Georgia

Confused? 

Where I am staying is less than 5 miles from the Georgia border , so I will be venturing out into both states during this 2 week stay.

Yesterday I went into Seneca, SC to pick up a few things and get a mani/pedi and a haircut (the worst haircut I have ever had).  I was going to eat at this grill that received good reviews, and the parking lot was pretty full, which I always take as a good sign .... but when I stepped in the door the smell of old grease was so strong, I turned around and came home.

I woke up today to rain and thunder and lightning.  I know the rain was needed; I hope it helps with the terrible fires in Gatlinburg and the Smokey Mountains .... but, being from California, I know sometimes the rain can cause more problems so I will be holding good thoughts for all.  It is an anxious feeling, watching the video coverage of the streets I was driving down just a couple of days before...

The rain let up for a couple of hours in the afternoon, so I took off.  As I mentioned, I am only here 2 weeks and I have the ever- present list .... ha.

My first stop took me 30 miles out of my way - thank you directions - but no drive is ever a waste of time if you have the time.

Cornelia's Big Red Apple was built in 1925 as homage to the apple and apple growers of the county. The statue weights over 5000 pounds and stands almost 14 feet tall.

I had the roads pretty much to myself for the first part of my trip, which was nice.  There seemed to be a lot of Highway Patrol out though.  The trees along Highway 17, Veterans Memorial Highway, were still pretty, but as I looked at them, remembering the fires, they took on a whole new dimension of being dried leaves.  A shame.

The next stop wasn't worth the drive, but here it is ..

Outside Lula is a huge 15-foot orange and white rocking chair that was originally built for photo opportunities after school kids had visited Goldbrook Pumpkin Farm. Now folks from all over visit and snap photos of the giant rocking chair.

I originally added the Cabbage Patch hospital to my list because of memories I had of the year they were so popular, but it turned out to be a fun experience.  I arrived just as they were having a "birthing" and it was really fun ... the LVN took us through the process - like it was a human baby - but with play on words that are actually associated with a birth.  We even got to name the baby and pick the sex, and then see him in the nursery.  The rest of the "hospital" was a huge store.

LVN assisting in the birth

Voted as one of Travel Channel's Top Ten Toyland's, the Baby Land General Hospital sits on 650 acres, offers free admission and is filled with Cabbage Patch Kids

My last stop before the rains came back ....

The Gourd Museum is a free permanent exhibit of more than 200 gourds from many different countries from around the globe. See contemporary and even ancient gourds

The rest of the list for today included hikes and waterfalls, so with the rain, I tabled it for another day and headed home.

Thursday's excursion has both Georgia and South Carolina stops, so don't get confused.  ha.

South Carolina - the Palmetto state

Asked by the Revolutionary Council of Safety in the fall of 1775 to design a flag for the use of South Carolina troops, Col. William Moultrie chose a blue which matched the color of their uniforms and a crescent which reproduced the silver emblem worn on the front of their caps. The palmetto tree was added later to represent Moultrie's heroic defense of the palmetto-log fort on Sullivan's Island against the attack of the British fleet on June 28, 1776.

1. The state dance of South Carolina is the Shag!
2. South Carolina is the nation's leading peach producer and shipper east of the Mississippi River.Johnston is known as the Peach Capital of the World. (I thought peaches came from Georgia)
3. Before being known as the Palmetto State, South Carolina was known as, and had emblazoned on their license plates, the Iodine State. 
4. Sumter has the largest Gingko farm in the world.  
5. Tyler Brothers Work Shoe and Boot Company in Wagener produces 8 major brands of OSHA approved safety footwear, including such famous brands as Redwing, Georgia, Northlake, and Wolverine.
6. The Board of Public Works in Gaffney built an elevated water storage tank in the shape of a peach in 1981.(I'm going to take a picture when I'm there!)
7. The introduction of tobacco in 1894 rocketed Mullins into the Tobacco Capital of South Carolina. As many as 200 tobacco barns sprang up throughout the community. Warehouses were also constructed and the first tobacco sale took place on August 28, 1895.

and the Great Smokey Mountains

Unfortunately, the traffic stayed with me here as well....

But worth every moment!

The drive into the Smokey Mountains National Park was lovely. Although the trees along the road are looking a little bare,  there is enough leaf color below, on the tops and behind the trees on the mountains that reflects almost a glow as you drive ... very pretty.  There was a rocky creek that followed the road through the park that added to the beauty.

The Trail heads were packed with cars/people, so I didn't stop to do any of the hikes. When the trail is that crowded, I don't find it as pleasurable.

There were groups of wild turkeys along the road.  I wonder if anyone picked up dinner while they were here.

And this was a cool tunnel under the mountain ...                       

