Pigeon Forge Conclusion

Hey Gang,

Well.... we survived our harrowing experience of the 82 scenic drive, from here is should be all down hill or maybe I should say down mountain.

Our next route is Rt. 60. I wanted to escape heading northeast because of the pending snow so decided 60 west to 23 north through Kentucky and Ohio would be safer. Kentucky? Yes, I wanted to take the long cut home.

Rt. 60 has some pretty mean twists and turns going down steep grades but after what we’ve been through it was a sort of a relief.

 If ever in this area slow down, well that was stupid you have to slow down or you will die especially with snow on the road, and check out Hawks Nest State Park on 60, another place with breath taking views. Just plain awesome!

A short distance from Gauley Bridge is the historic Glen Ferris Inn built in 1839. It looked a bit fancy but we were hungry so we stopped for lunch. We ordered pork loin chops, so tender. It came with potato, grilled vegetables and hot buns all for $11.99 not bad for an elegant inn with a chef. Another place on my list of must return. I want to get a room here and stay. A few of the past notable guests who stayed here are Andrew Jackson, Rutherford B. Hayes and William McKinley. Supposedly a few rooms are haunted but as long as the goblins let me sleep I don’t care.

That was our last real stop. I pretty much drove straight home from the inn.  We did drive past the capital building of Charleston W.V.  I always wanted to see it close up and just a brief jaunt off our route in Morehead, Ky. to visit a friend then back on 60 to 23 north and again in Waverly, Ohio to order pizza from Franks for the ride home. The deep dish pizza was pretty good. 

I was saddened to see Waverly and long stretches of Rt. 23 being developed. Waverly is a quaint charming city quickly changing. Now when you enter it from the south old Sciota Discount Store has been razed along with an old apartment style building and across from it is now Walmart. Progress? I don’t think so.

The same with a stretch of 23 before you get to Columbus. Prime farmland is fallen prey to corporation greed; Walmart and other chains are now popping up. They leave the small towns vacant and decaying and take away fertile ground for produce and livestock. Sad.

And with that - it’s a wrap. All in all, terrific time enjoyed the trip and travelin’ with Ruth.

Gotta GoGo!!

Carey

6 Pigeon Forge

Hey Gang,  Its our last morning.  Heading home today.  There is snow on the ground and sunshine in the sky.  The TV is still giving travel warnings…  If traveling please bring blankets, food and drinks with you in case of being stranded.  I never saw that warning before but then again we're in the mountains and I guess if you slide off it could be days before you’re found.

We ran off our list, blankets – check, food – check, drinks – check so it was onward  to New River Gorge.  The truth is we almost needed those provisions and if I had to do it over again I wouldn’t.  It was that scary, no make it horrifying.  If I won’t speed and tell you not to try it, it has to be bad.  

The last time I was at New River was in the mid-90’s so my memory was a bit fogged.  We started off in historic Fayetteville.  The welcome center that has a sign proclaiming open year round was closed because of the snow.  So back on 19 and off at the next exit.  The National Park Visitor Center was also closed because of the weather but still not enough to deter me or should I say enough to light the bulb above my head that I shouldn’t go or don't be stupid.

 
I found a road on the area map that was outside of the welcome center, 82 scenic drive.   The drive had a number, the map had Fayette Station marked which sounded like a town to me so this must be the road to see the bridge.  It started off alright but quickly turned into a OH NO.  A narrow, I mean narrow road, more like a path with hairpin curves.  It was all one way, impossible to turn back.  A truck crept up behind me so I eased as far over without going off the edge of the drop off to let him pass.   Much later we caught up to the truck. 

We tried our best to enjoy the the awesome beauty but it sure was muted with fear.  I really had no time to look around as all my concentration was on the road.  Later on Ruth told me she saw a bird with a red beak but didn't want to take my attention away from the road that's how dangerous it was.  Serious there were sections that I really thought of just pulling over and waiting a day or two for the ice to melt.  The road slants in sections and being ice and snow covered I thought for sure we were doomed .One section the road was even flooded. 

Finally relief was up ahead, an arrow pointing to Fayette Station.   It turned out to be nothing more than a parking lot.  I found out later Fayette Station is actually the name of the road and the spot on the map was for the Fayette Station Bridge and parking area, no town at all. 

