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| The Natural Chimneys |
For what ever reason, I didn't fall back to sleep after my 7:00AM eye drops to my usual 8:30 up & out of bed. By 7:30 I was still wide awake. I got up, made the bed, and breakfast. It was 45°F outside & 62°F in the trailer. I decided to save my walk for the Natural Chimney park.
After breakfast I read on the computer for a bit, then packed up the trailer. It was a 3 1/2 hour drive to Natural Chimney County Park, all except the last 15 miles on I 81. Fairly heavy traffic, including one stop & crawl when everyone moved to the outside lane going past a stopped trooper. I filled up in a Virginia Mobil station which is the cheapest gas of the trip so far at $3.30 per gallon. This will be a more expensive trip compared to 2019 - 20, at least for fuel since the most expensive gas for that trip was $3.00 per gallon (cheapest $1.90).
I arrived at Natural Chimney County Park around 2:15 and checked in at the office. The sites are interesting - the only ID is stamped on the power pedestal, with back to back sites on each side, ie I'm in site A4 & behind me is site A17. According to the attendant, your site goes from 1/2 way to the previous site number to 1/2 way to the next site number. Site A4 is interesting. There is no way to get to it through the 10 2' diameter trees scattered between it & the road unless you back in 50' weaving through the trees. I drove around the loop, and pulled into the site from the back using the entrance to site A18. As long as my neighbor in site A5 doesn't park his truck at the edge of his site next to mine, I should be able to weave my way out on Tuesday. It is on grass/dirt, water & electric for $32.65 per night. A very beat up picnic table (labeled A17 - site A17 has a picnic table labeled A4. I guess they got here first!).
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| Site A4 |
I decided to walk around the campground, making notes on which sites are suitable. The campground on line map doesn't show the trees or the sites that are heavily sloped. I think it would be a good idea to do this for all the campgrounds I plan to make repeat stays & keep it in the notes section of my computer & phone. That will make on line reservations work better.
That said, it is a pretty site with lots of room between the trees. There was even a fire going in the fire pit. There is one minor problem - all those trees are dropping fall leaves. While the shade would be appreciated in the middle of summer, right now sitting outside results in leaves falling on your head. Sitting outside is nice otherwise - sunny (outside of the shade) and 72°F.
I sat around the fire reading until 5:00 or so, and made dinner (an Impossible Burger & Bush Bourbon & Brown Sugar Beans.
After dinner I headed to the park's namesake, the Natural Chimneys
More photos of the chimneys & my site are at today's LakeshoreImages page.
Until Tomorrow -
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