Spring Break Trip - Day 6

Another beautiful day! We slept late, packed up the car and ate breakfast (waffles, cereal) at the hotel (0830).  We headed over the mountains (to the south) and spent several hours near the Oconaluftee Visitors Center (Mingus Mill corn milling and hydraulic power demo, Mountain Farm Museum, a 2.5 mile hike along the River Trail, etc.). We also spent a short time in Cherokee (NC), including a stop at the Museum of the Cherokee Indian (1130).  It was very good! Got a gas fillup and ate lunch at Hardees (1310). After lunch, it became clear that there was no room at any inn nearby, so we drove east to Maggie Valley and then north to the Cataloochee area so we could view the restored elk herd (arrived at 1500). We took a short hike (2 more miles) and ate a light dinner while waiting.  We were then were treated to some close encounters with the animals (very exciting). The place required navigation of some serious gravel road driving in both directions but was definitely worth the cliffhanger drama. Leaving GSMNP behind us (1830), we drove back into Tennessee and found a hotel (Knights Inn) at Newport, TN (2000).  We then watched TV before bed (2300).  We will play one more day of "make this up as we go." No matter what happens, we've been so lucky with weather and adventures this week!