Day 30: Blue Ridge Parkway

Today was our big drive day, and fortunately it was Sunday, so we could both drive. Rob took the first shift to help get us through the curvy mountain passes again. I was thrilled when our route took us on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the last thing on my list places to visit in the Smokies. It also made me really wish we could have done this part of the trip just two weeks later, so we could enjoy the fall colors, but it was still worth it.

Right as we turned onto the parkway we saw this beautiful elk with just one antler.

While on this parkway we went through several tunnels, one at 12’6″ and the lowest at 11’8″. We are 12’4″ high, including the A/C unit up top. Rob was confident we would be fine going through the center of the tunnel, but at nearly a foot short of our actual height I had my doubts. Turns out he was right.

Then It happened: the quick stop at a weigh station to switch drivers turned into a 5-hour delay. Rob wrote a post about it. The kids were really great about it, though, finding ways to keep themselves occupied. A little extra screen time and some football on TV didn’t hurt, either.

The trip continued into South Carolina. We had two incredible rock stars traveling with us today. Both didn’t seem affected by the long delay and continued in great spirits.

We finally arrived at James Island County Park at 9:30pm. Cooper, like his mom, has FOMO (fear of missing out) and stayed awake nearly the entire drive. When he realized he couldn’t keep himself up any longer, he asked us to wake him when we reached the campground. We tried, briefly, but he was out cold after the long day.

Nicholas gave into the tiredness much sooner and stayed asleep. We got the RV parked and leveled by headlamp, then transitioned both boys to jammies and their beds very smoothly.