Well, I made it safe and sound to Elkins Creek Horse Camp. I left Rocky Top around 9:00, anxious about coming off the mountain. It would be the longest, steepest part of the trip from what I could tell, and I had visions of the ride down Black Mountain that I had taken earlier this year, which I did when my brakes were a lot newer, and I thought I had a little bit of brakes on my trailer, but I've since realized I don't have any brakes on the trailer to speak of, and I've been traveling around mountains all summer, so I've probably used some of my brake pads by now. As it turned out, I had no problem! Once I hit the top of the hill on I-68, which was just three miles from Rocky Top, I started nice and slow, then as I approached 45 mph, I hit the brakes once and Einstein (my truck) immediately downshifted jake brake style and held for a long time. When we finally started increasing speed again, one more tap on the brakes and another downshift. I only used my brakes three times in all, and the grade, according to the sign, was only 5% and about four miles, so it turned out to be much ado about nothing. I-79 turned out to be a good road, rough terrain around us but they did a nice job of keeping fairly level as it curved around mountains. I stopped once for fuel, first going into a Pilot, but they had zero room in there car area for me, and their truck area didn't have a small diesel nozzle, so I ended up going to a Go-Mart, where it was forty cents a gallon cheaper anyway. Didn't realize they had a separate truck entrance, so I went into the car area and had to back out onto the road to get out, but there wasn't too much traffic, so no problem. The rest of the trip was fairly easy, but the last 20-30 miles was on pretty narrow, windy, country roads, and the last few miles were the worst. I had not idea this place was so far out into the boonies. We worked out where I would park and set up my portable paddock for the horses, and Jill threw in a stall so the horses would have some shade. It's hotter than blazes, and there's no shade whatsoever available, so I upgraded from a primitive to an electric site, no way I'm suffering through 97 degrees for the next few days! It's only 30 amp, but I'll just have to manage it. I'm right next to the wash rack so I was able to fill up with water easily enough, plugged into electric and got the AC going first thing, then eventually got the horses squared away after putting up the fence. There is absolutely NO cell phone service here, and to use their wi-fi, I have to be in the building or right next to it. Even though I'm only about 20 yards away, it still won't reach me in the trailer, and just barely in my chair outside, not enough to really work. I decided to order a wi-fi booster from Amazon that will arrive on Friday, hopefully that will help some. I can always send it back if it doesn't work. Not sure how often I'll need to use it, but I supposed if it helps, I've find a use for it. It will be worth it if it makes getting on the internet easier just over this weekend! Took me a long time trying to work on getting a signal, and I almost had it, by putting my laptop outside, where it could connect to their wifi, then using my computer's hotspot to project that to the TV, but it kept stopping, and I finally gave up. Guess I'll be doing a lot of reading this weekend, or at least until I can get the booster working! Had a light dinner, got my Spanish lesson done early, now I'm ready for shower and bed, though I'm going to have to leave my AC on. It's nearly 10:00 and it's still registering as 89 degrees in the back of the trailer! Funny thing, that. The sensor wasn't working, so I ordered another one (supposed to arrive on Friday, too,) but after I parked and looked at the old one, it started working again! Oh, well! Anyway, Day is Done! Good night, sweetie! Love you!
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