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.