Approved!

Posted on March 6, 2014March 6, 2014 by Dusty Roads

Hurray It’s Approved! My boss approved my vacation time so it’s official, I can really count on heading to Tennessee in May.

So far I ‘ve got a at least 1 day in Dollywood with a ride on the Dollywood Express, a day exploring the trolley routes of downtown Gatlinburg and a day sampling moonshine and whiskey.

Along with the liquid treats my cousin recommended an restaurant called The Greenbrier Restaurant . http://www.greenbrierrestaurant.com/ It’s billed as a romantic, fine dining establishment.

Well since I’ll be alone we can skip the romance but I like the fine dining description and I loved the menu. Two of my very favorite things are on it. I could make a meal of just the appetizers, My favorite: Escargot Ala Bourguignon French selects served in mushroom caps and simmering garlic butter. I’ve never had them served in mushroom caps but I like mushrooms so should be yummy.

The main course is bound to be just as good : Lobster Tail

One Tail or Two ? Steamed and served with lemon wedges and drawn butter.

Who would think that someone from Massachusetts would always be on the lookout for lobster tails when I’m surrounded by Maine lobster all the time. Well, they are not the same and (I’ll probably have to hide out after this comment) I like the tails better than Maine Lobster. There I said it. My New England Yankee card will probably be revoked. I don’t dislike Maine Lobster I just prefer the Langoustines , those big , juicy tails usually served on the shell. They are a different animal and more common in the south. When I was growing up in upstate New York the frozen variety was more common than the live Maine lobsters. I imagine that’s changed now. Every high end restaurant seems to have a lobster tank.

Now I’m hungry and it isn’t even noon yet!

Anyway the same cousin that tipped me to the restaurant also gave me a link to a train ride out of Chattanooga. http://www.tvrail.com/pages/etowah-train-rides-train-excursions-in-Tennessee Known as the Hiwassee River rail Adventure it sounds perfect. The ride is described as the historic Hiwassee River Rail Adventure scenic rail excursion through the unspoiled Cherokee National Forest, along beautiful and scenic Hiwassee River, and through the secluded Hiwassee River Gorge. It leaves from Etowah. My only decision is do I do the short or long version?

I think I’m leaning toward the all day trip but I’m open to suggestions too.

Photo of the Week ~ 9

Posted on March 5, 2014March 5, 2014 by Dusty Roads

The week 9 tallies are in. The Photo of the Week with the most hits, likes, shares and/or comments is Blue Skies and Turrets with a total of 25 points.

To Order Prints click here: http://dustyroadsphotos.zenfolio.com/p161572686/ha971c84#ha971c84

Complaining Again

Posted on March 4, 2014March 4, 2014 by Dusty Roads

I feel like I’m stuck in an existential novel or something…just waiting, waiting, waiting …in this case for spring or warm weather or sun.

Sorry I’m just frustrated. Here we are in March. Spring is less than 3 weeks away and it’s still cold. I mean really cold. March is never “balmy” but we should have left the 20 degree weather behind by now, especially when there’s the wind chill factor involved. There’s more sun but we’re still getting a lot of overcast days too.

You run out to the store dressed like Nanook of the North, hats, scarves, mittens heavy coat and question your sanity but when you get there you see you are not alone. Everyone else is bundled up too.

What’s really getting to me is that I’m burning out my creativity. I started the 365 day project to kind of give my photos a boost but I’m not much of an indoor photographer. I like to be outside for pictures and all of the cold days have kept me trapped inside. I’m running out of inspiration. I don’t know if I would have tackled the project if I’d realized I was going to be either stuck inside or freezing outside.

Spring can’t be much farther away, can it?

Getting Around Gatlinburg

Posted on March 3, 2014March 3, 2014 by Dusty Roads

One of the things I always try to do whenever I visit a new area is find a trolley tour. Most of the tours I’ve gone on have been sight seeing tours, some have the on again off again option so you can hop off to explore a stop while others are just an excursion. In either case it’s a great way to get the lay of the land.

Gatlinburg has a trolley and from what I’ve read it’s a whole mass transit system. It sounds like the Tennessee equivalent of Boston’s MBTA. Most of the reviews indicate that parking is expensive and getting around by car , cumbersome at best. Everyone seems to recommend the trolley.

The trolley line map looks like our subway map and it looks like most things are accessible from the trolley stops.

Gatlinburg’s Trolley System is the fifth largest mass transit system in the State of Tennessee. The system was originated in 1980 with a fleet of only six trolleys. The fleet has grown to 20 plus trolleys servicing approximately 50 miles of trolley routes. In 2011 nearly 800,000 patrons took advantage of riding rather than driving to their destination.

You can even take the Trolley to Dollywood. Unfortunately the trolley line to the Great Smokey Mountains National Park doesn’t start running until June so looks like I’ll have to drive to the park.

Many reviews mention what a great source of information the drivers are and stress that one should not hesitate to ask for suggestions for restaurants and events.

Sounds like I’m going to enjoy getting around town. I’ll be able to see the sights without having to concentrate on driving.

All Aboard

Posted on March 2, 2014March 2, 2014 by Dusty Roads

I like to take vintage train rides when I get a chance and my sister said she took a nice train ride while visiting Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. I’ve searched but the only one I can locate is actually part of Dollywood. Known as the Dollywood Express, an authentic 110 ton coal fired steam engine travels 5 miles through the foothills of the Great Smokey Mountains.

The other train ride I found That actually ventures into the Great Smokey Mountains is a North Carolina train. The Great Smokey Mountain Railroad chugs out of Bryson City, NC. There are several trains but the one that caught my eye is the Nantahala River Gorge Excursion. ” Take a ride along side the beautiful Nantahala River on our Nantahala Gorge Excursion! Departing from Bryson City, this four-and-a-half hour excursion carries you 44 miles to the Nantahala Gorge and back again arriving at our Bryson City depot. “

Too bad I won’t be in North Carolina this trip.

I checked out Chattanooga too. It’s about 2- 2 1/2 hours from Gatlinburg but even though it’s famous for the Chattanooga Choo Choo there’s no train ride here. Train history is preserved and you can arrange to stay overnight in a real vintage sleeping car but sadly, no click clack train ride.

So unless someone knows of another scenic/ vintage train ride in the Pigeon Forge/ Gatlinburg area of the Great Smokey Mountains I think I’ll be limited to the 5 mile adventure on the Dollywood Express.

Any thoughts? Suggestions?