Tennessee Trip~The 4th & Final Part

This final Tennessee post covers the 

remainder of our visit to the 

Pigeon Forge / Gatlinburg / Great Smoky Mountains area. 

We all toured 

Floyd Garrett's Muscle Car Museum.  

in Sevierville one fine morning. 

It houses 92 classics.

Here's a couple of Corvettes.

This car was used to run moonshine.

It looks quite mobsterish!

I'm pretty sure they'll be adding the word 
"mobsterish" to the dictionary any day now.

The yellow car below is a 
1970 Torino King Cobra.

There may be only three in 
existence according to their website.

It is a pretty cool place and a must-see 
for any muscle car/classic car enthusiast!

If you're interested in a 

virtual tour & more, 

click HERE. 

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The Old Mill Restaurant 

in the Old Mill District

was a yummy lunch stop one day.

There's always a wait at the Old Mill but the

down-home eats and modest prices 

make it well worth the wait.

We always love eating here!

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The Incredible Christmas Place in Pigeon Forge is a magical treat! Linda, Sandy and I spent a little time experiencing this festive wonderland!

A pretty, snowy mural up near the ceiling.

And another one. 

Can you see the little, green 

train running the perimeter?

You might find yourself "ooohing" and "aaahing"
a lot around all this gleeful yuletide! 

Santa & his reindeer paused amidst the murals.

Captivating stained class, 
a festive tree, and a  

very cool nativity set.

Mary, Joseph, Jesus and 

one of the three wise men.

 The star of the nativity set, 
Lord and Savior, 
Baby Jesus!

There are many incredible rooms in The Incredible Christmas Place with a few additional shops just outside the main building. Also on the grounds outside the stores, a little fenced area can be found with a train meandering it's way through small tunnels and other train-related landscape. 

If you enjoy Christmas, you'll love The Incredible Christmas Place! If you don't, it might entice you right smack into the joy of the season!

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The eight mile Gatlinburg Art Loop features 
120 working artists and craftsmen so 
a cruise through the loop was in order.

Access to some of the artist's creations

can be found HERE (or above). 

A map of the art loop 

can be found HERE.

There's even a dulcimer shop,  

Smoky Mountain Dulcimer.
The owner was playing music, 

providing info, and selling dulcimers.

He was kind enough to 

let me take his photo.

For more about the 
art loop and a short video 

about watercolor artist, 
A. Jann Piesto, 
(I love her work)
click HERE 

to go to my blog post on 
the Yak Yak Art blog.

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Clyde & Sandy ventured on into Gatlinburg after a few stops on the art loop. Once we were finished, we headed into Gatlinburg to meet up with them but stopped off at this back road cemetery along the way.

This is the peaceful country 

road next to the cemetery...

...which rests atop a small hill..

...and provides this splendid view!

It's always a joy to drive around  

the Tennessee back roads and  
take in the remarkable countryside! 

Once in Gatlinburg, we chilled a bit and 
people watched from upstairs at Hogg's.
Look at all those people!

Actually, it was near 5:00 and things 

were winding down but would 

pick up again soon.  

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Our final day was spent in the

Great Smoky Mountains National Park 

meandering the 11-mile Cades Cove loop.

The John Oliver Cabin is our first stop.

This was our attempt to mimic the way
folks looked in pictures back in the day.

Sandy took the photo. She didn't miss out  
on our momentary trip back in time though.  
She made a fine attempt to look 
very sad and quite blurry 
while taking the picture!

There are three churches in Cades Cove.

We walked through this one and the cemetery.

I'm not sure if it's the 

Missionary Baptist Church or 

the Methodist Church though.

A stop at the 
Cades Cove Visitor Center   

took us into a grist mill. 
Official name: 

The John P. Cable Mill.
It's still in operation.

Built in 1868 by, 
none other than,

you guessed it,

 John P. Cable.

A little store and a few other buildings 

are on the spacious property as well.

A cantilever barn.

We got a late start so we didn't make a lot of other stops in the Cove. If you want to drive the loop in a timely manner--the earlier you go, the better! It's a one-way road and bumper-to-bumper although there are a couple of roads on which you can cut through to exit sooner.

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As planned, we returned to Harpoon Harry's Crab House for dinner our final evening so we could sit upstairs. 

The downstairs bar area is adorned with impressive wood carvings apparently done by a very gifted artist!

Turtle on... perhaps seaweed?

 Bear

Oh, the craftsmanship!

An Eagle

A view outside from the second floor.

Just what are they chuckling about!

Apparently, we missed it! 

The evening was a perfect 
ending to a magnificent trip!
We all had a wonderful time!

Much thanks to our dear friends 

Joe & Linda 

and 

Clyde & Sandy 

for a pleasant, fun
and memorable good time!

Smiles & Hugs,

D~~~~

If you missed any of the three previous Tennessee posts, you can find them here:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Tennessee Trip~Part 3

The morning after we arrived in Pigeon Forge, we received an awesome surprise! 

Our friends 

Clyde & Sandy 

came driving up just as we were 
emerging from our RVs for the day!

They decided just a few days before to hop on a plane and come join us. Very cool! In addition to that, they found a hotel just 3 miles up the road from the RV park. Perfect.

After visiting the first day, we drove to the Chimney picnic area in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park the next morning. 

The park is stunning! 

It screamed photo ops!

Is that a peace sign Clyde is 

holding up behind George's head?

Nothing like some good ole camaraderie!

Photo bomber!

Coordinating his watch and phone, 

George was able to take a group selfie

from the picnic table. Go George!

A pretty upshot!

Would you believe that over 
2100 miles of streams and rivers 
run through the 

Great Smoky Mountains National Park? 

It's true.
The park is an amazing place!

Below is part of the stream in the 

Chimney picnic area. 

