August 2, 2013 - The Search for Elk

Well, we headed out today to Greg's starting point...I must say, I like this view...Greg driving the RV and me driving the jeep!  SO much less stress - especially when it's foggy!

Dropped off Greg and drove the RV up to Jackson. 
      
Another drive-in!  Actually, it's a double!!  If you click on the pic you can see it's called "Way Bak Wyn"!

Had called the Walmart there and they said we could stay there, but to park at the bottom of the parking lot....well I signal to turn in to the lot...and wonder, lol, how the hey am I going to fit in there??  

Walmart was further back from the road, but on the right was an IGA that was hopping, on the left, 3 restaurants, an emergency clinic and a host of other stores!  Except for one aisle that they were also doing payment repair on, the rest was filled with people and cars!  A challenge for sure!  

As I turned in, it was as if all the cars and people in motion, stopped, and waited to see where I was going to turn!  I pulled in one aisle and maneuvered through to get to the emptier aisle. The jeep was sticking out, but I got out quickly and began to disconnect it. And once again, one bar was locked...I did the "putting it in drive" thing again and once again, the front of the jeep started to go up in the air!  It really must look quite comical! Finally with one more yank on the bar's locking mechanism, it unlocked and the jeep was free!!

Cooled off.  Regrouped.  Checked my data for South Fork Elk View.  I was on a mission!
Went south down the road.  Turned off onto 1098.  A ways down the road...Elk View 16 miles.  Arg!  So I drive...and drive...and drive...the homes are getting fewer, no cell service at all (except for emergencies!) and at 16 miles...another sign!!  Elk View 7 miles. What??!!  So I go on, all woods at this point (nice paved road though!) and 7 miles comes and goes.  I go about a 1/2 mile more and decide somethings screwy here, and turn around.  I see a dirt road..drive up the hill about 10 feet and think, nah, better not.  So sadly I start heading back and on the left is this one gravel road with a VERY fainted sign...ELK VIEW!  Yay!  

Drive up.  Two parking lots, both empty.  And in the middle on the top of the hill...is a cemetery.  I park.  (Mom must be freaking - you went there alone??)  Get out.  Have to go through this gate to walk around the perimeter of the hill top to view the valley below. So excited, camera ready...I walk the entire path....NO ELK!  Oh well.  The view was nice though!

Felt a little bad until I began the trip back...and wildlife just started appearing!

The horses in the road are right in front of the jeep!  And the horses getting shade amongst the trees were no more than 15 feet from me!  I immediately jumped out of the jeep and took some pictures!  Wild horses up close and personal!!  So beautiful!

My favorite...

Love the pose!

I bid farewell to the horses and just down the road a piece...

I think they were wild turkeys!





And...

 ...safely across!

Quite content and feeling blessed, I drove slowly back...

                                                

Many homes have these little bridges to either walk or drive across...because there are streams everywhere!

To and from Booneville to pick up Greg...

Coal is a major industry for around here...the communities support it with signs on front lawns, T-shirts, baseball hats, "coal miners welcome" signs on businesses, and more...

So no Elk today, but all in all a good day!!