Mountain Blogging
My cousin, Brad, came down from New York to visit for the weekend and we took him to the Smokies and to see Gatlinburg, a small town in the middle of the mountains. No, we did not make it to Dollywood (although we did show him Pigeon Forge)--it is closed until the end of the month. If you have never been to Gatlinburg, it is quite an experience--the town is not for those watching their weight--there are non-stop fudge shops, taffy stores and funnelcake stands. My cousin was baffled as to what a funnel cake was--but if you have spent time in the South, you will know. The town was full of tourists and children hyped up on sugur wandering aimlessly from shop to shop. If you are looking for some tacky t-shirts with interesting sayings--Gatlinburg will not disappoint you. My favorites--"There is thin woman in every fat woman trying to get out--but I usually shut the bitch up with chocolates" and several men I saw displayed the chick magnet t-shirt--"No Fat Chicks." Well, you get the idea. Anyway, here are some pictures from Cades Cove in the Smokies:
Here is a picture of Glenn and me.
Here is a picture of Brad and me.
Anyone else have an interesting weekend?
Here is a picture of Glenn and me.
Here is a picture of Brad and me.
Anyone else have an interesting weekend?
posted by Helen at 7:31 PM
30 Comments:
Oh, c'mon, Dr. Helen. You HAVE to tell folks all about "The Lost Sea" in Tennessee. Especially about the Viking motif!
It's almost as cool as Rock City.
But then, I am a Yankee.
I like Mahler's Fifth too... (can't recall whose version I own...too pooped to get up and find out).
I spent the weekend gardening in my backyard. Planted penstemon, aster, and yarrow, pruned the lilac and passiflora, thinned the bamboo, pinched the tips off my sage bush, moved a hosta that I forgot about until it came back up last week, mulched a shady corner and planted a white flowering currant, moved some heuchera and bromeliads next to an oak seedling someone gave me recently, rotated a containerized lemon bush 180 degrees, fertilized Cecile Bruner with fish emulsion, beamed proudly at various seedlings coming up here and there, turned the compost pile...
I'm pooped.
I watched W.C. Fields' movies.
Clinical reviews on the internet for my employer. That and taking anti-nausea meds. Damn, I hate chemo! ;-)
On the other hand, it looks like you had a great time judging from the smiles. The weather looks cool and crisp.
Ah hell, I just walked my dogs and worried about money. Same as always...
Good to see you and yours having a good time in Appalachia; big smiles and nice weather. The Gatlinburg area doesn't really reflect the Mid-South since it was re-invented into a vacation-esque spot, but I hope you re-visit and spend some time in Asheville, Chatanooga, Blowing Rock, Valle Crucis, etc.
Chuck B: Compost pile. Pooped...heh.
GMRoper: Best to you with your recovery.
Dan Patterson
Arrogant Infidel
The Holy City of Winston-Salem
I tore my kitchen apart, including removal of soffits and two walls. Now I get to put it back together.
Eric Blair,
Yes, the Lost Sea is very cool--going through an underground cavern in a boat--what could be more thrilling. One of our friend's families owns the Lost Sea --but I have only been once as a child.
GM,
Medications are no fun--you sometimes wonder what's worse--the disease you have or the side effects of the drugs. But at least you get to do clinical reviews on the internet--what could be more fun?
Dan,
Walking your dogs sounds relaxing--worrying about money--not so much. I think listening to music and tearing down kitchens like others here sounds more therapeutic.
Working on taxes certainly doesn't count as interesting.
bruce,
No, that sounds really depressing--especially if one is self-employed like I am and you look at the 15% Social Security Tax and cringe. I do every year.
I spent every summer of my childhood in East Tennessee. Gatlinburg is/was? the tackiest place on earth, but we loved it as kids. Do they still have windows full of those glass birds dipping their heads in water?
YOWZA! Glenn does have big hands.
Dr Helen --
That should be depressing for everyone, even those who work for other people. For them, half the money comes out of your paycheck on the FICA line, and the other half is paid directly by the employer before it even reaches the Gross Pay part of the check. T
But hey, that money is going to be waiting for us when we retire (he says with a perfectly straight face)
Hauled brush away from backyard to city drop-off place, and schlepped armoire from garage to living room, then put TV/satellite receiver in it. Rewarded friend who helped me do this by feeding him the best barbecue on the planet. Spent much of remainder of weekend flat on my back due to head cold which I mistakenly thought was receding.
