Great Smoky Mountain National Park

Before leaving Pigeon Forge on Tuesday, March 27th, we spent the day exloring more of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park by driving SE from the Sugarland's Visitor Center Entrance to the Entrance by Cherokee, NC.

The Appalachian Trail runs through the Park along the Tennessee and North Carolina border.  We stopped at a parking lot at Newfound Gap where the views of the mountains were gorgeous.  This parking lot is a drop-off and pick-up point for hikers of the Appalachian Trail which runs from the state of Georgia to the state of Maine.  The two guys in the picture below were starting their hike on the Trail from this point and hiking 1,972 miles all the way to Maine; they anticipate it will take them about 170 days to reach their destination.

Our next stop was Clingmans Dome, the highest point in the Park at an elevation of 6,664 feet.  We hiked up-hill about 1/2 mile to the observation tower and could see for miles and miles.  the cold wind was blowing something fierce up there and I literally had to hang on to my hat.

At Cherokee, NC we ate our picnic lunch at a park and made a visit to the Museum Of The Cherokee Indian.  We then drove east and got on the Blue Ridge Parkway heading north.  The Parkway is a scenic drive through the mountains.  The curves on this paved road are perfectly banked and are a popular drive for motorcyclists.  We had to exit the Parkway at Soco Gap because a rock slide had closed the road ahead.  I took over the driving while Jim navigated us back to Pigeon Forge on some narrow , winding, backwoods roads that had one hairpin curve after the other, and no guardrails on the sheer drop down the side of the mountain.  It was a white knuckle drive and the skin on the palms of my hands was nearly worn off from turning the steering wheel back and forth around the hairpin curves.

We arrived back to our campsite about 6:00 that evening, had something to eat, and left for the Comedy Barn Theater.  It was a knee slapping, hand clapping, good time with a country themed variety show of singing, joke telling, skits, and dogs performing tricks.  



Dixie and Dolly - March 23 - 24

DIXIE STAMPEDE
Friday night we went to Dolly Parton's fun and raucous Dixie Stampede dinner show. Before the main show, we were entertained in the bar by three banjo pickin', guitar and base strumming, fiddle playing singers. Their high energy country music really got us clapping our hands and tapping our toes while enjoying our "cocktails" (juice in a plastic cup shaped like a cowboy boot).  

After the warm-up show, we were ushered into a large arena.  Long tables and benches were set up in tiers around the arena where we ate our dinner and watched the show.  During short breaks in the show, our server walked in front of the long table heaping our plates with a small WHOLE roasted chicken, slice of smoked pork loin, baked potato, buttery biscuit, and apple turnover, which we ate with our hands (no eating utensils provided), and drank our soup from the bowl, and drank our drinks from a mason jar.  While eating our finger-lickin' good vittles, performers were singing, doing horseback trick riding and racing, logging competitions, and they even had pig and chicken races.  During racing competitions, the audience was encouraged to hoot and holler, or stomp your feet if you mouth was full of food.  Hee Haw!  We had a great time.

DOLLYWOOD
The next day, we visited the Dollywood theme park.  We didn't see Dolly at the park, although we heard she was there as it was opening day of the 9 month season the park is open.  This happy place has something for everyone.  There are several in-door and out-door "thee-A-ters" in the park with performances of singing, dancing, and comedy scheduled throughout the day.  Amusement rides range from the Merry-Go-Round, to the heart stopping Screaming Eagle.  The only ride we took was on the train pulled by a coal fueled steam engine.  A huge black cloud of soot and ash would spew from the smoke stack as the train departed the station and rattled down the tracks.

The train Engineer is checking the wheel of the Dollywood Express.  Look at the amount of grey smoke coming out of the smoke stack...you should see it when it's moving.
Dolly's singing, and Country and Blue Grass music fill the streets that meander through the themed areas of the park where shops sell just about any trinket or Dolly souvenir
you could want.  This place is a dieters (me and Jim) nightmare; there is no shortage of restaurants and food stands.  The restaurants (some "all you can eat") offer southern fried chicken, ham & beans, buttery biscuits, BBQ, Mac & Cheese, burgers, fries, and pie.  Smaller food stands sell ice cream, hot dogs, corn dogs, fries, buttered popcorn, deep-fried funnel cakes, fudge, and cinnamon rolls.  We resisted those tempting treats and aromas and found a chicken fajita salad for lunch at PaPaws.  Frankly, I have never seen so many obese and morbidly obese people together in one place at one time.  Not only were many adults grossly overweight, but a lot of the kids were too.  I guess that's what eatin' all that good ol' southern cookin' will do ta y'all.

The day at Dollywood was funner than a monkey swinging from a tree eating a banana.  We can see why so many people love to go there.

The lady singing, wearing the white blouse, is Dolly Parton's cousin, Debbie.  Two of the performers in this group were Dolly's cousins and her Uncle Bill also sang and played the guitar.

