Gatlinburg By-Pass

Posted on May 27, 2014May 27, 2014 by Dusty Roads

Quite pleased and content with my lunch I headed back out to find the Gatlinburg By-Pass. To get to it I had to go into Gatlinburg and then head back out toward the Welcome Center. From the Welcome Center I head back toward Gatlinburg. The by-pass exit is on the right and became my favorite way to get from one end of Gatlinburg to the other.

The By- Pass is a scenic drive that takes you around Gatlinburg, bringing you out near the Sugarlands Visitor Center. From the visitor center you can head to Cades Cove to the right or Cherokee, North Carolina straight ahead or back to Gatlinburg by turning left.

There are scenic turn outs with plenty of parking. and the road is well maintained.

This was the beginning of my introduction to auto touring the Great Smokey Mountains.

When we went to Alaska we were told that in the springtime the fields were filled with wildflowers. Well spring was late the year we went but I seemed to hit it just right for Tennessee. The grass and trees were green and wildflowers abounded.

Smokey Mountain Shakes-N-Dawgs

Posted on May 26, 2014May 26, 2014 by Dusty Roads

I have to put in a food “plug”. After my morning owner’s meeting I headed out to drive the Gatlinburg By-Pass and find Cades Cove but first I needed some lunch.

I was looking for a place the concierge recommended. I thought they said “The 3 Bears” but I hadn’t spotted it when I saw Smokey Mountain Shakes -N- Dawgs. It had room to park so I figured I’d grab a hot dog and be on my way.

First of all they advertise that this is the “Home of the Moonshine Dawg”. The owner was at the grill when I stepped in. As I put in my boring order for a naked dawg with mustard I asked him to tell me what a moonshine dawg was. Of course it’s a secret family recipe. But he did say they soak the dawgs in moonshine. The moonshine infuses the dawgs with a unique flavor. He assured me the alcohol cooks off. (Sure it does). He asked me if I wanted one but I decided to pass. I had places to go and things to see.

But I did decide to indulge in a “shake”. I figured It would be a long time until dinner so I ordered a chocolate shake. They only have 1 size and it came with the straw standing straight up. MacDonald’s can’t compare. I requested a spoon because that’s the only way that shake was going to get eaten. It was awesome.

It’s a family owned business and they are real friendly folks. Seating is limited to only about 6 small tables. There’s a long list of toppings going by names like Choo Choo Dawg (beef dawg wrapped in bacon and deep fried and served with cheddar cheese on a toasted hoagie and topped with a special sauce), Super Purple Cabbage Slaw Dawg, Mac Shells -N-Cheese Dawg and so on. The list is too long for this space.

Strawberries seem to be the desert specialty and they are fresh. The owner was ordering them by the pallet while I was having my lunch.

If you get to Gatlinburg you won’t go wrong with a stop here…103 Mills Park Rd (at the corner od highway 321 and Mills Park Rd, Gatlinburg.)

Memorial Day Thanks

Posted on May 26, 2014May 26, 2014 by Dusty Roads

As we enjoy the wonderful weather and a day off from work to barbecue and party, take a moment to give thanks to those brave men and women whose sacrifices make our life style possible.

Remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice. They gave their lives that we might have ours. For them there is no tomorrow, no second chance at life or love, but thanks to them we have our life, our freedom and our chances to live.

Remember those who returned but suffered unspeakable injuries to body, soul or mind. Brave men and women traumatized by their injuries or the injuries to others that they witnessed or perhaps by the actions they had no choice but to take.

But these actions and sacrifices paid for our freedoms. They kept our shores safe. They stood up for our way of life.

As I think about Memorial Day and all that it stands for I am grateful to all who have done their duty to safeguard this great nation and our freedoms but I am sad too. I feel for the families left behind or the soldier who once able-bodied is now missing a limb or worse. My heart aches for those who returned so stressed and traumatized that although their body is sound, their emotions and feelings are forever scarred. This is the price we pay for our freedom. This is the price our soldiers paid for us.

On this Memorial Day honor them, thank them and pray for them. Keep safe those who even today are fighting for freedom in foreign lands. Pray that someday we will gain the wisdom to be able to put down our weapons and live in peace and respect throughout the world.

Always remember…

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!