Woke up and hang out in the smokies where I overnighted. Made coffee with water from a stream right by where I slept. Read my book, rode my bike, and had sandwiches for lunch. Bathed in the stream. Then left the smokies to head back west. Stopped in Chattanooga and went to a cocktail bar / speakeasy called Unknown Caller. Sat outside and had a couple of drinks. Outside bartender was really nice and talkative.

-Max Singleton

Left Nashville to doubled back to the Smokies. Got to the mountains and found a good trailhead – Ramsey Cascades – with places to overnight at that have service. Then went into Knoxville to check out the city. Had Barbecue for dinner and then went to a small brewery with a really chill vibe – both were in the downtown area. Headed back to the smokies to overnight.

Woke up and talked to a couple from Washington State who got to the campsite for a trailhead to a cliff that is popular for climbing. Hiked to see the climbing cliff, and then headed to the windshield replacement. Was told that the windshield couldn’t be replaced with all the stuff in my car since it would mess up the calibration.. and that it probably just makes sense not to replace the windshield until after the trip in case it gets another crack. Headed to Nashville to pick up a phone signal booster that I had bought on amazon and got delivered to the lockers at a While Foods there. Did not find anywhere good to overnight in the car, so got a pretty cheap hotel room.

Morning in Ashville at a coffee shop. Stopped off at the Ashville Farmers Market on the way to Chattanooga. Got a big lunch at the restaurant there for a great price. Waitress was very nice. Got to Chatt and drove around for a while and showered at Planet Fitness. Got to a free campsite close to the city which had some phone service. Another van was there with someone who had a fire going.

Stayed at Ashville. Tried to figure out windshield replacement since the windshield got cracked after discovering it was cracked in Sylva. Scheduled an appointment in Chattanooga. Spent time in Ashville mostly at the River Arts District at coffee shops for internet at which I was able to get the website up and running. Went to a brewery in the River Arts District and another one south of Ashville around Fletcher. Walked around Biltmore Village which is like an Atlantic Station type place with restaurants and shops. Highlight was probably driving in the mountain roads of Pisgah National Forest. Went on a couple of hikes and got some good drone footage and pictures.

Woke up and organized the car. Met a nice lady named Jean who gave me lots of suggestions for the trip around Denver. Headed into the small town of Sylva. Browsed an outdoors shop, went into a cool used bookstore where I got a book about Tolkein, and then got coffee at the White Moon coffee shop – barista was a super nice guy and coffee was good. Then headed into Ashville and signed up for planet fitness. Showered there and overnighted in the parking lot which had other vans / campers / school busses.

-Max Singleton

Left for the road trip. Went to a remote dispersed camping site in the Nantahala forest. Got there fairly early and had no signal anywhere close to the camp site, so abandoned plans to stay at that camp site. Headed towards Ashville and stopped in a town called Sylva. Had Ramen at a park in the area for lunch. Slept at a Walmart close to town – not ideal but had service.