Choices

Posted on June 15, 2014June 15, 2014 by Dusty Roads

I’m sitting here at home relaxing after a crazy day at work. I had the TV on although it was more for background than entertainment. At least that was until I heard the train whistle. I had the station set to PBS and they were running their train special. I wish I could tell you the name of it but I wasn’t paying much attention until they began talking about train rides in Tennessee.

The train ride they featured was the one that left from Etowah. This was the train ride I was originally going to take while I was on vacation. Oh what a difference. Now I understand that PBS sent a professional film crew but oh my. The scenery was far more spectacular than than what I experienced.

The all day trip was only $57.00. My trip was more than $75.00.

So I made the wrong choice when I Chose the Nantahala Gorge over the Hiwassee River Gorge. If I get back to the area I’ll be sure to pick the right train.

It got me feeling philosophical.

Isn’t life all about choices. We make choices all day long from what to wear in the morning to what to do for a career. What college to attend, or even do we go to college.

And when we make those choices we have to deal with the results that inevitably follow. More choices. An endless river of choices.

I don’t know about you but I’ve made more than a few wrong choices so far and I’m sure there are more to come but that just means more choices…endlessly!

Wedding Capital of Tennessee

Posted on June 13, 2014June 13, 2014 by Dusty Roads

One thing I haven’t said too much about is weddings. Probably because I’m not in the market for a wedding venue. But I couldn’t help noticing all the cute little chapels scattered around Gatlinburg.

I looked up weddings in one of Gatlinburg’s brochures and found 12 different Chapels listed along with 5 additional outdoor or cabin venues. The brochure calls Gatlinburg the Wedding Capital of the South…not just Tennessee.

Gatlinburg Chapel is credited with introducing wedding chapels to the area and thousands of weddings have been performed here including Billy Ray Cyrus and Patti Lovelace.

True or not, there are lots of cute, little Chapels dotting the landscape.

Another Vacation Comes to an End

Posted on June 12, 2014June 12, 2014 by Dusty Roads

Check out is 10 am. My flight isn’t until 6 pm. I’ve got a little time to poke around in Pigeon Forge before I head to Knoxville.

If I ever get back here I hope the Skylift will be open. I’ll plan to include Dollywood next time and get to that wonderful restaurant for the escargot and lobster. And I’ll have to go to the Aquarium.

Next trip I’ll have to make that hike to the Grotto Falls and maybe some others because I won’t be recovering from falling off a plane (I hope).

Maybe I’ll take a ride on this huge Ferris Wheel.

But this was the vacation I needed. Quiet and nature, no crowds. It refreshed my heart and soul. Sometimes you need that more than crowds and attractions.

I wonder where I’ll end up next!?

Meet the Residents of Parrot Mountain

Posted on June 10, 2014June 10, 2014 by Dusty Roads

Do you want to know a secret?

I loved Parrot Mountain.

The birds are beautiful.

As usual when I find something I like I went overboard on pictures.

I’d never be a good editor.

Pick just one or two pictures??? Not a chance.

I could never decide so here’s a few more from that lush and colorful venue.

Flowers

More birds

They look so curious

More Flowers

Remember the bird from Barretta?

But just like the show, it’s time to sign off. If you like birds I can whole heartily recommend Parrot Mountain!

Cades Cove, Worth a Return trip?

Posted on June 8, 2014June 8, 2014 by Dusty Roads

After my disappointing experience on the train I wanted to cheer myself back up. The rain had finally passed and the sun had come out. The lovely clouds that form in the valleys had dissipated by the time I retrieved my car and started back to Gatlinburg so I made the return trip through Newfound Gap without lingering. As a result I was nearing the fork to Cades Cove while the sun was just dipping down toward the horizon. Do I take a drive through or not??? I decided that yes, I wanted one more visit.

It was later than my last trip so the shadows were longer in the fields and down right dark in the wooded areas. No bear this time but the deer were very active,