Our first camping outing in the new camper! Our Winnebago Micro Minnie FLX was ready to roll! We chose Chimney Rock since it is relatively close to home. We did not want to be too far away if something went wrong and since we have no idea what we are doing this was a good choice.
We would be staying at Hickory Nut Campground in Chimney Rock Wed., May 22 through Friday, May 24th. This would give us 2 nights in the camper and allow for a good shake down trip.
We were all loaded up and ready to roll around 10:30am.
The campground is only about a 2 hour drive for us even taking into consideration the added time of pulling the trailer. We arrived at the campsite about 1:00pm. It took me a while to get set up but we had no issues getting into the site and getting everything leveled and hooked up.
One lesson learned on the setup is to evaluate the campsite before backing in. the angle your tow vehicle is at relative to the camper and how level the ground is will greatly affect your ability to remove the weight distribution spring bars from the hitch. I learned this the hard way but duly noted. It may be better to remove the spring bars on level ground before entering the campsite.
By 2:30pm we were enjoying a cold beverage by the riverbank! I immediately started to understand why people love doing this.
After getting settled in we decided to go have an early dinner at Burntshirt Vineyard and Bistro in Chimney Rock. I did not yet have an outdoor grill for the camper and did not want to cook inside. Burntshirt is a great place to relax and enjoy the views of Chimney Rock.
I think it was after dinner that we discovered an issue. No hot water. Well, it worked in the driveway right before we left! No power to the hot water heater. No worries, we can make it 2 days without hot water and we have a warranty so it will not be an issue.
We spent the evening just enjoying the river and the fire. So relaxing.
We slept better than we had in a long time. Windows open with the river roaring and cool air coming in. Lynn had already replaced the crappy camper mattress with a new one. This sleeps better than our bed at home!
The next morning I was up, made coffee and prepared some omelets on the gas stove. First time cooking in the kitchen, and although it is small we had no issues. The omelets turned out excellent. We were really leaning into this experience.
Our plan for the day was to hike up to the top of Chimney Rock, then down to the bottom of Hickory Nut Falls.
We set out about 10:30am for Chimney Rock. The views along the hike are fantastic and from the top you can see for miles. Luckily we had a relatively clear morning so the views were really good. The hike up is not long but it is up steps most of the way. The hike down to the bottom of the falls is actually more strenuous and longer but neither one is what most people would consider challenging.
Chimney Rock is definitely worth visiting if you have not been there before. After our hike we went over to Lake Lure and had a quick lunch at La Strada which overlooks the lake.
After lunch we went to the non-motorized boat launch that is basically right across the street from La Strada. We wanted to put the kayaks in and explore the lake a little bit.
Lake Lure is a beautiful lake and due to the restrictions on motorized boats it is also peaceful. Only small horse power pontoons are allowed and due to small engines they make very little noise and very little wake.
The sky had begun to cloud and we were getting a little bit of rain. When we heard thunder in the distance we decided to pack it in.
We spent another relaxing evening by the river. We were really enjoying how peaceful this type of travel is. Just sitting by the river enjoying the soothing sounds and a warm fire. The rest of the world just fades away. We think we are going to like this lifestyle.
The next morning, Friday, we awoke to children from the adjacent campsite playing in the river. It was a beautiful day and they were having a blast!
This trip was intended to be a short shake down trip and it was now time to pack it up and head back home. This is where I found another issue that previously had not presented itself. The black tank release valve would not open. Now this being my first time dumping the tanks I was not sure what to expect but since the gray tank valve opened easily I did not want to force it. Again, no worries. I already had an RV service center lined up that honors our warranty and all this would be sorted out before venturing out again.
So same as in set up, the break down took me longer than other campers due to my being a novice. Better to go slow and check everything twice than to have an issue after you are on the road.
The experience was wonderful and we look forward to our next outing. A few lessons learned and a few issues to sort out and we will be ready to roll again.
The Lake Lure and Chimney Rock area is so beautiful and a great place to visit. It is also very close to Asheville so there is plenty in the area for just about everyone. We highly recommend this area if you are planning a trip to NC or live close by and have not visited.
One pit stop for Mexican for lunch before home...
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