Day 49: 2020 Pandemic. Back From Nature. Where are the nomads?

I’ve been out of the net for a couple of days meandering in the Jeep in the Smoky Mountains with Scout. We explored the Cherokee National Forest and the Nantahala. We crossed the Appalachian Trail a couple of times as we skidded the TN/NC border. Topped out at 5,000 feet on top of Johns Know (okay a couple of feet short at 4,908).

Camped on a mountainside far from civilization. Watching a fire burn down to embers and then sleeping under the stars is always great. There were zero lights in sight no matter what direction I looked. As I lay there, I thought I heard cars on an Interstate, but then realized the noise was waterfalls.

I also went up a road that went: nowhere. Well, it ended at a splendid overlook, but it was a two lane, paved road. At one point there was a tree fallen across most of it. I envisioned zombies as it looked like one of the desolate roads in Walking Dead, partly covered by stuff.

All the campgrounds were closed, although dispersed camping is allowed. Other times I’ve been in the mountains, the campgrounds are usually packed; often with people who live from campground to campground, moving just inside the 14 day max. Some live in tents, most in pulled campers. But all the campgrounds were empty, which made me wonder where all these nomads have gone? I did see some dispersed campers along riverbeds with big stacks of firewood which made me suspect they were going to be there a while. But where are the rest?