Wed - October 29, 2003

Going to Gatlinburg, TN '03


Trip Down to Gatlinburg 10/25/03

Got off to a leisurely start Saturday morning and headed out east on I-64, hoping to make the turn south onto I-75 at Lexington before the sun cleared the clouds and made the drive a pain for me. Well, we made the turn ok and had breakfast at a Mickey D's just south of Lexington as the sun broke through. Up to that point I was worried that it might be a grey day. Only one whose mood wasn't brightened by the sun's arrival was our Shar-Pei Sophie, who was already ecstatic to be eating hash browns, but then she is such a happy puppy anyway.

Back on the road we headed south for the Tennessee line. Being color-blind, I could only tell that the trees were wearing brighter foliage as we went, but Lynda and Heather assured me the colors were getting better the farther south we went. As we went along, we told Heather about Kudzu, the plant that was slowly eating the South. Told her how it was brought over from Japan to New Orleans as ground cover for an exposition a little over 100 years ago and had spread wildly. We also told her that we had seen it about mile marker 15 on our first trip together down there three years ago; well, we found it about mile marker 45 this year, so it is coming north up I-75 about 10 miles a year. Spooky...

On down the road, I-640 around the north of Knoxville, I-40 to the Sevierville exit and on down through that overly-commercialized mess through Pigeon Forge. Ran into traffic backed up just into the woodsy part of the road out of Pigeon Forge. thought there might have been a wreck, but it was just backed up 4 miles out of Gatlinburg because there was too much traffic for the town to handle. Finally got to our motel about 2 hours after getting off I-40 (18 miles). Weather was just absolutely wonderful. Wish I could say the same for Gatlinburg. I have NEVER seen the town so crowded; could barely make our way through the crowds. I wound up going back to the room and watching Sophie while Lynda and Heather did touristy stuff and shopped.

By the way, if you are looking for good Italian food in Gatlinburg, I recommend Best's Italian Restaurant. It is a little place just off the main drag toward the Park just before you get to the tram to Ober Gatlinburg, but on the opposite side of the street. Not too expensive and they serve too much food.

Not much else to tell. Most of the time, it is a nice place to visit, just not when EVERYONE else decides to join you.

Posted at 10:30 AM     Read More  

Through the Smokies


Trip home from Gatlinburg through the Smokies, Cherokee and Maggie Valley, 10/26/03.

Got up Sunday morning to dreary skies and the prospect of rain. We made our way across the street to the Pancake Cabin for breakfast. It was OK, but you can get a better breakfast back up the street; I don't remember the name of the better place, but they have their menu in the window and there are little skillets by the menu items, so eat there instead.

By the time we had finished breakfast, a light rain had moved in. I started back across the street, and apparently the driver of a Lincoln wasn't aware that you are supposed to stop for pedestrians and he almost flattened me. Didn't think that boded well for the rest of the day, but what can you do...

Loaded up the Rav, hopped in and headed up to Newfound Gap in the Smokies. Even with the gloom and the rain, there were lots of cars going both ways. Pictures were blowing the sky out, so I only took 4 shots and none of them were close to my first order shots.

Here is one shot from the Rav.


One from an overlook near The Chimneys turnoff.


This one at least turned out a little closer to what it looked like out there. Cloud/fog coming up valley was more impressive in person though.


A last look up Mt. LeConte from the overlook.

Got into the clouds and heavier rain about half to two-thirds of the way up, so didn't see alot from the top and had to be careful on the way down as traffic was heavy and road was slick with wet leaves.

Stopped in Cherokee so Lynda and Heather could shop. Still impressed that the Cherokee Res. is much nicer than the Reservations out West. The Blackfoot Reservation up by Glacier is a scary pit of a place. Then it was on out through Soco and Maggie Valley on US 19 back to I-40. Just north of Knoxville, we stopped to eat and we tried Krystal for the first time. Can't really say I am impressed, kind of like White Castle with more bread and a lot of yellow mustard. It rained steady back to Tennessee, then off and on till we got back home about 7:15 PM.

Posted at 11:53 AM     Read More  

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