We hadn’t planned on spending more than three days driving along the parkway, but somehow we found ourselves still on the road after five days!

Our engine check light had been flickering on and off for a few days. At a pit stop to refuel, we asked a mechanic to check the codes. He reassured us that as long as the van was running smoothly, the codes weren’t likely to be a major issue.

During our journey, we made a detour to a music center along the parkway. It featured a museum dedicated to the history of bluegrass music, which turned out to be quite fascinating. We arrived just in time to catch some live mountain music performed by a band consisting of three guys and a lady, wielding guitars, a double bass, and my newfound favorite, a banjo!

After enjoying the music for a while, we continued our drive. Although we spotted numerous deer along the way, we weren’t lucky enough to encounter any bears.

Despite the breathtaking overlooks, we decided against stopping for hikes due to the intense heat and humidity. Eventually, we reached the national park campground just before 6pm, only to find there was no internet coverage. I had a scheduled call with my father for his birthday at 6.10pm, so we quickly learned about a nearby lodge with WiFi.

Opting to secure our camping spot first, we drove around the campground, which was dimly lit and surrounded by trees. The parking spots were uneven and rutted, not exactly inviting. With plenty of space available and not keen on the damp surroundings, we decided to head to the lodge first to ensure I wouldn’t miss my call with Dad.

After a pleasant conversation with my father, neither of us felt like returning to the damp campground. We asked the lodge if we could spend the night in their parking lot, and they kindly obliged. We enjoyed dinner there and settled in for the night, grateful for a dry and comfortable resting spot.