Gentle and clear, it sits off to one side.

Joe ventures out onto the rocks.

Don't tell us girls not to block the gate!
We'll buck the system!

But if a hostile ant or spider 
tries to overtake us, all bets are off!

The guys were roaming in another area so 

Linda, Sandy and I hiked a short way up a path
which started with steps that led up a hill.

Through the trees is a picnic 
area we pass on the way.

The guys were just walking up as 

we reached the stairs to exit the path.

After the Smokies, we ventured into Gatlinburg.

The Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine 
joint was our first stop.  

We sampled a few of their flavors.

Some were good,
(like the Java one)  

some were moonshiney.
After all, it is a moonshine place.

Tennessee knows how to  
do up festive fall vignettes. 

This cute display was 
outside the moonshine place.

 Starbucks and the Paula Deen store 

are around the corner from the 

Ole Smoky Moonshine place.

The open area above is the 

Mellow Mushroom

where we had a tasty lunch and

 some interesting conversation.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The next day, we ventured back into 

Gatlinburg for lunch at Blaine's Grill & Bar. 

They serve up some super yummy food! 

That's Blaine's on the corner.

After lunch, Sandy, Linda and I walked down to the fall Craftsmen's Fair (they have one in the spring as well). It was being held in the convention center, a block or two away. The guys headed to Sevierville to visit some "man stores." 

After the Craftsmen's Fair, we strolled through some of Gatlinburg's shops. 

According to my phone, we walked 7,252 steps that day. It felt good but I confess that I was all walked out by the time we quit! I think we all were.

Harpoon Harry's Crab House 
was our dinner stop. 

It's an outstanding restaurant in Pigeon Forge. 

If you want some tasty seafood 

and a very cool atmosphere, 

then Harpoon Harry's is the place to go!

We asked to sit upstairs (there are three floors) but it wasn't open. Turned out, the upstairs is only open Thursday through Sunday so we planned to come back Thursday. 

That's the end of Part 3.
The final part is next.
Until then, take care y'all!

Smiles,

D~~~~

Tennessee Trip~Part 2

As you saw in the last post, we're now at Seven Points Campground in Hermitage, TN. Upon arrival, Rick asked if we all wanted to go to the Grand Ole Opry. Umm, yes!  

The next evening we were there!

  
The happy six underneath 
a Grand Ole Opry sign.

Fun stuff!

The view from our seats!

We snapped the pictures of the performers below off a big screen to our right since it was closer. As a result, the quality isn't the best but it's by far better than the dots they'd be if we shot them onstage!

We saw Whisperin' Bill Anderson.

He sang two funny songs, one about

his ex-wife was particularly hilarious!

Christian artist Jason Crabb sang a  
fabulous bluesy, rocking rendition 
of the old gospel song, 
I'm Working on a Building
and a new song about the current times.

I could not find Jason Crabb's version of I'm Working on a Building but these links are a mighty fine rendition of it by Trace Adkins, T. Graham Brown, Jimmy Fortune & Marty Raybon.

Chris Janson 

was a fun fireball from the

moment he entered the stage,

spinning & bouncing around.

He sang 

Buy Me a Boat,

followed by 

Fix a Drink.

Oh, can he play the harmonica too!

Brooks & Dunn were cool!
They sang 
My Maria 
and 
Believe

Actually, I only think it was Believe.
I'm not 100% sure!

What's up with my memory?

Oh well.

Finally, the incredible 

Keith Urban

sang 

Blue Ain't Your Color 

and 

John Cougar, John Deer, John 3:16 

Keith Urban & Chris Janson 

performed the amazing closing number,

Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident).

This link is from that night!

I was thrilled to find it on YouTube.

We absolutely loved it and I hope you do too!

We also saw 

John Conlee 

Collin Raye 

Maddie & Tea

and

Dailey & Vincent 

It was most definitely an extra special night!

A great big thank you to 
Rick 
for getting the tickets!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The next day, Joe, Linda, George & I decided to check out Lower Broadway. Carrie said she wasn't going to be active that day & Rick was tasked with fixing the RV potty so after George made a trip to Camping World with Rick, we headed downtown.

After a late lunch at Margaritaville,

we roamed the Lower Broadway blocks 

listening to songs wafting in and out as 

we passed honky tonk after honky tonk.

Eventually, we settled into 

Honky Tonk Central 

to get a close up of their enticing band.

It was entertaining!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The next evening, we all met up with Jack & Middy for dinner at Puckett's in downtown Nashville. After our super tasty meal, Rick & Carrie opted to head home as the rest of us headed back to Broadway, just a couple blocks away.

We found a cozy upstairs table at
 Legend's Corner.

Jack & George

You can sure tell they're brothers!

Middy & Linda having a good time!

See the cute Legend's Corner 

cowboy boot koozie in my hand?

Joe was kind enough to buy one for each of us.

Thank you Joe!

We loved them so much, we 

danced them all over the table!

We're dancing so fast, it's a blur.

Perhaps a new dance craze--Blur Dancing!

Jack had an early morning the next day so they had to leave after awhile. It was sure nice to see them though and we were glad they got to meet our friends. 

Once Jack & Middy departed, the four of us were curious to do more Broadway wandering. It was Thursday night and the sidewalks were full! The Predators game had just let out too. 

These young guys were playing some

mean rock & roll on the streets!

I'm not sure if this music has an 

official name but let's call it bucket music.

On a final note (pun intended),
look what Joe found in the Ernest Tubb store.

Do you see a resemblance?

That's all from Nashville.

We had a fantastic time in Music City!

Next, we go to the 

Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg,

Great Smoky Mountains area.

Rick & Carrie opted out of the rest of the trip,
and we got an awesome, surprise 
in Pigeon Forge!

See ya soon.

Big Music City Smiles,

D~~~~