Visited Gatlinburg in summer of '69 -- I remember some kind of science museum that seemed incredibly cool, including playing tic-tac-toe against a "computer."
Good thing you avoided Pigeon Forge. That place is Tourist Hell!
Next time you should take your cousin to Asheville, NC. Aside from the hippes, it's a cool town and it has the most awesome chocolate shop (The Chocolate Fetish).
Anna,
We had thought of going to Ashville--I drive through there often but have never stopped and believe it or not, I have never been to the Builtmore Estate. I have heard about what a great place Ashville is--maybe next time. Thanks for the heads up on the Chocolate shop!
Angela: Now we know why Helen is always smiling in these pictures!
Ok, too much of a coincidence: barbeque keeps popping up in the comments, and I'm going to be in Gatlinburg later this year. Who does good barbeque in the area, say between Gatlinburg and Knoxville?
This past weekend? Too cold for yard work, but 'The World's Fastest Indian' finally opened in town. You might find it interesting, Dr. H.
Cheers,
RGT
Helen, the disease is worse The drugs for the cure are a pain in the bohinkus, but better than the alternative. :-)
Fight On!
RGT,
Bennett's Barbeque and Corky's Barbeque are in Pigeon Forge on 441 and both are good. There is also Calhoun's Barbeque right in Gatlinburg which is really good and there are several Calhoun's in Knoxville.
Gatlinburg has a cool Fish-a-quarium complete with sharks and crazy looking things with spikes. Try to avoid going when all the tourists are in town, especially the 4th, Labor day and "leaf season".
I agree about Asheville, it is divine and the Biltmore estate is awesome particularly during the Christmas season when it is all done up in ribbons and bows.
When in pigeon forge, I always try to eat at the Apple Barn. Yes, its for tourists but thats ok since that's what I am.
Can recommend Asheville, too. It's great place to go shopping/antiquing, it's gorgeous.
Many thanks, Helen!
RGT
ps - hope it didn't sound like I was hatin' on Gatlinburg. Quite the opposite. You've got me pining for a trip "down home"!
Smokies, black bears to eat your picnic, Cosby, the Alcoa duck pond...man, I'm homesick now.
Gatlinburg is simply put the ultimate vacation spot. Fireworks, native crafts, an incredible (if polluted) national park, wax museums, history, caverns, airbrushed t-shirts, excellent barbeque (go to the crossroads in Cosby -- by the post office. If the Cosby BBQ is still there, it's probably the best in the country, next to the Ridgewood in Bluff City), the tackiest souvenirs in America, and an entire go-kart theme park devoted to NASCAR. Add indoor skydiving and you're pretty much set. Man, I am jealous! It's been five years since I've been back.
Corky's and Calhoun's. Soooo good. Those pictures look great and make me miss my college days at Sewanee. What a wonderful part of the country.
A fast food place, Buddy's Barbeque, has better barbeque than anywhere in Cincinnati and most places in the north. The Apple Barn and Cider Mill is definitely worth whatver wait you may have. I went to high school with a girl whose grandparents owned the farm before it became a restaurant, etc.
I prefer the quiet side of the Smokeys, Townsend. I stay at the Tremont Hills Campground there 2-3 times or more every year (already been there once this year). Go swimming at the "Y" and it's a short drive to Cades Cove where you find wild mountain honey, grist mill, double cantilever barn and Abram's Falls and sourghum the right time of year (and maybe DrHelen having her picture taken). For me, that's as good as it gets.
I saw Stereolab play in New York at Town Hall.
I spent last weekend in the Bryson City area fishing Hazel Creek and Deep Creek in the Park. Haven't been to Gatlinburg in years. If I want to sit in traffic I can just go down to Hoover near the Galleria on Hwy 31.
RE BBQ - Have to second Calhoun's, I guess, since I used to work there (the one on the river). But if you're ever in the Tri-cities area - say on your way to Bristol - you should check out Ridgewood Barbecue - http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Overview.aspx?RefID=446
RE this weekend - I'll be driving from Minneapolis to York, SC to visit family. I will be passing through both Knoxville and Ashville (though not Gatlinburg unless I want to go the long way - which I don't), though I doubt I'll be stopping for BBQ, chocolate, or a tour of Biltmore.
I have, however BEEN to both Biltmore, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Cades Cove and I went to an eco-retreat at Tremont a long time ago in sixth grade.
So there, did I manage to touch on everyone's comments except the ones referencing Glenn's hands which I'm politely ignoring.
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