Last Smoky Mts Post--honest! Here are some of Dad's "moments" from our adventure. Yes--the opening voice over is shamelessly pirated from the Christy Movie series (we couldn't resist). If you want to see me looking stunning floating down the Little Pigeon River you will have to watch the clip to the end😄. You are Always in Our Prayers. Love Mom.
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Our last day in the Smoky Mountains was picture perfect. We arrived at Cades Cove early in the morning while the smoke was still on the mountains. A momma bear slept under a tree while her recently nursed cubs dozed in the trees above. A barred owl perched on a branch eyeing her prey. A young stag peeked out from the long grass in the meadows. Unforgettable!
We spent the afternoon tubing down the Little Pigeon River (twice). More of a river float than a raging rapid. Even the water temperature was perfect--not cold, but refreshing. We finished our day with a generous Toffee ice-cream by the Old Mill. Smoky Mountains, we will surely miss you. We look forward to seeing you all when we get back sharing some more tales of our adventures. You are Always in Our Prayers. Love Mom. Greetings from the home of Pecan Pie Ice-cream; where the L'il Dolly's sign advertises Camo-Quilts and the Hatfields and McCoys feud every night as dinner theatre.
It is 35C here today. Picture this--we gently rock back and forth, on the porch of our cabin, as we munch on boiled peanuts. This morning we hiked to Grotto Falls (A moderate hike--somewhat easier--could be accomplished by a lazy mountain goat). The falls, the streams, the river walks--all soul refreshing. Yesterday we were taught that the Cherokee would wade deep into the water every morning. Throwing river water over their head they would pray, "Wash away any thoughts or feelings that may hinder me from being closer to my God." I feel a sense of this baptism in the Smoky Mountains. You are Always in my Prayers. Loving the Smoky Mountains. Mom. Re: Boiled Peanuts The folks at Ely's Mill tell us that the tradition of eating boiled peanuts was started by confederate soldiers during the civil war. This may or may not be a myth?! Dad refers to Gatlinburg as Glitterville (we have also heard it referred to as Redneck Vegas😄)! He certainly has a point. Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge offers unique attraction such as: Dollywood, the best Daisy Duke show anywhere, the Biblical Times dinner theatre which boasts that it offers a feast of biblical proportions, and a dollar store that advertises live alligators. Then--BAM--you enter Smoky Mountain National Park and immediately feel an entirely different type of magic.
Yesterday we went on a 2.6 mile hike to Grotto Falls. After we had hiked for one hour thirty we found a marker that indicated we were 2.8 miles from the falls. Oh, oh! We never did find the falls, but we managed to meet a lovely couple from Illinois who were also lost and consider the morning a win as we did eventually find our car. We finished off the day on the eleven mile auto loop of Cade's Cove where I saw my first black bear. I did get a picture by hanging out the sunroof, but the furry beast was moving so fast that I only captured a hint of a bear. Loving the Smoky Mountains. You are Always in my Prayers. Mom |
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Ray & Diane
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