I had the privilege (and the terror) of driving over the range again on my way to South Carolina.  I would consider myself a good mountain driver, but even I had to pull over twice to cool the brakes.  On a "fun" note, I got to use my "jake brake" for the first time!  Even down-shifting didn't slow that 16 tons down.

Between Knoxville, TN and Fair Play, SC - only a distance of about 200 miles - the drive took 6 hours.  I went through Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia and into South Carolina - just the "corners" but I was glad to finally arrive.  The drive was some rough back roads ... funny, when I asked Google for the route the first response was "you can't drive there from here." Good thing my GPS knew the way.

Interestingly, I had trouble finding propane.  None of the travel centers or truck stops supply propane. I finally found it at a nursery with the help of the camp ground host.  If the outside temp is 45 degress or below, I have to use propane for heat (it keeps my pipes from freezing).  I was able to milk a 1/4 tank for 2 weeks in Tennessee, but knew I couldn't go any longer.  Fortunately, the first day in South Carolina the temps were in the high 70s and it didn't get cold at night .... but I know that's a lull.

The people that stay long term in this campground have their Christmas displays up .... you don't need a light to wander around at night.

My first Thanksgiving alone in the coach .... I ate left-over red beans and rice that I made in the crock pot before I left Tennessee, planned what to see while I'm here in South Carolina, and watched a Christmas movie ... just like home.  ha.

Gatlingburg (Known as the "Honeymoon Capital of the South")

Starting the day off with the curious ... ha.

Visit the Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum in Winery Square, home to 20,000 sets of salt and pepper shakes from around the world. Follow time, dating back from the early 1500s up to modern times through the designs, shapes and sizes of the shakers.

Notice in the background of this picture the Sky Lift; I was going to ride this but parking was not to be had!  Gatlinburg was so crowded that I was afraid a pedestrian would fall off the sidewalk in front of my car.  It reminded me a little of Main Street at closing.  I don't know if the crowds were people on vacation, visiting relatives, or early Christmas shopping ... I thought with the foliage being past it's prime, the crowds would have thinned out. I didn't take into account the holiday week.




Although close in proximity/mileage, Gatlinburg has a very different feel to it than Pigeon Forge.  Pigeon Forge is more of carnival/arcade atmosphere, whereas Gatlinburg has a more old town/quaint/main street feel.   They are both just a commercialized with non-stop shopping and places to eat ....

This is where I ate - They start you out with fresh, hot apple fritters and homemade apple butter and an apple julep while you place your order and wait for your food.

Chatanooga

The temps have dropped a little .... it is 27 degrees at 9am .... for a high of about 50 degrees at the peak.  I had ice on my windshield that had to be dealt with ... it was cold getting out to take pictures until those temps got a little higher (it wasn't 40 yet at noon).

Some of the sights I saw ....

Mayfield Dairy - since I was delayed a day and was traveling on Sunday, unfortunately this was closed.  Bummer, because I like to sample the local ice cream.

Learn about the process of making milk at the Mayfield Diary in Athens. Experience the strenuous task of milking giant artificial cows or go on an ice cream tour to taste and see how Mayfield Ice Cream is made.

The Incline Railway - 72.7% grade!  After the train ride, I drove the 1.9 miles up to the top of Lookout Mountain and it was a beautiful drive.

The Incline Railway up historic Lookout Mountain is the world's steepest passenger railway. In operation since 1895, the Incline is a National Historic site and Mechanical Engineering Landmark. Visit the machine room where the giant gears are put into motion.

Pictures of Chatanooga from the top of Lookout Mountain

Ruby Falls - The cave was not very pretty,but the falls were worth the walk ....

Plunging 145 feet, Ruby Falls makes for a spectacular sight deep in the heart of Lookout Mountain. High-speed elevators take visitors 20 stories below the mountain peak to the caverns below.

Moon Pie General Store -

The Moon Pie, created in the 1920s right here in Chattanooga, has transcended its Southern roots and is now enjoyed around the world. Although you can’t take a tour of the factory, you can visit the general store where you can glance at a factory-tour video while perusing an impressive range of Moon Pie products including T-shirts, cups, caps, pen knives, Christmas ornaments. . . oh, yeah, and Moon Pies in all their flavors: chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, and banana, lemon, orange, peanut butter, and mint.

I had lunch here at an old fashioned soda fountain counter; I ordered the "Out of this World Dog" ... it was great!  Chili, cheese, onion and slaw.  I may have to eat them like that from now on ... and, of course, the dog came with chips, drink and a Moon Pie.

I passed my first Christmas Tree lot, full of trees.

Stopped at Hardees for a Diet Coke .... better known as Carl's Jr. to us Californians ... they actually serve a pork chop and gravy on a biscuit as one of their entrees.

Now, this house was worth seeing ...

The Flying Saucer House on Signal Mountain is a unique building, with an interesting exterior. The house was built in 1970 and features a several windows, three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

Pigeon Forge

Another perfect day of cool sunshine. 

