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Grandfather Mountain
Nothing to do before next monday to regularise my situation, I decided to head North in the Appalachian.
I slept near a small lake under Grandfather Mountain and enjoyed a gorgious sunrise.
1) Grandfather Mountain late afternnon. The night will be rainy and cool…
2) early Wake up, no cloud in the sky. I Wake up to enjoy the sunrise on the small lake.
3) The sun arrives…
4) … and brings colors with him!
5) Contrejour…
6) some hundreds yards further, what a spectacular sighting…
7) …Still Grandfather Mountain in the back.
8) At this altitude – about 3’600 feets high – leaves trees are everywhere.
9) VivaLaVida continues to head North on nice forest roads…
10) Clouds arrive but sightings are still awesome…
11) The spot I wanted to see is closed because of the shutdown. Never mind, I drive back, stopping sometimes to take pictures… 😉
12) Back to the Grandfather Mountain late afternoon when the rain comes back. I still did a hike in that wild area…
13) dawn is coming, time for me to go back to VivaLaVida and find a place to sleep…
I wish a good wwek to all of you ! 😀
Pearson’s Waterfall & Saluda general store
This update will maybe be the last one if I’m explused! 😀 In fact, I discoverd that the custom officer didn’t “open” my visa at my arrival. Then, I’m only allowed to stay 90 days before to have to leave. i then tryed to contact the Custom & Border security office but it’s closed due to the shutdown ! I finally sent an online form to apply for an opening/renewing of I-94 form, hoping I won’t be explused…
Has it rains today, I publish some pictures. Comming back from Charlotte, i stopped at the Pearson’s Falls, a nice waterfall near small historic town of Saluda.
On the trail to Pearson’s Falls…
Pearson’s Falls.
A tunnel on the road to Saluda, note very much higher that VivaLaVida ! There was only about two inches over the roof rack…
In Saluda, i discovered this nice General Store which exists since more than hundred years.
Entry…
Back of the shop…
See you later, if all goes well, with new pictures of fall colors… 😉
Mechanical aside…
Last weekend, I went to Charlotte to see a 500 miles NASCAR race on Charlotte Motor Speedway. It was the only night 500 miles race of NASCAR Sprint championship this year with almost 180’000 people coming !
The speedway about 1:30 before start. People start to arrive.
Half an hour before start, ths show is going on with concert, people walking on cable, , stunt show and driver presentation.
Supporter…
Starting grid…
…flight in formation.
“Drivers, start your engine !”
The noise of 48 race cars of about 850 hp each starting all together is just incredible, more than thunder!!
start of the race…
Red brake rotors at entry of the pit lane…
During caution, all cars run into the pit lane to refuel and change tires.
impressive work of the teams
Supporters have radio headsets to hear what the official speaker says!
The turns at about 180 MPH..!
In the infield, it’s campground!
Fianally, after 3:30, it’s a Ford which won that time…
A great experience to see such a race once…
I splept on the parking lot (a field near the speedway) to avoid jams caused by so many people leaving the place at the same time…
I promise that the next update will be more quiet… 😉
Black Balsam Knob & waterfalls
Still waiting on insurance for VivaLaVida, I enjoyed the nice and cool weather to discover other spots of Appalachian. Some nice waterfalls first.
Looking Glass Falls, easy access Under the Blue Ridge Parkway…
The evening coming, I started looking for a place to spend the night that I found at Gloucester Gap, below Looking Glass Rock. Little mishap when I got up after blowing on my campfire to start it, I lost balance, probably helped by a small pressure drop, and falled backwards, knocking my head down! I got up with a big bump on my head and a broken headlamp, not realizing immediately what had happened… But I was lucky not to fall on one of the large boulders surrounding my campfire …
Next morning, I went to discover some other waterfalls. More remote is Courthouse Falls is nestled in a ravine that the sun doesn’t reach this season. This place gave me an impression of hidden oasis…
The Dill Falls race down a cliff of about hundred feet in two steps. An hour and a half small dirt forest roads lead to it. The light was not the best one but the place was remote and really wild.
