After a leisurely breakfast, we set off south through the steep treed hills of West Virginia, and the more rolling hills of Virginia into Tennessee and toward Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Along the way, we ran into a pelting thunderstorm that stopped as quickly as it appeared. And we both got a kick out of the what seemed to be frequent billboards along the way for businesses like Southern X-Posure, the Lion's Den, and the Mouse's Ear Gentlemen's Club. A few Adult Bookstores were thrown in for good measure.
We can really appreciate the utility and beauty of the interstate highways that allow such easy access all over this country. They, like Fallingwater, probably never could be built today with all the EPA regs, environmental surveys, and eco-nuts.
4+ hours later, we checked into our motel in Gatlinburg, and headed for GSMNP. At the Visitor Center we watched a short movie that explained that the park was heavily logged in the 19th century to the point where 2/3 of its trees were taken down. That's amazing considering the lush growth that fills the park now. After scoping things out, we opted to take the Roaring Brook Auto Tour, a one way, one lane road that has stops along the road,that invite you to take a trail and/or investigate the history and natural beauty of the park. We did stop at one place and ventured down the trail, only to =retrace our steps when the trail disappeared. Besides, the skies were darkening--and not because of the lateness of the hour. we stopped at a viewpoint to snap a tripod photo of the 2 of us, when fat raindrops started to pelt us. Lightning snapped behind us as the shutter clicked. Then the deluge.I'm not talking just heavy rain here. The rain was coming down horizontally for the strong wind that accompanied it. The trees were bending in the wind. The rain was coming down so hard, we thought there was hail. we waited a while in the car, and then thought that maybe we should get out of there. If a tree blocked the road further down, it might be a while before we could leave. As a matter of fact, as we vetured down the road, there were tree branches in the middle of the road. I had to get out to remove the branches so we could proceed. And further down the road, a tree had snapped in two and was 90 degrees across the road about 20 feet up. The rain continued. By the time we got back into Gatlinburg, the temperature had dropped from the 90s to the mid 60s.
Ah yes, Gatlinburg, TN. A crazier tourist trap has never existed.With streets lined with Ripley's Believe it or Not, The Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Show, and the best of all, Christ in the Smokies Museum and Gardens. If they can make money from any idea, they've tried it here. Car museums, Lumberjack Feud dinner and show, NASCAR speedpark, Rainforest adventures, Forbidden Caverns, winery Tours, Zip Lines, Magic shows, Haunted Adventures, Mini golf, Ripley's Aquarium, and this just scratches the surface. Hungry? Take your pick of any and all of the chain restaurants you wish, and add a few hundred independent barbeque, family,, steakhouses, and donut restaurants. All this lies at the doorstep of one of the most beautiful places in the country. And when I say doorstep, I mean doorstep. It's like building your house right on an 8 lane superhighway, so that when you open your door to step out, a car might run over your foot. At the park entrance, the craziness stops immediately, and you are greeted with wildness. The city of Gatlinburg is developed right up to the entrance to the park.
For dinner, we couldn't stomach the idea of eating intown. So we drove about 5 miles out of town to a little local barbeque place. The food was good, and the place quiet, except for the low country music in the background and the low buzz of talk from the other few tables in the place. Very low key--kind of like the beauty of the Smokies.
Tomorrow we'll see more of the park.
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