GREAT SMOKEY NATIONAL PARK 6/16/11

Our first hike on the 1 1/2 mile Pine Oak Nature Trail which was located right across the street from our camper.  Ir provided a perfect introduction to the park.  We did have camper challenge.  This was our first experience with dry camping.  Dry camping - no electrical outlets - meaning no coffee - yikes!!  I can't tell you the number of french presses I've seen since Ali told me about them, but said, "Oh, that's something we don't need.  Well, we can now make coffee with a drip pot - no electric.  When you next see us we will have a french press.  We took an afternoon bike trip on four miles of the eleven mile Cades Cove Loop.  Saturday when auto traffic is not allowed until 10 AM we'll do the Cades Cove Loop.  We cooked steak and sweet potatoes over our campfire and finished off the day in our bug tent with our propane lantern burning