VagabondJeep.Com
O|||||O Bernie and Dave
Jeep, Jeep. Beep, beep.
Friday was, as most days are, a great day for a Jeep™ ride. So, we rode. Starting in Madison County, Dave guided us from home base in Mars Hill to Barnardsville, then along North Carolina Highway 197 to Pensacola in Yancey County. Forty minutes and sixteen miles of curvy paved roads, single-lane, washboard gravel roads, then more curvy paved roads. Curvy. Dave says he almost ran the battery dead, blowing the horn at his own taillights. Most of this ride was in Pisgah National Forest in Western North Carolina. Fall has fallen and the bare trees made everything look like Blair Witch.
The gravel section of the road was in good condition and could be navigated by most cars. The road hasn't always been like that. At times, it has been impassible except in higher clearance vehicles. A few years back, the Murchison bridge across Cane River, washed out on in a flood. For several weeks, the only route to anywhere was the curvy roads of NC 197, across the mountain and down. Soon, a temporary bridge was in place and life returned …
How is Vardo doing in all this? Better? Oh yeah, and standing a bit taller, too. A Mopar™ Parts suspension upgrade was recently added. She was drooping a bit under the weight of dog kibble and canned food, dog toys, fifty-foot leash, chewy bear, bowls, Jolly Ball®, and Dave’s stuff. I told Dave he had to lighten up. (Read Vardo’s Diet)
Driving on the washboarded road ensured that all the bolts were tight after the recent installation. Vardo rides better than before. She’ll do well for a long time, says Dave. Marion Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram matched the right parts with her, then gave her the lift she needed. Their installation and service department gets four paws up and a wag from me. Dave agrees.
Earlier in the week, after Vardo’s implants, we ventured across another couple of sections in the Pisgah National Forest. From Old Fort along Curtis Creek, across the Blue Ridge Parkway, then down Neals Creek to the South Toe River area near Black Mountain Campground. Both roads would be passible in most cars, with some careful driving. I let Dave drive. He does alright for a rookie.
We were scouting campsites. Dave has driven and camped along these two roads before, and has shared a few campsites with me and Wilson. Now, there are more, and better marked. They're scattered about enough tho', that solitude might be close by. 
This was also a chance to become more acquainted with the onXmaps mapping app. The app was on the iPhone mounted on the dash. We followed trails and Forest Service roads through a section of Pisgah National Forest. Dave checked out locations for a few campsites that we stumbled on along the way for possible future use. I helped Dave use the satellite imagery and topography. These layers can be used individually or together. Literally, he would be lost without me. 
The maps are color-coded for Forest Service, State Land, Bureau of Land Management, and private landowners, onXmaps makes finding trails and camping sites easier. The app is available at the AppStore and there is a 30-day free trial. Seriously, we would lost without it.
Is it cheap? Almost, at $99 for a yearly plan. Is the value worth the price? For us, it is. Dave likes this app as much as I do. It gets us where we want to go. Off-road trails and Forest Service roads are clearly marked. Trail notes are included along with pictures. onXmaps is a breeze to use. I often map our routes at home before we leave. Maps can be downloaded for use off-line, so even in remote areas, downloaded onXmaps works even without cell coverage. It works and it's worth the price.
Dave says, “A penny saved is a penny not dropped between the seats.” Where does he come up with these?
What's next, I wondered. . o O ( What's next? ) Thanks for riding with us.
VagabondJeep.Com
O|||||O Bernie and Dave
Jeep, Jeep. Beep, beep.