Last night I went to bed too late. It was after 1 AM by time we made it back to the hotel and got ready for bed. For someone like me who rarely stays up past 10 PM it was traumatic.
I awoke a little after 5 AM. Miss Benita was snoozing in her bed. I decided to read a few minutes. I went back to bed after realizing she wasn’t waking up. I went back to sleep. I didn’t wake up until just after 9 AM. By time we both did our morning hygiene, shower, etc. it was 11:10 AM when we left for “breakfast”. I felt like the day was lost, wasted. I’ll never get those five hours back.
We went to the Denny’s in Pigeon Forge. She ordered biscuits, gravy and hash brown potatoes. I had a heart hearty hamburger with fries. If you are a fellow AARP member, Denny’s gives a 20% discount 24/7/365 to AARP member who show their card and ask for it. Nice. Oh, I’ll call the it Bavarian Denny’s because of it’s architecture.
Next drove Miss Benita to her sister Joette’s house. I deposited her there. No offense to my in-laws, but I needed to have some “me” time. I’ll be back over there at 4 PM. I’ll spend the evening with them. We will drive to Knoxville for dinner with them, my brother-in-laws siblings, and more. We’ll then drive over to the University of Tennessee campus. My nephew Ryan’s high school graduation is there. we” then go back to there house for desert and pats on the back. Ryan in attending the University of Tennessee next fall. He will major in computer engineering.
After dropping of Miss Benita I drove to the gasoline station and topped off the car. Next I drove up and down US 441 which is the tourist strip in Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. It took some pictures of the strange and interesting venues along the way. There are signs everywhere telling you where you are. This one kind of summarizes all the location signs.
There are some interesting and weird building along the US 441 drive. In the cities commercialization is out of control. How about these:
I found this strange building turned upside down.
When did the Hatfields and McCoys move to Tennessee? They had more billboards than a rich politician. They were everywhere!
Pigeon Forge has it’s own Titanic. The last time I saw it had been in Branson, Missouri. The feel of the Seveirville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg area is like a blend of Branson, Missouri with a dash of Eureka Springs, Arkansas.
I guess they were envious of the people of Rapid City, South Dakota which has Mount Rushmore. They have their own version of the famous mountain. Now if I could just figure out who the four are on the Pigeon Forge version,
You can’t be in Pigeon Forge without saying hooray for “Dollywood”.
The were some places peddling adult beverages. Here is one of the venues.
Just when you can’t stand the traffic any longer you run into beautiful scenery and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The development stops at the boundary. The scenery is what you come here for, well at least me.
Why is my first thought of the late Mr. Fred Rodgers when I see this picture? Trolley!
I am a nature lover. Few places are prettier.
And my final example of how nice it is.
More tomorrow. Tomorrow’s agenda is Dollywood.
