Blue Heron National Park Campground in the Big South Fork Rec. Area in the Daniel Boone Nat. Forest

[@jillnelson1441]

Thanks for the info on mushroom books. Us "Geezers on the Go" were wanted to get a book on them. So I took your suggestion of the Mushrooms without Fear and ordered one for Christmas. And glad you showed me those twin arches. Don't think I would have climbed all that way.

[@GoingNoWhereFast]

It really isn't that far or hard to get to the arches. There was a couple (octogenarians) who make the trip out. It took them a long time and they stopped a lot along the way, but if you want to see them, you can get to see them. It's all mind over matter! lol Thanks for the comment !

[@alanosborne1947]

If you traveled I-75 North out of Knoxville to Big South Fork you may have noticed an exit for Clinton and Oak Ridge. Me and my wife lived in Clinton for about 18 months before moving to North Carolina. Clinton is where her parents grew up. Before we ever started to camp we went to Big South Fork on a day trip and fell in love with the place. I want to go back now to camp. My wife still has kinfolk living in the area. Also if you do go back be sure to stop in at The Museum Of Appalachia (App-uhh-latch-uhh 😄😄) off of I-75 exit 122. It's a great place to learn about the people and history of that region.Me and my wife's heritage is rooted deep in Tennessee!

[@GoingNoWhereFast]

Yup, us uppity northerns like to call it "App-a-Lay-shaw". It is how you can recognize us without really trying!! I saw the museum, it is on my list of things to go back and see. Hoping for next year!! Thanks for the great comment !

[@susanstrickland6774]

Really nice camping around that area. Love the fall colors. Like the history, always good. 🙂👍

[@GoingNoWhereFast]

I need to go back. We didn't stay long enough to see as much as we wanted. Heck Akela only found one stick he liked!!

[@LoveMtDulcimerMusic]

Wow. This area has all the good stuff. Trails with lots to see. History with all kinds of examples, waterfalls…. Thanks for the very thorough tour of the Blue Heron Campground. I’ve been enjoying the beautiful fall colors through your latest videos!

[@GoingNoWhereFast]

It definitely has more than one visit can cover. We will have to go back ! Thanks for the comment and your support !

[@itchingtogo7362]

Blue Heron is one of my favorite campgrounds! I like it because it is small and not fancy…but you’re right on about the road getting there!!! I have met some delightful campers when there! Finding the twin arches is another adventure. I was like you…didn’t expect them to be in the forest or so BIG!!! Finally, I think those ‘ghost building’ are ingenuous. Recordings of the actual miners and family members really made the area come alive.

[@GoingNoWhereFast]

I wish I had realized that there were buttons to push to hear the stories. We actually went up into the ghost building first and did not have a clue what we were looking at. A very cool place, though I know the damage the mines did, but mother nature will fix the wounds in time!

[@Gary-bp8si]

We love the Big South Fork area too! Probably our favorite spot is Pickett State Park on the west side near the twin arches. The campground is old but you can access a lot of trails without driving! We definitely want to camp at Blue Heron and the mine sometime. Looks like a nice campground. Thanks for the tour Rick!

[@GoingNoWhereFast]

Blue heron is a nice little campground. The mine is about 10,000 ft below it on this short little road. When we were there there was a BIG event at the mine so very crowded. The Rail Bridge across the river you used to be able to walk across had just been closed due to an engineering study showing it had leaned 1degree in the last 50 years. Maybe by the time you get there is will be back open. It is definitely a neat exhibit.

[@williambingham2459]

Welcome to my home state and eastern and southeastern KY. I live up the road in Richmond, KY. Lots to see and do in the great Southfork area. Hope you and Akela enjoyed.

[@GoingNoWhereFast]

It was nice! Stay subscribed for the Red River Gorge in a couple weeks! We will be back to the area in the not to distant future. Thanks for comment.

[@phartsky]

Gesundheit!!! You sound like you really enjoyed yourself at this video... can't blame you, it looks awesome!! And I'm surprised that Akela can handle the gratings in those steps!! See you at the next one!! THANKS!!

[@GoingNoWhereFast]

AKELA CAN DO ANYTHING !!! If it about going someplace, h will find a way. There is more to see and explore here, we need to go back !! Thanks Pete !

[@eugenebreindel]

Nice! 😊 I stayed at Bandy Creek CG November 14th & 15th, 2022. It was pretty cold at night then! 😁

[@GoingNoWhereFast]

Yes, the nights in the mountains are cold in the fall. But it warms up so nice in the daytime. He just don’t want to get up early.

[@FireFighter1512]

The coal mining complex was interesting, just thinking of the engineering that went into it, back in the day, to move the coal. Thanks for the tour.

[@GoingNoWhereFast]

They had some detail on one of the displays of how much money they made and what it costs to mine. It was extremely profitable!! Money is very motivating to find ways to do things...lol

[@bowolfyboazy8899]

Thank you for another great review Rick. I have one more year of work and then I might see you out there sometime. I am a North Carolinian who mostly visits the Appalachian trail but next year I hope to do more camping.

[@GoingNoWhereFast]

Just keep planning, the day will come! And I'll be glad to meet you somewhere if you care for some company!!

[@bertkelly7650]

Nice park, but can't walk to the highlights. Thanks for the ride (walk).

[@GoingNoWhereFast]

Well then I'm glad we were able to drag you along. Thanks for the comment!

[@patricktoepke2287]

Hi Rick. Not including the annual rally, how often do you see Aliners camped in the areas that you visit? Great video.

[@GoingNoWhereFast]

A lot. Probably about every other time. More than I see Air Streams or RodeTreks. Though those cost about 3 times as much.

[@noneck8377]

Good morning Rick. The arch was impressive. Nice hiking trails. Do you find that the older state and National campgrounds were not originally intended for larger RVs? I grew up camping in Wisconsin and most of the campgrounds were intended only for family tents. Small loops were provided for camping trailers. Also - what’s with Akela? Did not notice him pick up any sticks…just nose to the ground.

[@GoingNoWhereFast]

Yes, The older National Parks are for tents. The big Rigs pull in and they over lap onto adjacent sites with their slide outs and furniture. Some parks are "adding" RV loops, but they are really slow doing it and then they don't know what to charge. It is amazing what I have seen driving the Blue Ridge Parkway and staying at the NP Campgrounds along the way. They just look so out of place squeezed into these tiny parking areas with a tent site 25 ft away. And as for Akela, the critters in KY must be different, 'cause so many smells to process!! lol

[@maryj1754]

The campground was nice except the sites were too close. Besides that it looked nice. The arches were cool. Way too many stairs for me…

[@GoingNoWhereFast]

You just have to take them one at a time, and stop a lot to enjoy the view...lol. Thanks for the comment !

[@MAGA-kw3ol]

I was there last year, in early fall it was beautiful and much less crowded then smoky mountains. Unfortunately I needed a hip replacement and hiking just killed me, so I intend to return again and hike some more trails with new hip.

[@GoingNoWhereFast]

Ya, it was a very neat place. There was the 100miler marathon going on which increased the crowds quite a bit, but we may end up back there in a year or two. Very good facilities and activities!