Janet and Jonathan (remember, the couple met last Friday) had advices me the Black Balsam Knob, a summit of the Appalachian with awesome view. Early afternoon, I got there, hoping that it might be the sunset I didn’t have at Max Patch. After an hour drive, I left VivaLaVida on the terminal parking lot at approx. 1,500 meters elevation and took the direction of the ridge trail where I discovered a wonderful vegetation, kind of scrub made of brambles, umbelliferae, blueberries (too late for the berries) and flowers, with small trees with bright red berries. Except at Max Patch, this is the only place without forest, with beautiful fall colors taking place. It extends only the last 600 feets elevation or so, below the forest is everywhere. I really enjoyed these colors throughout my almost five hours walk.
Sun decending to horizon, colors get warmer, light brighter. Moisture lifted by the sun during the day starts to condense, forming cumulus drawn by the well-established wind. Promise of the photogenic sunset?
Despite the cold wind starting to erode the only polarshirt brought with me, I was waiting for the sun drops below the clouds and then, just at the lower limit of the lowering clouds, I was invited for some minutes of incredible light, almost an end of the world light! It was gorgious, really ..!
Mesmerized by the show, I stayed still twenty minutes while the sun disappeared just to watch the changing colors…
The descent was somewhat scabrous on a steep trail without headlamp in a very dark forest as night fell. But I found VivalaVida safely after 45 minutes of descent, a little frozen by the 42°F ambient. I slept there in a dense fog. The opportunity to launch the diesel stove cooking some zucchini in small owk I purchased. Warming and delicious.
Today, it is downg to the plain – still waiting for the insurance of VivalaVida and to post this little update from a Starbucks Coffee with a good double shot espresso!
Have all a nice end of the week! 😉
North Mills River and Max Patch
Three day getaway before returning to Fletcher to finally try to achieve insure VivalaVida in my name. Nearly four weeks of endless steps and still nothing!
So to change my mind, I started with two days to North Mills River in a “primitive campground” spread along a “dirt road” forest on the banks of the Mills River. I took the opportunity to make two great moutainbike rides, one with Jonathan and Janet, a couple who came in a nearby location in an ambulance transformed into camper.
Primitive campground ai North Mills River
Good european breakfast 😀
The Mills River in the morning
Stump…
Dirt road…
Saturday evening, I wanted to meet a part of the team met on the 4×4 weekend 4×4 in Hot Springs. Nice evening in a Live Music pub with a few glasses of cider. Sunday, I went up to Max Patch, a summit of the Appalachian which has the distinction of being peeled. No one really knows why, a fire destroyed the trees from top hundred years ago and since the forest has not recolonized. There is thus a meadow surrounded by forest that make me think to the Ardèche, chestnut less. While the sunset seemed promising, bad weather announced Monday arrived two hours early, ruining my wait on the summit anyway nicer and windy…
“General Store” on the road to Max Patch
The trail- a very small part of the Appalachian Trail – near the summit…
… opens over a large meadow…
… with gorgious 360 sighting
They are some very rares plants in North America there
A family joined me at the top to fly kites
Foggy end of day…
The trees begin to change color at this altitude. My descent into the forest was colorful …
Cross your fingers that I finally get my insurance and I can get me started… 😉
Blue Ridge Parkway
Last week-end I discovered the Blue Ridge Parkway North of Asheville, still in North Carolina. Here are some pictures…
Start of the day at Powhadan Lake where I slept Friday evening
Nice forest river on the trail
The “Blue Ridge Parkway” is a beautiful sightseeing road all long the Appalachianss. I drove to Mount Mitchell which is the higest mountain of Est America (about 6’500 feets high).
Typical light of dawn…
The “Crabtree Falls”
Short stop at “Little Switzerland”… 😉
I got a tasty expresso in a nice bokkstore cafe.
Sunday afternoon atLinville Falls, unfortunately with a poor light. I have to go back there another time…
A short ray of light on the way back…
So, that’s all for today… 😀
VivaLaVida: interior
Here is a presentation of my “Wheel house”. 😀
The space where I usually live is in the middle. There is a large sofa transforming in bed for the night. Uper bed is in three elements which fold during the day to let space above the sofa.