When we arrived at the bridge there was the truck we let pass.  He pulled over to take photos.  I thought it was time to stop also to snap some and relax for a few minutes.  When the man saw me he said glad to see you made it, didn't think you would.  I replied I felt the same.  

After gathering myself together it was back on the path or as they call it road.  Most of the way I drove 3 to 5 mph and only once or twice hit 10.  Impossible to go faster and maybe 10 was suicidal.  Nothing relaxing at all.  You know.... I should contact Chevy and have them do a commercial on my stunt.  And it really  was a stunt as we saw only one other vehicle besides the truck, a jeep.  But we made it.  BUT never again.  I think it put a bigger bald spot on my head.  Even Ruth spoke up twice and said it's scary. 

Gotta GoGo!!

Carey

5 pigeon forge

Hey Gang,
Our last morning at the Blue Green resort.  Sad to leave the place.  We didn’t use any of the facilities but our condo was well equipped with a wonderful large tub with whirlpool jets. 

 I need to give a warning, careful on how much bubble bath you use in a whirlpool tub.  I thought I was being attacked by the blob.

It seems like I always have at least one regret or wish that this or that would of happened instead.  It was the same on this trip.  I wasted so much time finding places to eat and going in circles that I wish I had that lost time back.  Food bought at the store and cooked would of actually saved time, money and is always way better in taste.  Our second to last night we did buy food to cook.  I made us steak and crab cakes, Ruth laid out the rice, spinach.  We had a nice feast on the patio at 11:30 pm in 68 degree temps.  How romantic and fun.

Thursday morning we left about noon and headed towards Jonesborough, Tn.. The route I drove from Gatlinburg followed the mountains, Smokies and Cherokee National Forest.  It was Rt. 321 through Newport to 75 through Jonesborough to 11E-321 through Johnson City to 91 through Elizabethton to 37 which changes to 19E which again changes to 11E19 and that ends at Bristol, Tennessee & Virginia.  There I blazed a trail for you, well sorta.  The entire route had spectacular scenery.  

For lunch we stopped at Tinkers on Rt. 321, don’t ask me exactly where it is but I can tell you this, it is small, independent, and the hot ham sandwich was delicious.  Yes Virginia there still are non corporate places to eat out there.

Before Jonesborough we made a stop in Newport.  Believe it or not we found a dry goods store, Newport Dry Goods.  It has wooden floors, ornate ceiling, unbelievably low prices and about 4 cashiers each in their own department with their own register just like years ago. Variety was pretty good also.  Ruth bought a couple of blouses,  I bought a surplus German army winter hat.  I told you the the variety was pretty good.

After that it was on to Jonesborough, Tennessee’s oldest town.  I found out about it doing an online search.  If ever in East Tennessee you have to check out this small city.  What charm, you will love the looks and feel of it.  The buildings were all very old but well kept.  Unfortunately we arrived late and it was the off season so many of the stores closed early.  I have to put this on my list of places to return to.  If possible I may even stay at one of the bed & breakfast, historic Eureka Inn on W. Main St. looked very inviting.

From there we headed to Elisabethton but it was late so not much to see or report other than a covered bridge in the middle of town and our eating experience at  Dino’s Italian Restaurant.  The place is honored with a plaque designating Dino’s as the first place to serve lasagna in Eastern Tennessee - 1960, if I remember the date correctly.  The meatballs were huge, the sauce tasted very homemade and the chicken tenders Ruth ordered were some of the best I ever tasted. 

After dinner onto Bristol, Tennessee not Bristol, Virginia.  At first back and forth Ruth and I went, Virgina - Tennessee.  Well guess what?  We both were right.  Leave Bristol, Tenn and you are in Bristol, Va..  It seems the state-line goes right through the city.

 From Bristol a short drive through the south western part of Virginia to our next destination Beckley WV.  HUH?  Yep.  I told Ruth you saw the mountains of Tennessee now I will show you another jaw dropping site – the New River Gorge Bridge.  

Not to far from Beckley the snow hit.  Travel warnings were blaring on the radio… We could expect an inch to three inches of snow, travel advisories are in affect.  1 to 2 inches up north ain’t nothin’ but on mountain roads as I found out, it can be treacherous.   I was beyond tired, almost blizzard like conditions on mountain roads at night, not a good combination so off the freeway.    We found a Travel Lodge that in its day it must have been a fine motel, now its retro old.  Cool if you are into reliving road trips back in the day.  But the room was cheap and clean.  