OK, you should see the black smoke and soot spewing out of the train.  Here's a shot from the train as we were pulling out of the station.

Pigeon Forge, TN March 21-22

We are in Pigeon Forge, TN, located in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains in eastern Tennessee.  Pigeon Forge is a tourist town, and for a minute I thought we had made a wrong turn and were in Branson, MO.  The town is a plethora of amusement rides and attractions, outlet malls, souvenir shops, hotels, motels, RV parks, condos, restaurants, pancake house, and live performance theaters (the locals pronounce "thee-A-ters"), and home to Dollywood.  Gatlinburg is just down the road and looks much the same as Pigeon Forge.

                           The Wonderhouse...I wonder how thought up this goofy attraction?

Here's one of the Dinner Theaters. Yes, that's the smoke stack from the Titanic in the background.

Thursday we made our first visit to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park by way of a 15 mile scenic drove through winding mountain roads and a couple of small communities.  We stopped a the tourist information center in Townsend; it was suggested we drive the 11 mile Cades Cove loop though the northwest area of the park.  The Cove is a relatively flat valley between mountains or ridges and was a farming community established in the early 1800's.  By 1850 it had a population of 685.  In 1934 the government bought the privately owned land to establish the Park.  Many residents took the government payment and left the area, while some decided to take less money for their land and stay until they died.  The last resident died in 1999. Three churches with graveyards, and several of the original homesteads, as well as the village grist mill and store are scattered along the narrow road and have been preserved by the National Park Service and are open for viewing.  The Cades Cove tour book guided us along the way and told the stories of these families who lived here and their way of life.

Our campground, Creekside RV Park, is on the bank of Walden Creek.  Mallard ducks come up from the creek and beg for food.  Three of the regular visitors sit outside our door and start quacking and squawking when they see Jim come out of the camper ever since he started giving them bread.  It's also mating season and it's been like watching the Nature Channel in 3-D with them going at it only 5 feet from where we sit.









Montgomery, AL March 16-21

Just before leaving Destin, FL those dang-nabbit fire ants attacked me again!  Although I only got 5 bites, this time I had an allergic reaction.   My hand and ankle swelled, I broke out in hives, got dizzy, my eyes wouldn't focus, and my heart was pounding.  After taking Benadryl orally, and smearing the Benadryl gel on the bites, the symptoms went way.  Only the ugly red pustules remain.

We stayed at the Capital City RV Park, about 8 miles from downtown Montgomery.  By now, I'm on fire ant hyper-alert and am constantly on the look out for signs of ants.  Jim secured our campsite by sprinkling ant poison around the perimeter.  I left Alabama unscathed.

Saturday we took the city trolley tour of downtown Montgomery.  The hour long ride included information on the history of the city, state of Alabama, and points of interest to explore later.

The Rosa Parks Library & Museum has a reenactment of the story of Rosa Parks refusing to "move to the back of the bus" and the Montgomery Bus Boycott which was one of the catalysts for the start of the Civil Rights Movement.  The exhibit was very well done.

At this time, Martin Luther King, Jr. was a young pastor at the the Dexter Street Baptist Church and quickly became the leader of the non-violent organized protests (often met with horrific violence) to end the segregation laws in the South.

We also visited the Civil Rights Memorial Center which recounts the history of the Civil Rights Movement and honors 40 individuals killed during that struggle, by telling their stories.  The memorial is a a piece of granite cut in a large circle with names of the individuals engraved around it.  Water runs across the surface of the granite and the names of those honored.  The Center continues to work toward human rights, equality, justice and tolerance.

We had lunch at Wentzel's Oyster Bar.  The restaurant has a menu of mouth drooling descriptions of seafood prepared every way imaginable.  We noticed on the wall a big board listing the names of people who have broken the record for eating the most raw oysters at Wentzel's.  The rules are that the challenger has one hour to break the previous winner's record, once they start eating they can't leave their seat.  If the challenger breaks the previous oyster eaters record, they don't have to pay for the oysters they ate and they get a check for $25.00.  Wentzel's also has a disclaimer about not being responsible for any after effects.  The last men's record was set by a guy who ate 678 raw oysters, and the last women's record was 483!  I want to gag thinking of it!  Anyway I ordered grilled oysters, which were delicious, and was stuffed after eating 10 of them.  No chance I'll be challenging the oyster eating record at Wentzel's.

The azaleas are in full bloom and gorgeous with their rich vibrant colors of pink, fuchsia, coral, red and white blossoms.  These flowers were along the steps to the State Capital.

                                                      Civil Rights Memorial.

