Yesterday was a long day for us so this morning we started off pretty slow. First on the agenda was to make sure we got downstairs before they quit serving breakfast at 10am. So Mom, Rudy & myself all get up and get moving and we make it to the hotel resturant by 9:30 (8:30 Home Time), ever so proud that we made it. We walk up to the hostess stand and are told that they closed at 9am!!!!!!
With that out of the way we loaded up the car and head out promptly 47 min later after I put up yesterday diary post while I still had a wifi connect. Rudy waited in the car and Mom must have asked 4 or 5 times if I am done yet? Anyhow some time later we are on the road and pull over for breakfast/brunch at a Cracker Barrell and all feel this was the better choice after all.
When we finished took a small road that paralleled the interstate for a while and saw some beautiful horse farms and exceptional county homes that I would love to call my own. Eventually we rejoined the interstate and stayed on it through Knoxville, TN until we arrived the Gatlinburg exit.
This road lead through Pigeon Forge and what a treat it was! We see a giant hot air balloon with a bus size gondola suspended beneath it from several miles away. When we get close the balloon is now being retrieved behind this most peculiar structure, one which Flat Stanley just had to have his picture taken by!
Thats right you're looking at an upside down building! We also saw the Titanic, which seem rather out of place.
Upon leaving Pigeon Forge we arrive Gatlinburg, TN and stop to let Flat Stanley visit the Visitor Center.
Driving through Gatlinburg was a treat but I can not imagine what this place would be like in the middle of the summer when families are on vacation. With that same thought in mind, this would be a GREAT place for my Sisters family to come visit on vacation her boys would love it.
We find another photo op for Flat Stanley on the GSMNP Road.
Was a neat view from this location.
We continue driving on through the Great Smokey Mountain National Park where traffic was light and the road was a PERFECT motorcycling road. We are heading towards the Blue Ridge Parkway and just before the turn off we see a sign to a "Historic Mingus Grist Mill", well couldn't pass that up!
From there we drive a few miles down to the Bridge Parkway and turn left. We see a lot of flowers along the road...
Found the roads highest point...
Ultimately leading us to a nice quiet evening enjoying a glass of wine in a rocking chair on the front porch of a Biltmore Estate era home that has been converted into a most excellent restaurant, the Corner Kitchen!
Was not that many miles today but when moving at 35~40 MPH through the national parks you don't make real good time.
Tomorrow we are thinking of stopping in Pittsburg via South Carolina, Good Night from Asheville, NC!
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