I just returned from my longest teardrop trip to date… four nights spent at a National Forest Service campsite near Highlands, NC. It included all of the important things on a trip… good beer, time to knit, nature and of course, campfires.
My mom joined me for the first two nights. It was her first time staying in Louise, and a good trial run for this July when she and my dad spend a week camping in a couple of the best Canadian national parks with me. We had good food (pie iron grilled cheese and tomato soup for breakfast, and pie iron egg, avocado & cheese sandwiches for breakfast). We had great beer (I had three different growlers… don’t worry, I spread them out over four nights!) and amazing weather. Sunshine and blue skies every day and cool evenings in the 40’s, which was perfect for sitting around a campfire. We went into “town” aka the thriving metropolis of Highlands once a day… we visited their local brewery and a local pub and had ice cream. Mostly, I wanted an excuse to check my email and catch up on the interwebs rather briefly. It was a good break from the woods where my iPhone is little more than a timekeeping hunk of electronics.
Day three brought the big exchange… trading my mom for my 10-year old nephew. We had tinfoil dinners (thank you, Lutherock, for the inspiration) and grilled corn on the cob, and for breakfast, hash browns and scrambled eggs. He gathered enough kindling from the forest floor for the next 2-3 campers, and left it in piles sorted by size and type. We went to a lecture about raptors and birds of prey and got to see a number of amazing birds up close. I think I’d like a pet owl, but maybe that is because I’m obsessed with Harry Potter and one of the owls we met was a snowy white one named Luna.
Day four, Keaton was traded for his eight-year old sister. Nola and I “hiked” to Dry Falls and took a selfie next to the giant waterfall. We had pancakes for dinner. So many s’mores (I limited her on chocolate but not on marshmallows… I’m a health conscious aunt!) and for breakfast we had cinnamon rolls, from a can, and cooked in a pie iron. They were tasty! I’m becoming a master pie iron chef.
Now… I’m exhausted. I’m looking forward to a shower. Tomorrow, I’m going to re-organize the galley (again) and get rid of a few things I haven’t needed on my first three trips. It’s all about streamlining when you have a tiny trailer! The knowledge I’m spending three weeks in her this summer makes me want to master the art of packing light.
Now… for the reviews:
Campground:
Van Hook Glade – a relatively small site in the Nantahala National Forest, it had only 18 sites and one bathroom (two toilets and two showers). The facilities were clean but very basic, and morning lines were pretty time consuming. We stayed in site 1, which was very private, but closest to the road and farthest from the bathrooms and water. I’d likely stay there again though because it really was private! And for $8 a night (with my Annual Pass discount) it can’t be beat. There’s a lake that’s a short hike away, it’s about 15-20 minutes from Highlands and plenty of waterfalls to explore nearby.
The Beer:
Once again, I came prepared with a few growlers from The Beer Growler in Charlotte.
Parallel 49 – Tricycle. A Radler, this beer confirmed I’m obsessed with grapefruit beers, and I MUST find a local source. Low ABV, and refreshing grapefruit bitterness in every sip. Seriously, this beer is amazing. I wish I could rate higher than five stars!!!!! It’s from Vancouver, British Columbia so I’m not sure how easy it is to find in North Carolina unless you’ve got a great growler store nearby like I do!
Boojum Brewing – Raspberry Saison – Very refreshing. Not too sweet, which is why I enjoyed it. I’d definitely drink it again, and it’s local(ish) to where I was camping from Waynesville, NC.
Lenny Boy – Tart De La Wit – Lenny Boy is becoming a favorite when it comes to Charlotte breweries. I’ve had so many good brews, and I go back to this one over and over. Crisp, refreshing, and just a tiny bit tart.
Teardrops & Ales 