On The Beach

The beaches in Destin are spectacular; this area of the Florida panhandle is called "The Emerald Coast".  The sand is like white sugar, and the ocean water is a beautiful blue/green color and crystal clear.  Yesterday morning we got to the beach at 10:30.  At that time of day, the serious partiers are still in recovery mode from the night before so we were able to get a parking spot across the street from The Whale's Tale.  We rented a beach umbrella and chairs for the day, parked our butts on the beach and started people watching.

While waiting for the Spring Break beach action to begin, Jim noticed a pair of sun glasses washing up on the shore; he went in the surf and fished them out.  Wow!  He Scored!  They were a pair of ladies Ray Ban's in perfect condition and fit me like they were made for my head.  What a great husband!

By 1:00 the party was on. Traveling in packs, the steady stream of mostly young, tanned and buffed, beach goers paraded up and down the beach carrying coolers and huge plastic mugs of beverages, and talking on their cell phones.  Behind us people lay strewn on towels soaking up the rays. Tables were made for Beer Pong by digging 3 foot trenches in the sand forming a "table" and players stood in the trenches playing the game.  There were lots of Frisbees and footballs being tossed around, as well as improvised games of the bean bag toss game using empty beer cans filled with sand.  Ingenious kids...their college education is paying off!

The weather has been perfect and I'm kinda sad to leave Destin, but the RV park is full and someone is waiting to move into our spot.   Today we return to Alabama and will stay in Montgomery for a few days.

Destin, FL - SPRING BREAK!

In a search for the sun and warmer weather, we left Alabama on Monday for Destin, FL.  As usual it was pouring cats and dogs and we had to prepare for our departure in the rain.  It was still raining when we crossed into Florida; I started laughing when I saw the "Welcome to Florida...The Sunshine State". But, by the time we arrived a The Geronimo RV Resort, in Destin, the rain had stopped and the sun was trying to come out.

Destin, FL is exploding with toned and tanned bikini clad beauties, and tanned muscular hot young guys.  You can almost smell the hormones in the air.  It never occurred to us that we would be here during Spring Break.  Yeah, I get to cross one more thing off my Bucket List!   It took 40 years, but I finally made it to Spring Break in Florida!

Is this a party, or what?
This picture was taken from the car while driving by the Whales Tale.  

The crowds of party-goers went on for blocks along the beach. 

The sidewalks are teeming with college kids walking to the beach carrying coolers and huge plastic cups holding their favorite beverage. We drove past The Whales Tale which seems to be party central. It looked like there was standing-room-only with thousands of kids partying on the beach.  We found a parking spot about a mile down from the Whales Tale.  The stunning white sand beach wasn't too crowded, and had both families and college kids enjoying the sun and surf.

This morning, I got up a little before 6.  It was dark outside, and Jim was still sleeping when I heard a knock on our door.  I cautiously opened the door and standing there was a drunken 20-something guy.  He slurred "Can I get some water?"  I said "ya,sure".  After he drank the water, I asked him if he was OK.  He said he was fine and that he was walking to his condo.  I'm sure he was lost.  He handed me back the empty glass and thanked me; I told him to be careful.  I wonder how long it took him to find his condo.

Alabama

Friday morning we woke up to ANOTHER gully washer rainstorm.  During brief breaks in the action, we would run outside and do what needed to be done to get the RV ready for departure.  About 10:00 we said our good-byes to our camp neighbors and left Bay St. Louis, MS and headed for Dauphin Island, AL.  We will miss getting together with Pat and Phip LaVenture (they taught us a new card game and know the Best places to eat).

Driving through pouring rain along the Gulf of Mexico, we arrived at Dauphin Island Campground, where we received a warm welcome from Tom and Barb Harer.   Tom and Barb are from New Richmond and have been wintering on Dauphin Island for the past 7 years so they know the island and community very well.  Those two experienced snowbirds took these two new ones under their wings and gave us a guided tour of the area, invited us to a couple of pot-luck dinners, and introduced us to a lot of friendly people and local characters.  After talking a few minutes with one of those local characters, he said to me "Ewe talk funnae.  Ewe must be from Mississipay.  Ha Ha Ha."

Saturday, Jim and I visited Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile, AL.  We took tours of the USS Alabama, a navy destroyer that served in both Europe and the Pacific during WW II, as well as the submarine USS Drum, and the aircraft pavilion.  It was interesting to see the close quarters the men lived and worked.

We stopped at a roadside produce stand.  I saw some oddly shaped green vegetables and asked the lady was it was.  "Why baby, that's okra.  Baby, that is southern food and ewe will love it, it's sooo goood".  I asked her how to prepare it.  "Baby, ewe just slice it and put it in an egg and milk wash, then toss it in some flar and fry it up in a little oyl and butta...UMMM UMMM."  I bought some okra and followed her recipe.  We decided it was good but we didn't love it; maybe I didn't use enough butta.