More when I wake.

Gotta GoGo!!

Carey

4 pigeon forge

Hey Gang

We planned things right. Yesterday sunny and warm we stayed outdoors, today rain n more rain and much cooler we did indoor things.

The first place we went was Christ in the Smokies museum formerly Christus Gardens. Dad took the family here the first time in the 60's which I barely remembered, then again on another family vacation in the 70's. So I wanted to see it to relive some memories and for Ruth who has never seen it.

It is almost the same lay out but when Christus Gardens closed about 15 years ago, they auctioned off all the figures to a bible museum in Florida. So the figures are all new, some other changes but mostly the same. The scenes are narrated and as one scene ends a door opens that leads you to the next. Excellent.

After that I thought we should walk rather than pay for parking. I thought it was a good idea even if it was pouring, Ruth not so. She waited in the rock/gem store while I got the car. I thought she wanted to buy some rocks to throw at me but got some nice necklaces instead.

As I said we planned the day right. Dinner was planned for 6:30 not midnight. After asking around and some online search I came up with the same conclusion - Bennett's or Mamas Farm House restaurant, both locally owned. We decided on Bennett's. And what do you know.... in the lobby there were advertisements for Alamo's Steak House. I asked the waitress is this affiliated with Alamo's? Sure is. Then I find out so is Mama's Farm House along with a couple of pizza places. All that researching I still ate at a corporation. Pigeon Forge is so saturated, actually the whole area, there are 2 Cracker Barrels, 2 Bennett's just to name some of the duplicate restaurants in a close vicinity. The food was OK but pricey and not a lot of side dishes, potato and one other.

From there we went souvenir shopping, and one more museum, The Hollywood Wax Museum. We both enjoyed this. They let you take as many photos as you like and get as close as you like as long as you don't touch. I am lost in time and not up much on the current crop of actors. Some of the mannequins looked just like store mannequins at a Sears or Penney's, I had no clue who they were. But Clooney, Stalone and some of the other older actors I recognized. Terrific museum.

Then it was back to the condo for packing up and here we sit....

Gotta GoGo!!
Carey

3 Pigeon Forge

Hey Gang,

Well the day was BEAUTIFUL! Sunny and a high of 69. WOW!

After a coughing choking spell that was so bad I threw out my back because Ruth burned the oil on the stove we headed out with me walking like a crippled Geisha woman. Had to bring it up.

My plans I laid out was as such, head to Clingmans Dome, the highest point east of the Rockies and from there continue through the Smokies onto N.C. to see the Cherokee reservation. Unfortunately the plans were for naught. The road to Clingmans Dome is always closed for the winter months and the road to N.C. was closed because the road gave way.

The lady at the Welcome Center suggested I still head to Newfound Gap, turn around at the road closed sign and then back track to Cades Cove. What a plan. It all worked out.

At the bottom where we started in Gatlinburg the temp was 69, when we reached an elevation of 5,500 at Newfound Gap it dropped to 50, cloudy and windy. Because its January and there are no leaves the view was even better. Nothing to block your vision. It was such an awesome view I could of spent all day just gazing.

We hopped back into the car and stopped every so often, every turn the view was almost beyond words. Since it gets dark early and we had limited time I decided to see what the Impala could do. It did well. Curves marked at 20 with warning, 40 plus no problem. Ruth handled it well only two yelps and 30 signs of the cross - kidding there. She did get a bit queasy though. I don't recommend this and do remember its the off season so I had most of the road to myself. I always like to put a disclaimer makes me sleep better at night.

We stopped off at an IGA in Townsend for lunch and then headed to Cades Cove. This is a must see for everyone. A hidden gem. Its marked on the maps as a point of interest but I don't remember ever hearing anyone talk about it. It is a scenic loop of about 11 plus miles, scenic doesn't do it is justice. Again, we hit the park at the right season, hardly anyone around, and the right time at dusk with all the wild life coming out to feed.

There are open plains and in each plain were herds of deer. Now the really fascinating part was a man with a camera went almost up to the deer, some with huge antlers taking photos. The deer didn't spook at all. We drive on a bit and a car is pulled off the road. In the field was a father and mother with their little child going up to the deer. Again only a few feet from them. I never seen this before. That was impressive.

A rafter of turkeys crossed the road in front of us, had to look up that word, I didn't know what to call a herd of turkeys.

