Great Loop: Great Smoky Mountains
Mountain stream, Smoky Mountains
Road Trip! It was time to park the boat, rent a car, and see the Smoky Mountains. We left the boat in Nashville and headed east to enjoy the serenity and solitude of the mountains. In the last year we had become "water people", now we wanted to get in touch with our inner "mountain persona". So we pointed the rental car east and headed away from the sunset. We were ready to embrace the cool mountain air and the fresh smell of the vegetation as the damp foggy air gently swirled . A wilderness experience was in order.
But First - Road Trip Food
You just aren't on a road trip unless you succumb to the siren call of road side food. Our first temptation was Buc-cee's, in Crossville Tennessee. If they don't have it, you don't need it! It is every road side tourist stop on steroids with cheap gas, clean restrooms, and reasonably priced, decent fast food. It is also overwhelming. Maybe because we've been living on a small boat for the last year, the effect was magnified. We walked through the door and went OMG.....
The Crossville Buc-cee's opened end of June this year. It was less than four months old. It is 53,000 square feed of impulse buy merchandising. Do you want to see for yourself? Watch this video....
Beth was immediately attracted to their mascot
She even got a hug from Buc-cee!
Swept up in the euphoria of the experience, we purchased a soft sided Buc-cee cooler which was on sale!
But wait it doesn't end there! We forgot to get anything to eat at Buc-cee's.
Back off the highway to get some lunch.
Gatlinburg Tennessee
Gatlinburg is the home of Dolly World. We didn't know that. Our sheltered west coast life had not prepared us for the reality of this Appalachian Mecca.
We had booked a couple nights in the Glenstone Lodge at 504 Historic Nature Trail Drive in Gatlinburg. We honestly thought it was in the National Forest as it advertises as being Smoky Mountain National Park Lodging.
Here is the reality of Gatlinburg. It is an alternate universe which out does Las Vegas.
There are more ways to separate you from your money than you can imagine.
It was one attraction after another.
You could spend weeks here and never go to the same place twice.
Now we did have to try Crockett's for Breakfast. The winning strategy is to go at 7am when it opens as by 8:30 am the wait is 2 hours for a table. The food was actually pretty good.
Smoky Mountain National Park
The absurdity needle swung the other direction as soon as we left Gatlinburg and entered the Park. It was beautiful and just what we had hoped it would be. The further you drove from the main highway the better it got.
The forests were lush, green and smelled good. Not the piney smell of the Sierra Nevada, but just as pleasing.
We were thrilled to has escaped the over-commercialization of Gatlinburg!
We found tranquility and beauty in all directions
Stopping, getting out of the car, and walking slowly gave one a chance to find, explore and appreciate the beauty of nature.
The way the creeks and streams meandered through the woods was calming and the sound was soothing.
It made us giggle! We were happy to be there!
And then we started to see the preserved settler houses that are open for visitors.
This was special, as I have pictures of my ancestors living in similar homes in the hills of North Carolina.
The logs were notched and shaped to encourage water to run off and not pool.
This in turn discouraged dry rot.
The construction materials and textures blended well with the surrounding.
Contrasting shapes, textures, and lines were everywhere
The settlers created homes from local materials.
The vistas were stunning
Barns and outbuildings were nearby, to house animals and store bounty from their farms.
Maybe this was the Mother in Law unit....
Water power was harnessed to operate the grist mill
Houses were designed to be functional and easily built with hand tools
The Great Smoky Mountains
It was easy to see how the mountains earned their nickname
Low clouds obscured the peaks until the afternoon
Fall colors added to the beauty
The color palette was definitely "earthy"
The ridge lines vistas were spectacular
So yes, we greatly enjoyed our stay in the Smoky Mountains. We re-discovered some truths about ourselves. We are easily amused when out in nature. The sights, smells, and sounds are pleasing and soothing. We relax and enjoy the show which surrounds us. We can pause and appreciate the show which nature provides.
Another truth is that we are not people who seek stimulation via the enticements which Gatlinburg offers. Sorry, that is not how I want to spend my time and money. I am not going to object or criticize those forms of entertainment. I just know they aren't for me
When I return, I will seek out the places that bring me solace and enjoyment and be content.
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