Sunday we walked over to historic Fort Gaines.  Construction of the fort began in 1819 as part of a national defense program to defend Mobile Bay.  During the walking tour we learned a lot of history of Dauphin Island, and the piece it played in the Civil War. 

The 160-acre Audubon bird sanctuary boardered the campground.  We took a nature walk along the beach and on the trails to a small lake where an alligator has been spotted.  The only thing we saw were turtles swimming in the lake.

Mississippi Memories

Tomorrow we leave Mississippi for Alabama so I want to jot down a few Mississippi memories before I forget them.

FIRE ANTS!
Stepping out of the motor home a few weeks ago, wearing my flip-flops, my feet were suddenly attacked by fire ants.  Let me tell y'all, those tiny little buggers are vicious and fast.  As I flailed my hands trying to brush them off my feet and legs, they got on my arms and started injecting more venom.  The red welts and puss filled bumps started itching immediately, and they are uglier than a well diggers butt.  For a week, I was scratching my arms and legs worse than a hound dog full of fleas.  After another trip to Walmart we're armed  and ready with Fire Ant Poision and Benedryl Extra Strength Itch Stopping Gel.  I hear tell it will be about 6 weeks for the red welts to go away.

WAL-MART
While I don't like shopping at Wal-Mart and try to avoid it like a hill of fire ants, Bay St. Louis offers little shopping choices and I have been in Wal-Mart more in the past month than I have in my entire life.  Shopping there has provided some entertainment and laughs.  If you've ever seen "The People of Wal-Mart" photos going around on the web you know what I'm talking about.  I think some of those pictures were shot right here in Mississippi.

When I shop for fresh produce, I try and buy locally grown.  The other day I was enduring another stop at Wal-Mart and saw the produce man putting out some good looking sweet corn.  I said to him, "excuse me, where did the sweet corn come from?"  He looked at me and matter-of-factly said "from the Wal-Mart warehouse".  He made my day and I still laugh about it.

FRIENDLY SOUTHERN CHARM
The waitresses are very friendly.  "Hi y'all, how y'all doin' today?"  "What can I get cha sweetie?"  "Thanks darlin; y'all come back now, ya hear?"

I went to Joanne's Hair Salon for a cut and color.  Casey, my hair stylist, was oozing with southern charm and she was just as cute as a bug's ear.  Everything was "Miss Connie" this and "Miss Connie" that.  It was a hoot listening to all the ladies in the shop joking and laughing and talking southern.  Remember the beauty shop scene in the movie Steel Magnolias?  It was pretty much like that.  Miss Casey even gave me a hug when I left.

KATRINA
Hancock County, MS, where we've been staying, was hit hard by Katrina when a 26 foot wave surge swept over the area.  Driving along the beach road, there are many vacant lots for sale.  Several of these lots have remnants of homes left with driveways and brick steps to homes that aren't there anymore.  There are large empty paved parking lots where businesses have yet to rebuild.  Many of the homes and buildings that have been rebuilt are perched on top of 2 story pilings.  Several large white oak trees that didn't survive Katrina have been carved into beautiful statues of dolphins, birds, and angels.

THE RECIPE

If you have arthritis, throw away the ibuprophen.  Dare say, if you take 2 teaspoons of The Recipe each day you will feel like a young'in again. Here's the recipe for The Recipe:

Put Golden raisins  in a jar
Cover the raisins with Gin
Let 'em set in the covered jar a couple of days until the raisins get plump from soaking up the Gin.

Jim's enjoying the treatment, but is still waiting for the cure. 

Natchez Trace Parkway

Last week we took a couple of days to explore 160 miles of the historic and scenic Natchez Trace Parkway.  This is a 444 mile natural corridor, managed by the National Park Service, runs through three states from Natchez MS to south of Nashville, TN.  In the early 1800's, Ohio Valley farmers would float their crops and livestock down the Mississippi River on rafts to sell in Natchez or New Orleans, then sell the lumber from the raft and walk or ride their horse back home on this well traveled route.  Mile posts mark points of interest along the Trace.

Arriving in Natchez we took a tour of Melrose mansion, an antebellum estate that has many original furnishings.  The exhibits in the slave quarters provided a history lesson on the enslavement and despair these people suffered.

The first day we drove the Trace from Natchez to Clinton (suburb of Jackson, MS) and stayed in a motel for the night. After spending the night in the motel, I really  appreciate our RV!  Wednesday we got back on the the Trace, drove to Kosciusko, MS (birthplace of Oprah Winfrey) then motored our way south on the back roads.  I do believe there are near about more churches in this part of Mississippi than Wisconsin has bars.

The only wild life we spotted along the way was an armadillo lying deader than a doornail on the side of the road.  Having never seen one in person, we stopped and got a better look see.  It was a strange looking creature fer sure with his little head, long claws, and turtle like back and long pointy tail.  Bless his heart.