursing was by RVing.  They bought an RV and truck and, never having RV’d before, they became “New Bees”.     They started a YouTube channel  of their adventures for  family/friends  and for fun.  It's  called  “HappilyEverHanks”:   https://www.youtube.com/@HappilyEverHanks . Currently they are on their way to an astounding 300,000 followers/viewers and are a popular weekly watch.   Earlier this year the Hanks announced a “meet-up” that would be held in Tennessee.  W...

    *Coddiwomple: “to travel in a purposeful manner towards a vague destination."    We spent three weeks at the Twin Creek Campground and beside chores, lazing about, swimming and the fun stuff I've already written about in previous blogs, we also did a few other excursions.  Roaring Fork Motor Tour There is an auto “nature” trail called the Roaring Fork trail.   Since I have trouble walking and my walker is not compatible with hiking trails, we opted for this auto tour. Our first challenge was finding the entrance!   I must say that the maps and instructions provided by the park leave a lot to the imagination.   After cruising the part of the park where we believed the trail started, we finally encountered two wardens who explained that the trail actually begins in Gatlinburg – just turn at the Bubba Gump’s in town!   I realized then that the park extends behind the city and you only discover the boundary when you pass the sign for the ...

  *Coddiwomple: “to travel in a purposeful manner towards a vague destination."    The Great Smoky Mountains Railway (GSMR) We did reserved tickets for the train ride on the Nantahala Gorge Excursion but we hummed and hawed about going because it was a long drive through the national park to Bryson City, North Carolina and we had to be there at 9 a.m.   We hummed a bit too long.  When we decided not to go, we discovered that we’d past the date for cancelling the ride so once again we ventured into the park dark and early to make our way to the train depot. In April, the GSMR only has one excursion running but later in the year they have several choices.   The one I liked the sound of runs in December when they recreate the Polar Express movie.   Passengers are supposed to dress in PJs and bring their "ticket."   Hot chocolate, music holiday cheer … it all sounds like a fun trip. Our First-Class Car "MacNeill" Our excursion was a sightseeing r...