Day config:
Night config:
Cabinets, sink and fridge take place on driver side. The two front seats can swivel to open a convenient space. A table can be installed in front of the front seats or the sofa. The sink contains a basin, a cutting board and a draining rack, nice to save space. 😉
Front passenger seat with table and fridge
Sofa with table
Sink closed and opened
The diesel stove is installed on the rear lateral door. It transforms as an outside kitchen and the cabinet door makes then a small outside table.
Closed
Ready to use
Outside kitchen
The back offers a lot of space to carry my stuff and my mountain bike. The bed plateform has hinges in front, so it can tilt up to easier access under where I carry cases and travel bags. At rear of floor, there is a large underfloor storage where I carry Tools, winch stuff, ski boots, etc.
Overview
Backpacks, heater air intake
Bracket for front bike Wheel is on the right door
Underfloor storage
I can also intall my outside shower, a real pleasure already tested this weekend… 😉
You know almost all on my interior but I answer any quastion you would like to ask. 😀
VivaLaVida: outside equipments
Here are some information and detailed images from the outside:
At the front, the OEM bumper was replaced by an aluminum bumper with protection bars. I did it modified to be able to move the winch back if needed. It features two long-beam Xenon (HID) lights. I also changed the original grille to maximize cooling as the big 6-liter diesel engine is a little cramped in the van. Finally, above the windshield takes place a directional Xenon headlight controlled from the dashboard, handy to find a place to sleep when it’s already dark (I missed it on previous trips!).
Front view
Movable winch (opened)
Light Force lights
On driver side…
Step
LED courtesy light, main tank filler and shore power plug (110/220 V)
Custom aluminum ladder and auxiliary tank filler
The rear also gets an aluminum bumper incorporating two reverse lights, a storage compartment, spare wheel on which sits a Trasharoo Bag (bag to transport garbage, avoiding odor in the van) and a storage box where will take place in a small emergency generator, my custom grill . There is also the High Lift jack already presented. Top of the roof, wide flood LED light and rearview camera complete equipment.
Overview
Rear bumper storage
Aluminum box
Hi-lift jack
On passenger side, there is water tank filler, a courtesy LED light similar than other side, air intake and exaust of diesel stove, and a sliding foldable step made of stainless steel.
Water filler
Step
Step folded
That’s all for outside presentation. Inside will come soon. 😀
Offroad weekend
Chris asked me if I would participate in a report of a journalist from a Californian offroad magazine about his business. Of course, I accepted because it was a great opportunity to test the capabilities of VivalaVida.
The bad weather has somewhat changed the program. while we were riding on Saturday, a heavy rain made us postpone our departure in the middle of the afternoon (it was still raining a downpour). Once there, the rain stopped around 18:30 with a beautiful rainbow, giving way to a cool but dry evening. Perfect for Spare Ribs with mustard and sugar cane around the campfire with some buddies! 😉
Ben’s barbecue trailer
Camping
Shoes drying,,,
Great ambiance till late in the night…
Next morinig, the sun was back for a gorgeous day, perfect for the photo shooting of three vehicles:
V4, Chris’s showroom vehicule with impressive rock crawling capabilities
“Ambulance, an 4×4 converted ambulance transformed as a camper, weighting 13’000 pounds. She unfortunately breaked a Wheel shaft..
And VivaLaVida… 😉
Group shot with avec V5 (next to VivaLaVida), a brand new converted Customer van and Jake’s RV…
Thanks to Chris leting me participate to this great weekend! 😉
Introducing VivaLaVida!
Well, the day of the baptism arrived: it is time for me to introduce VivalaVida! Almost completed on Friday around 22:30, I have driven it this weekend on an offroad terrain during a photo shoot for an offroad magazine.
Here is my home for the next few years in principle! 😉
VivaLaVida takes the pose:
Presentation of tilting solar panels for a better performance in the high latitudes:
Some action shoots:
In next articles, I will show you details of the exterior, the interior presentation and the story of the very nice camping weekend !
Have a great week start everyone!
D5 Creation