I even had to stop the car numerous times to allow frogs to cross the road. In spots they were swarming.

Besides the wildlife Cades Cove has primitive structures along the way. Churches from the 1820's, cabins, barns. All had the door open. We went inside a few. One we entered was at dark that was spooky. I heard something inside so that was the end of the exploring.

I was amazed that the restrooms were clean and left opened and the primitive structures. This wouldn't be up north.

From there we headed back. For once I was on the right road but thought I think I am going the wrong way so turned around and did go the wrong way only to have to turn around 8 miles later to go back the way I was going. Follow that?

Then it started the food fiasco. I opened the computer and started calling what sounded like independent owned restaurants. Everything around here closes at 8 except a few chains and the fast food. So we drove around until Ruth said its 11 pm lets eat. I gave her the option of a Mexican place or Food Court. She chose Food Court thinking it was a food court not a super market. Poor Ruth.

We didn't eat till about midnight but our home cooked meal sure beats the corporate chains.

Gotta GoGo!!
Carey

Day 2 Pigeon Forge

Hey Gang,

GET ME OUTTA HERE!

The good. Today was balmy compared to what we've been having in Cleveland. The temps were high 50's and sun. We slept in but still had plenty of time to enjoy the sun and outdoors. Just a terrific day all in all.

We went into Gatlinburg and yes that to is now a corporate zoo. Little to compare to what I remember it like. Gone is the Tennessee flavor.

I got brave and bought us tickets to the tram to Ober Gatlinburg. It is an cable tram and at the highest point is 300 feet above ground and about a 2 mile ride. Well worth it. The view is spectacular and the ride swings and shakes a bit. Nice.
After that we walked Gatlinburg and browsed the shops then hurried back to our villa for a short break so we could hurry back to Gatlinburg for a steak dinner. I did all that hurrying for nothing as the place I lined up closed early so we went to another steak house and the same there. Even though this area is mobbed for January it is still the off season so places close early. So I thought we would venture back to Pigeon Forge and find a place for dinner. Here we go again!

How many times have you heard me complain about the take over of corporate America? We drove around for 2 hours and gave up. Taco Bell, Texas Road House, Denny's and so on. Every few miles they repeated the corporate order. So Kroger's was our dinner option, We bought chicken and cooked in the condo.
I hate this place. Its fun when you first arrive but what good is travelin when you eat or see the same things from back home?

When we wake we are outta here and heading to the mountains. Clingmans Dome and beyond...

I HATE CORPORATE AMERICA

Gotta GoGo!!
Carey

We arrived - Pigeon Forge

Hey Gang,

Well I am here in Pigeon Forge.

Ruth and I left about 9:15 am Sunday. Stopped outside of Columbus in a town called Jamestown. What a waste of time that was. Jamestown was a ways of the freeway and our breakfast at the Phoenix was eh average at best, the size of breakfast was eh I say below average and the price was average to above.

It was the only place in town to eat. All of the customers or patrons all looked the same shade of white, everyone was friendly to each other and knew most by first names but Ruth and I were hardly talked to by our waitress or anyone. That breakfast cost us 2 hours.

We got back on the road and stopped twice more for gas and snacks. Made it into Pigeon Forge about 7, not bad.

The car we rented was a Chevy Impala. I am glad Enterprise booked the car I ordered, I ordered a econo car but they were out so at no extra charge they upgraded us and extended the rental for 2 more days. They treat you right.

The Impala handled a bit bouncy for a supposed larger car in today's world, small by my standards of what I remember of the past. I drove 80 plus the whole way. Car handled fine and I got use to it quite quick.

Pigeon Forge wow has it changed and lost its identity. Dad was complaining when we came here in the 70's how it was being ruined from Tennessee wilderness, hill billy, down home quaintness to commercialism. He took the family to the Smokies in the mid 60's so remembered how it was. In the 80's and 90's the last time I came it grown even more. Now it looks like a mini Vegas or a large Niagara. Stores upon stores, museums, eateries, flashing lights, neon. And yes most corporate. It is Winter fest here which is neat, it still looks like Christmas with all the displays set up but the weather makes it look odd, its mild mid-40s.

We ate a Japanese/Chinese restaurant buffet. Wonderful cheap meal, $7.50 per person with so much good food. Still it was strange that we didn't eat a place with country ham, grits and such. Times have a changed.

Gotta GoGo!!
Carey