Today's adventure was to Pigeon Forge - home of Dollywood.

First stop:

The Dolly Parton statue is situated on the front lawn of the Sevierville courthouse. The bronze statue depicts Parton playing her guitar while barefoot.

Not a very good picture, but I had to take it from my window as there was no place to park or stop.

Built in 1875, the Harrisburg Covered Bridge offers a single lane for vehicle traffic over Little Pigeon River. The bridge is about 88 ft. long.

 

I visited a couple of quilt shops for local fabric and then stopped for lunch at the Apple Barn.  While you wait for your meal, they provide warm apple fritters with their own apple butter and an orange julep, made from assorted juices.  You can tour the cider mill and general store.

And then onto Dollywood.  It cost $70 for a senior ticket plus $12 to park.  The park is built on the mountain, so all of the sections are uphill ...  It is all about Dolly - with a movie of her life, a replica of the cabin she grew up in, her tour bus, her "closet," etc.  There is a show with 8 of her siblings, but she is "on" the movie screen above them singing along and offering commentary.

Dolly Parton's flamboyant theme park has plenty of rides including the award-winning wooden rollercoaster, The Thunderhead. But the main feature of the park is live entertainment showcasing country, bluegrass, mountain, and gospel music. For a taste of local mountain culture visit one of the master craftsmen and learn about blacksmithing, glass blowing, and woodcarving.

The park itself has a limited number of rides (they are either children oriented or "thriller" coasters...not much for us tamer ride riders.  They did have a Scrambler, which I enjoyed.  This was my favorite ride as a teen and it was fun.

Here are a couple of rides I DID NOT venture onto ...

And ...

The park had a feel of the old Knott's Berry Farm, except with a Hillbilly vibe, and lots more shopping and places to eat.

I watched three of the shows, passed on the parade, and headed home.  The shows only repeat twice, and they are on at the same time, so it was impossible to see any more than I did.

On a sad note, for those of you who knew him, Les passed away this week, Monday, from a heart attack.  He would have been 73 next month.  I am arranging for him to be buried with his parents in Westminster; his father had purchased a plot for the three of them.

Northeast Tennessee

Headed out early this morning with a pretty ambitious list of things to see, unfortunately with the shorter admission hours and the early sundown, I didn't get through half the list before I headed back.  It was really too far to go for a day trip .... the first stop was 2 hours away.

Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park:  Located in the mountains of northeastern Tennessee where the first pioneers entered the state, this 105-acre park contains a reproduction of the cabin where Davy Crockett was born. It is furnished as it would have been had he lived there. The adjacent museum offers exhibits and a short video.

The Andrew Johnson National Historic Site

Lunch was at Pal's Sudden Service .... a fast food chain; there is no inside seating - you place your order on one side of the building and drive around to the other to pick up the order.  I had their "sauce burger" which was a hamburger with a sloppy joe sauce.  Good.

the very first Pal's restaurant, that opened in 1956

The Kingsport water tower is both a water tower and an advertisement. The water tower features vibrant paint and the words "Move to Kingsport" as a way to "promote tourism and local development".

The Grand Guitar is a giant guitar museum and gift shop. View a collection of records and guitars collected over time in the interior of a massive guitar. - when I read this description I added it to my list of things to see.  However, when I drove by, it was closed and very run down.

I also planned to stop at some of the caverns they have in the area, but ran out of time, so I have it on the list for when I return.

Jonesborough is Tennessee's oldest town, founded in 1779, and is host to the International Storytelling Center.  It looked to be quite quaint.

A cool town was Bristol.  State Street, Bristol's main thoroughfare, is bisected by the Tennessee/Virginia border.  The double yellow lines down the street's center denote the dividing line.  The Tennessee flag flies on one side of the street; Virginia on the other.  Each side has their own government and city offices.

Congress declared Bristol the Birthplace of Country Music in 1998 because of the 1927 Bristol Sessions recordings.  They have The Birthplace of Country Music Museum, a Smithsonian-affiliated museum featuring permanent and  rotating exhibits documenting the impact of the 1927 Bristol Sessions recordings on country music.

Earlier I did get to the Lincoln Museum ...

I'm not sure it hit 60 degrees all day, so a little cooler than the rest of the week.  They have forest fires on the eastern state border, so I'm waiting to head to the Smokey Mountains until they are under control.

This is basically the area I'm covering while I'm here  ..

My next adventure is Pigeon Forge to see Dolly!

Knoxville ... day 2

Well, the best laid plans .... I had some sights and museums to see in town but everything was closed because of the football game.  As I was told when I inquired .... "they bleed orange for UT."  It was eerie in town .... vehicles parked everywhere and not a person in sight .... like they were abandoned during a scary movie.

I did get a tour of the Mabry-Hazen House Museum (the only one open), which was very interesting.

