A Day In The Life: Memorial Day Trip

Went to Hendersonville, NC for a week over Memorial Day week. Had my first blow out of a trailer tire along the way, called Good Sam Roadside Assistance, but they could not find me (outside of Lumberton on Rt. 74), but a nice young Marine stopped to help me, changed the tire and I got to my campground OK. My boss's brothers-in-law lived in Lumberton, and they took me to a tire dealer that was a friend of theirs and I got two new tires for the camper for a really good price. Took Annie with me and did lots of hiking in Chimney Rock State Park, where Annie had her first bus ride. Since it was a holiday weekend, it was quite crowded and everyone had to park at the base of Chimney Rock and get bussed up to where we could start the 500 stair climb to the top. Annie would have absolutely nothing to do with the school busses - the steps were too high and the noise too loud, but there was a smaller bus - more like a large van that she had no trouble with. There were lots of kids and other dogs to greet along the way to the top (thank God - I got to rest a bit and catch my breath during those meet and greet sessions). The rhododendrons had already bloomed, but the mountain laurel were still going strong in the upper elevations. Then we went to DuPont State Forest and hiked there, and Gorges State Park which was not worth the drive to Cashiers for. We did DuPont State Forest two times, the second one after Memorial Day when it was much quieter and less crowded. All in all, a very good trip.