Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Gatlinburg, The Crown Jewel of the Great Smoky Mountains.......

The Great Smoky Mountains at Dusk

Gatlinburg is Nestled Between Ridges and Peaks of the Great Smoky Mountains

Last Sunday was a lazy day.......at least until I unexpectedly (even to myself) blurted out at 9:00 AM, "Let's go to Gatlinburg today!"
Chapman Highway Scene---Kudzu Covers All
You never saw such a hustle and bustle of excitement from Cindy!
Chapman Highway Scene---The Smokies Loom Ahead!
We love spur-of-the-moment trips!  And, with the beautiful mountain town of Gatlinburg only an hour and a half away, it is a wonderful getaway for the day.
We Passed Dolly Parton's Theme Park

The Titanic Sails Again in Pigeon Forge
We loaded our small ice chest, stocked with Gatorade, water and diet 7-up (no absinthe!), binoculars, cameras and a few snacks and headed south on I-75, following the storied Chapman Highway to Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, past Dollywood and over country roads to the Great Smoky Mountains Park and its crown jewel---Gatlinburg.

The Little Pigeon River Tumbles Through Gatlinburg
We arrived around noon, and Gatlinburg was open for business. The Little Pigeon River sang its gurgling, babbling song to us as we entered the town.  The burg was packed with summer vacationers.  The many lodges, hotels, inns and B and Bs were crammed.  The sidewalks were alive with the nation's tourists---after all, the Great Smoky Mountains make up the country's largest and most visited national park.
You See Many Strange Folks on the Streets
The Cinderoo and I cruised the main drag and finally found a parking space at the far end of town.  Time for some serious walking!
Pullin' Taffy at a Street Candy
Shop
Makin' Moonshine!  Cindy Had a Taste and Said "HI-DEE-HO!!!"
It was hot---93 degrees.  And yet, we were in our heaven.  For five hours we made our way up one side of the main street to the end and then navigated our way back down the other side.  We went inside many shops.  I bought a leather hat that I intend to perform in at my concerts.  Cindy got some things for her hair.

I Tried To Fool Around When Cindy Wasn't Lookin'.   Note the .38 Special in Her Right Hand
We stopped at one of the restaurants and ate a light repast.  We were tired and sweaty. 

I'm Tired!
But the lure of the old Smoky Mountains had called, and we had answered.  That night, visions of rushing mountain streams, jagged peaks, black bears, moonshine, the Cherokee, and Appalachia filled our heads as we slept.

19 comments:

  1. Oh, to live so close to such a tour where, for just a day, well half a day, you and your lovely bride became 'tourists,' wandering about with taffy in one hand and a cold brewsky in another~~~a great 'tired.' My kind of day. Love that first shot of the Ol' Smoky Mts.
    BlessYourHearts

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  2. Whoooo we are going next week!!!!

    Yeah it's a 7.5 hour drive but were going anyway! haha
    Thanks for getting me even more happy to go!

    Leontien

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  3. Loved your blog! You know how much I love the Smokies and this area. It's in my blood, born that way, can't help it. I am just so happy that we were able to move back to this area, I am mindful of it all the time. I just want to make sure you are happy here! ♥

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  4. Spur of the moment is always the best. Over planning really bogs down a trip.
    I have been to Gatlinburg and it is a busy town.
    You sure live dangerously with your fooling around:)) Somehow I missed that moonshine vat--darn.
    Arkansas Patti

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  5. what an exhausting but great day...

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  6. WE NEVER DID GO SEE THE SMOKEY MOUNTAINS WHILE WE LIVED THERE. MY BROTHER -IN LAW LIVES IN -RIGHT OUT SIDE OF BOWLING GREEN,HAS MOST OF HIS LIVE. HE AND HIS WIFE WENT TO THE s.MOUNTAINS A FEW YEARS AGO. HE SAID EVERY ONE WAS PACKING AND NOT A COP TO BEHOLD.

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  7. The Smokeys are a beautiful place. Moonshine? Your a real Glutton for punishment ;)

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  8. That sounds like a great day. Usually the spur of the moment trips are the best ones.

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  9. Thanks for a lovely trip after a trying day.
    The pics are great, looked like a good time was had by all.

    Yvonne.

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  10. These are beautiful photos! I really enjoyed seeing the sites with you guys : ) Thanks!

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  11. Oh Clint now I have to go. Your photos and your tales make me want to jump on a plane right now. It is beautiful. Your humour gets me every time. BB

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  12. Wonderful day! I just love even the NAMES of the places you go!

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  13. Ray and I were married at Pigeon Forge, I love this area!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    First saw it from the back seat of the Harley.
    Thank you for posting this!!!!!!!!!

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  14. What a fun way to spend a day! I would have taken my sweet time getting there, I would have HAD to stop and check out Dollyworld! I've always loved Dolly Parton's singing.

    Excellent photos, they made your trip come alive!

    Have a wonderful day Clint.

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  15. I am so glad you are enjoying Tennessee, it is a beautiful state. Especially where you live. My husband was from right across the border in Ky.

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  16. What a beautiful trip and fotos. Thanks for sharing and taking me with you, my friend.

    Greetings und hugs

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  17. Ah, there you go again, Clint, tugging at the Heartstrings! We used to drive to the Smokey's all the time. Our favorite haunts were the Chimneys and Newfound Gap. We'd drive to Pigeon Forge, and a couple summers we even had season passes to Dollywood. I'm looking forward to taking Jasmyne there! Chapman Hwy is the best way to get there, too! Don't ever go I-40, it's always so congested! Taking that back way through Seymour is so much more scenic, too! One day I'd also like to go to Tuckaleechee caverns! I used to see signs for it all the time but never went. We did go to the Lost Sea one year. Ever been there? Oh, and Fall Creek Falls! That was always a great drive! :D

    I'm glad you're enjoying your new "home"! And hey, your hair is almost getting long enough to pull into a rubberband! :)

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  18. Hi Clint -

    Thank you for sharing these shots. My favorite is the one with you and the "woman" with the 38. Smoking indeed.

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