The Mabry-Hazen House was built in 1858 and was used as a headquarters by both the Union and the Confederate army during the Civil War. The interior of the two story home is decorated as if the original families never left.  The last family member left it to be used "as is" as a museum.

I headed over to the Sunsphere, but couldn't find a place to park. I'll have to plan another day in Knoxville before I leave.

The Knoxville Sunsphere was showcased in 1982 at the World's Fair. The 266 ft. tall tower features five different open areas for visitors to explore.

My last stop ...

The "Rowing Man" sculpture in Downtown Knoxville is a unique piece of artwork. The statue can be seen sinking into the sidewalk while attempting to row his nearly submerged boat.

And then dinner - I must be in the "South" because the only food and drink they have here should come with either a diabetes or a heart-attack warning.  I stopped at Shoney's for dinner - a local chain I'm assuming - my turkey sandwich was served on grilled bread that was still dripping butter and three kinds of cheese with a baked potato.  Although I'm clear to order UN-sweetened ice tea, I still get served the sweet tea - it will send you into a coma - and have to send it back. ha  And they do love their buffets ...

The campground I'm in is quite. They have happy hour every day at 4, a jazz jam session one night, and an ice cream social on Sunday.

I'm still not entirely used to the number of people who "live" in campgrounds.  When I was setting up a boy and girl came over to check me out and visit.  When I asked where they were from, the boy gave me an odd look - they live here because "its cheaper than their house" and he is home schooled.

The days are short ... sunset is about 5 or 5:30pm each day.  Winter hours at the amusements are sometimes only 10-4,and closed a couple days, so it's forcing me to drive back to the same area a couple of times to do what I wanted to do with a long day, or be more selective in what I see.  I have 5 or 6 more areas I want to check out before I leave, so I'll have to get a move on.

Knoxville, TN

I took some "back roads" rather than I-40 Interstate the entire way and saw really beautiful fall color; the disadvantage was the 2-lane mountain roads, which "moved" a lot of the interior belongings from their resting places, but it was well worth the trip.  The route took me through the Pisgah National Forest, and along a river part of the way. 

The first Tennessee County I crossed after entering the state was Cocke County.  The entire time I'm driving across the county I'm recalling a conversation I had with a lady at the Natural Bridge; she was from Tennessee and was giving me advice about her state.  Her recommendation was to not to go into Cocke County .... oh well.

Diesel is about 40 - 50 cents cheaper here than in North Carolina.  I'll have to remember to fill my tank before I leave.  This is the first/only place I have seen Pilot gas stations without truck lanes ... they are just "normal" corner gas stations.  I didn't know about that aspect of the company.  I'll have to pay attention before I stop to fill the tank, as they are my preferred station.


My biggest issue at the moment is I'm running low on propane for heat.  I can drive down the road and fill the tank, but I'll have to pack up to move the coach.  I checked to see if there was a mobile service - no.  The guy will rent me a tank for the time I'm here, but I have to figure how to move a 50 pound tank and hook it up.  I was hoping they had a maintenance man here at the campground to help me, but they don't.  I walked around the campground to see if anyone else was using a portable tank in hope of asking for their help, but did not find anyone and all the residence are older (like me!) gentlemen and I hated to ask them to help me lift the tank.  I'm trying to conserve as best I can, but I won't have enough propane to last my stay.


After settling in, I took a short tour of the area.  Although there is nice color on the trees, unfortunately I'm seeing more and more bare limbs.  The temps are mid-60's and sunny during the day (perfect!) and 30's at night with freeze warnings.  Because of the freeze warnings, I'm not able to leave my hose connected, so I have to fill my holding tank as needed.   It was 38 degrees at 10am this morning; but it doesn't seem cold.  I haven't worn a jacket yet and the day temps seem perfect.  I did put flannel sheets on the bed when I changed it, just in case.

The first stop was the car wash.  I try to make it one of my first stops when I land somewhere, to get the road dirt off of the car.  I use one of  the $10 drive-thru type and then do the inside myself.

I did pass Pond Gap Elementary School - what a name.

This is Walmart heaven; I haven't seen this many since I left their home state.

Off to see some sights ....

4-ton International Friendship Bell in Oak Ridge. Built in Japan, the bell represents the new found friendship of American and Japan after World War II.

Conner Creek Covered Bridge

Next stop - Log Cabin where Sam Houston taught.  As a boy of 18, he taught school in this one-room log cabin, as a way to pay off $100 of debt.  He went on to become US Representative from Tennessee, Governor of Tennessee, General of the Army/Texas, President/ Republic of Texas, Governor of Texas, and US Senator from Texas.

Alex Haley Heritage Square

Millennium Manor Castle was built in 1938 and is completely made of Tennessee pink marble. The 15-room home also has a 2-car garage and a gazebo. The castle is currently being restored.