Tennessee to North Carolina

Posted on May 31, 2014May 31, 2014 by Dusty Roads

A new day and another bright blue sky! So far the weather has been wonderful. I pulled out the Auto touring maps and decided to try the Newfound Gap Road. Just like a cove is another name for a valley in the vernacular of southern Appalachia, a “gap” is a low point along a ridge or mountain range.

The old road over the Smokey Mountains was at Indian Gap. When a lower , easier crossing was discovered it became the “Newfound” gap. Starting in Gatlinburg you will climb approximately 3,000 feet passing through hardwood, pine-oak and finally the evergreen- spruce- fir forest at the Newfound gap (5,046 ft.)

Here on the Newfound Gap road it wasn’t wildlife that held your attention.

It was the mountains. The vastness, the climb, the view to the valley below.

At one of the many pull offs I marveled over the twists and turns of the road below me, the one I’d just traveled without a thought.

A large parking area, a observation platform, restrooms and an entrance to the Appalachian trail all straddle the Tennessee / North Carolina State line.

Leaving the parking area and Tennessee behind you have a chance to detour up to Clingman’s Dome.

Clingman’s Dome Road climbs about 7 miles to within 1/2 mile of the highest peak in the Smokies (6,643 ft.) There’s a large parking area and restrooms where you can leave you car to hike the last half mile to the top of Clingman’s Dome and the observation tower. Everybody sing “On top of Old Smokey”. 🙂

Once you leave Clingman’s dome and head back down whether to Cherokee in North Carolina or back to Gatlinburg in Tennessee, it’s literally all down hill.

I continued toward Cherokee. I figured I’d arrive there about lunchtime and could decide where to go next while I enjoyed my lunch.

That proved to be a good choice. I continued to read my Auto touring guide over a sandwich at a very nice restaurant right on the main road. The number 5 tour was the Cataloochee and from the looks of the map it might not be too far. AS I checked out and paid my bill I asked the cashier.

He told me it was still quite a hike out there and if I wanted to wait around I might see elk behind the high school right here in Cherokee. But if I was dead set on going to the Cataloochee all I had to do was follow Rt 19 through Maggie Valley to RT 278 and then watch for the signs. He suggested I get there between 5:30 and 7:30.

Seemed like a good idea to make the trip now since I was more than 1/2 way there already.

An Educational Morning

Posted on May 25, 2014May 25, 2014 by Dusty Roads

Wednesday dawned bright and clear. Another beautiful day. This morning I have the “owner’s update meeting”. It’s one of the annoying parts of Time Share Ownership. Every time you go on a vacation using your time share they tell you at check in that you are scheduled for this meeting on a certain day and time. I have refused in the past but over the years I’ve found that you can get some good information and depending on the resort, some really nice premiums/rewards.

In Florida I have received Theme Park Tickets and a cruise to Cozumel. Here in Gatlinburg the premium was a $75.00 visa card. Not bad for an hour of my time. I’ll save the meeting details for another time when we’re talking about time shares. My reason for mentioning it is that my morning was tied up waiting for the meeting. I used the time to my advantage anyway.

Since I finally got the computer issues resolved I set up shop on the screened porch and hit my emails, FB and blog posts. I couldn’t edit any pictures so I used them “as is”. Around 10:30 I made my way to the building where the meetings were being held and spent the next hour being educated on the changes and costs related to same that Diamond resorts is making to their timeshare program. By the time they were done it was time for lunch.

I stopped at the desk to pick up my Visa card and got to chatting with the young lady working there. She was telling me all about the places to go to see wildlife. Like me, she would prefer that to a Theme Park. As I was about to leave she mentioned the elk at the Cataloochee. There’s that name again!

She was much more forthcoming about where it was located and drew me a map to help me find it. She warned me it would be a long drive. She also suggested that I head to Cades Cove no later than 3:30 because that is a longer drive than I’d been led to believe too.

So armed with this new information it was time to find someplace for lunch and go exploring. I think I’ll see what the Gatlinburg Bypass is all about and then head to Cades Cove.

The Arts and Crafts Trail

Posted on May 24, 2014May 24, 2014 by Dusty Roads

After the trip up the Space Needle and the Moonshine tasting I was ready to call it a day. I wasn’t sure where the trolley stop was on main street so I found myself walking back down the hill.

Back at the Aquarium I decided to take one more ride before I went home. I settled on the yellow line which takes you around to the various artist studios and craft shops. Gatlinburg is very “big” on crafts.

