Greg, I'm sure Iowa Dave has his preferences. I will tell you that the fish market has different things at different times. Runs out of some items and has things you never heard of. Having said that I can tell you that I haven't had anything bad from there. In other words everything is good to great.
2025 Mississippi River Rendezvous - Year 10
- Thread starter fudge_brownie
- Start date
Luvnlife-ESC
Advanced Member
We visited Smokey Mtn NP in late October of 2023 (around the 25th). Nice fall colors but it’ll be crowded.
Iowa Dave
Senior Member
We have been in the Smokies several times in the fall. 1978 best fall color in Oak ridge Tenn. was October 16.
Extreme SW Virginia in 2010
Was October. 15 at Charlestown our First year at Davey Crockett rally in NW Tenn 2018 color
Was great on October 20. The sweet gum was terrific.
Several other times the color was not great at lower elevations but gets better with altitude. Cades Cover might be just turning and Clingmans Dome will be near peak. Consult website for fall color in the states you’ll be visiting and you will see the progression.
I usually buy smoked catfish but they have several species and might have a sample. Last year I stopped there and bought some catfish. The smoked sturgeon is excellent
Too but they did not have any ready. ZThe lady behind the counter asked me if I needed some ice. I had a good high performance cooler and asked her how much the ice was. She told me “no charge” and gave me more than my cooler would hold, double bagged in plastic. Very nice hard working commercial fishermen. It’s kind of a crazy scene in there when people Native to Africa come in and order 100 lbs. of Buffalo at a shot. Worth the trip. They have shrimp and other seafood
There too. Hope this helps.
Iowa Dave
Extreme SW Virginia in 2010
Was October. 15 at Charlestown our First year at Davey Crockett rally in NW Tenn 2018 color
Was great on October 20. The sweet gum was terrific.
Several other times the color was not great at lower elevations but gets better with altitude. Cades Cover might be just turning and Clingmans Dome will be near peak. Consult website for fall color in the states you’ll be visiting and you will see the progression.
I usually buy smoked catfish but they have several species and might have a sample. Last year I stopped there and bought some catfish. The smoked sturgeon is excellent
Too but they did not have any ready. ZThe lady behind the counter asked me if I needed some ice. I had a good high performance cooler and asked her how much the ice was. She told me “no charge” and gave me more than my cooler would hold, double bagged in plastic. Very nice hard working commercial fishermen. It’s kind of a crazy scene in there when people Native to Africa come in and order 100 lbs. of Buffalo at a shot. Worth the trip. They have shrimp and other seafood
There too. Hope this helps.
Iowa Dave
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HABBERDABBER
Senior Member
Fulton, IL fish market info here:
schaferfish.com
Buy Fresh Water Fish | Schafer Fisheries | Family owned
Buy Fresh water carp, Buffalo, Quillback, Freshwater Drum, Grass Carp fish and more at Schafer Fisheries for Every Occasion, Order today.
schaferfish.com
Lorraine Pittsburgh
Senior Member
RV LIFE Pro
With the various elevations & large variety of trees, there will be fall color around GSMNP for many weeks. Enjoy your trip!
Cleta
Advanced Member
RV LIFE Pro
Aurghhh! Totally missed the opening date for reservations! I will be in HPOI 112 from the 24-29.
Iowa Dave
Senior Member
If you have time for frequent checking on the thread for this rally I’d be surprised if there were not some cancellations up closer to the rally start. If that happens and you act quickly you can reserve the cancelled site and cancel your site. I don’t think the expense is all that much. If you’re interested .
Iowa Dave
Perry Butler
Senior Member
We were there in 2023 and the colors in our pictures were prime on October 24th. So sometime around then.
Enjoy,
Perry
Cleta
Advanced Member
RV LIFE Pro
Thanks, Dave. I’ll do that
OP
OP
fudge_brownie
Senior Member
Attention: Sites Are Going Fast
In the 10 years I've been host for this event I have never seen the booking go so fast. At this pace it may be difficult to obtain a site at the three main campgrounds. I would suggest if you were considering the rally that you book a site now, you can always cancel if plans change.
My theory is. You pre-Covid attendees may remember we shared the campground with a group of Class A motor homes in the early years. This group met at Thompson Causeway prior to departure to southern climates. Possibly they have returned to use the causeway again on the same weekend.
In the 10 years I've been host for this event I have never seen the booking go so fast. At this pace it may be difficult to obtain a site at the three main campgrounds. I would suggest if you were considering the rally that you book a site now, you can always cancel if plans change.
My theory is. You pre-Covid attendees may remember we shared the campground with a group of Class A motor homes in the early years. This group met at Thompson Causeway prior to departure to southern climates. Possibly they have returned to use the causeway again on the same weekend.
HABBERDABBER
Senior Member
If Thomson is fully booked when someone wants to attend, there is an alternative. Palisades State Park, not far from Thomson Causeway. It's 15 miles away. Not convenient, but a spot to park & commute to events.
Info here:
dnr.illinois.gov
One can also get on the notification list with Reserve America of cancellations at Thomson.
Info here:
Park
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Sounds good. We will check it out. Thanks Steve
Iowa Dave
Senior Member
Hi Paul,
Hope you, Janet and Peter are doing well. I had noticed the sites booking up pretty fast too. Not sure about the Class A’s. Might be just a lot of fiberglass with old timers, mid rangers and some of the fine new owners. At any rate we will have a fine time.
Looking forward to it.
Have a great spring and summer
Iowa Dave, Rita and Jake.
Hey Cleta. We will be neighbors. Cleta was the first ambassador to graciously show us her 5.0.
Thanks everyone for the fall color suggestions for the Great Smokey’s. They let you camp there for up to 14 consecutive days so our odds should be good the last half of October. Looks like there are endless things to do there. Hiking, seeing historic cabins, wildlife photography as well as fall colors, canoeing. And just relaxing and reading a book under the fall colors.
Iowa Dave
Senior Member
If you go on the road where the elk hang out do not stop on the road but instead give yourself some time to park in one of the pull offs and get out and spend some time looking at these magnificent creatures. The park rangers especially appreciate drivers who do not create elk jams, bear jams and other traffic stoppages.
Just a suggestion.
Iowa Dave
Just a suggestion.
Iowa Dave
Beagle + Burro
Member
I will be back with the Burro!
Heather
Heather
Lorraine Pittsburgh
Senior Member
RV LIFE Pro
...and hopefully Stanley the beagle too!
Beagle + Burro
Member
Oh, Stanley will be there, much to his chagrin, I am sure!
thoer
Senior Member
The COE has announced that is has to close some campgrounds in Nebraska due to limited personnel from budget cuts. Let's hope that that does not happen at Thomson. So far I haven't seen it announced anywhere in Illinois.
https://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/Medi...-service-reductions-begin-may-1-across-usace/
https://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/Medi...-service-reductions-begin-may-1-across-usace/
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