Gatlinburg’s craft community is the largest group of independent artisans in North America. This historic 8-mile loop has been designated a Tennessee Heritage Arts & Crafts Trail. Established in 1937, these artisans whittle, paint, sew, cast, weave and carve to create original collectibles such as candles, baskets, quilts, brooms, pottery,
jewelry, dolls, ceramics, scrimshaw, silver smithing, leather, stained glass, wearable fashions, fine photography, frameable art, oils, watercolors, and also lodging, restaurants, cafés, tea room, soda fountain and candy shops.

Although the loop is only 8 miles it takes an hour to complete the loop on the trolley because there are so many stops.

While riding along on this one we passed a covered bridge and farther along a beaver lodge. The driver insisted the lodge was occupied but the water was awful low and the lodge was in pretty poor repair. He admitted he hadn’t seen any beavers lately so my bet is on it being abandoned. It was still an interesting bit of scenery.

Pulling back into the stop at the Aquarium the driver mentioned a herd of elk that he’s seen recently. I had to find out more. He said I’d find them in the Cataloochee. Almost as soon as he told me he backed off telling me it was too far to be bothered with and that I’d get lost and on and on. He really tried to discourage me which of course had the opposite effect.

I’ve chased elk herds all over from Custer State Park in South Dakota to the lake country north of Sedona in Arizona and have ever seen a one. Maybe my luck is about to change!

Sky High In Gatlinburg

Posted on May 19, 2014May 19, 2014 by Dusty Roads

Tummy happy it was time to try out Gatlinburg’s Space Needle.

The tower takes you up above Gatlinburg about 400 ft. It’s located in an arcade. Not quite the same as the Space Needle in Seattle which is all high tech and sparkly new looking.

Space Needle, Seattle

This space needle is more rustic, rough around the edges, the elevator isn’t the high speed top of the line mechanical marvel as in Seattle but it got the job done.

Once on top you look out over the whole city. Up here in the sky there’s a breeze that you don’t get a street level. It’s so much cooler that the folks up there with me were all commenting on it. Since it was easily high 80’s at street level, this cool oasis was a welcome change.

No one seemed to be in a hurry to go back down. Many choosing to sit on the metal benches and enjoy the view.

There were information boards for each direction.

These gave me the best overview of the layout and what to expect of anything I’d come across at this point.

North

I wasn’t careful when taking the pictures. I just walked around the observation platform clicking pictures of the views. It was after I’d done that I noticed the boards. He are some of the other pictures but I don’t know which are north, south east or west.

And the little wedding chapel that started it all! Now there are cute little wedding chapels all over.

Gatlinburg

Posted on May 17, 2014May 17, 2014 by Dusty Roads

I woke up bright and early. The sun was shining. It looks like it’s going to be a nice day. Yesterday it was 88 degrees when I drove into town. I bet it gets there again today. Love it!

Over night my subconscious had apparently arranged my day for me. I’d do what I normally do in a new place, I’d take a trolley ride. For $2.00 you can ride around all day on the Gatlinburg trolley.

I drove through Pigeon Forge on my way to Gatlinburg and my first impression was of one long, giant midway or arcade. Even in the car I had the impression of a carnival atmosphere. One of the trolley lines runs to Dollywood so when the time comes that’s how I’ll travel. I’ll leave the car at the Welcome Center but today I’ll explore Gatlinburg.

The Purple line picks up at the Welcome Center where the parking is free and drops you off at the Aquarium. Here you can wait for a different trolley or walk. I decided to walk.

I crossed a little bridge in front of the Aquarium to reach street level and crossed to the main drag.

I found myself standing a the base of a long hill. The street climbed straight up it and looked like a miniature version of Pigeon Forge.

There were candy shops and old time photo shops on every block.

There were arcades and restaurants and even a Dunkin’ Donuts!

The Skylift on the right and a bit farther on the left, the Space Needle marked the top of the hill. I dug out the camera and started up.

The street was lined with benches so I took my time, stopping to rest and chat with who ever happened to be sitting there. I met folks from Chattanooga up for the weekend and a gentleman from California. Another couple were from Idaho and had come out for their honeymoon.

As I neared my destination of the space needle I spotted Ole Smoky Moonshine. I’d tried to get a tasting in Sugarlands but I was ignored at each tasting station so I left. Maybe I could get a taste here.

Better have lunch before I start downing white lightening!