Labor Day

Our Labor Day holiday extended through two weekends. Since Jenny had to travel, we started our family celebration a week early. After everyone arrived on Friday night we went to The Island for dinner at Timberwood Grill. After checking out the new stores we stayed long enough to see the Fountain Show and the Human Statue. It occurred to me after I got home that the statue would have probably interacted with us if I had put some "gold" in his pirate's chest!

Afterwards we headed home to watch some television and plan for our Saturday adventure. 

After breakfast on Saturday we headed to Townsend to go tubing. We decided to try River Rats Tubing. That way we wouldn't  have to worry about taking tubes or the logistics of transportation. They drive you down the road and then you tube back to their property. They have two options: "Easy Float" or "Slight Rapids". I was all for the longer easy float option, but the man said that was "closed" because the water level was too low and it would take too long to get down the river. So we opted for the slight rapids. Oh my!  I spent most of the day trying to keep my head above water.....literally!  There was one time when I saw my life flash before my eyes. I had no idea it could be so difficult to get upright in 3 feet of water.  There are probably a million rocks in that section of river and I crashed into most of them!  But, I finally made it down the river, bruised and battered. (I'm too old for this stuff, but the kids had fun.)

After tubing, we had barbecue at their restaurant since we bought the package deal. Food never tasted so good!  We finally dragged our weary bones back into the truck and headed for the house. We grilled hamburgers for dinner and watched Sherlock Holmes. 

On Sunday after breakfast, Jenny and Bobby headed back to Knoxville since she had to fly to Texas. Keith and Jeff hiked the Meigs Mountain Trail. 

We spent the rest of the day watching sports and Jeff headed home after dinner. 

After just a few short days, Keith and I headed back to the mountain. He had a business meeting on Wednesday and I spent the afternoon setting up our new television for the Spa Room. 

Jeff joined us on the mountain on Friday after a long day at work. 

On Saturday, the guys hiked the Meigs Creek Trail. They were excited about seeing otters at the Sinks. 

We spent all of Saturday afternoon watching NCAA football and checking the "Pick 'Em". As usual, Jeff came out ahead on that!  For dinner I fixed Low Country Boil. Yum!  It was pretty good if I do say so myself. That recipe is definitely a keeper!

Afterwards we headed to the lower deck to try out the hot tub and the new television. Yes, I know, we're spoiled!

On Sunday, we got ready for Football Time in Tennessee!  I must say the day got off to an inauspicious start. We decided to wait until about 2:00 to go over to the game. I mean, we have a parking pass so there's no need to be in a rush. That would still give us plenty of time to tailgate before the 7:00 kickoff. It was only after we had packed up the car and got ready to go that I realized I had left the parking pass at home. Oh well, we would have to pay but we knew about a good location we had used before. Apparently, on opening day Vol fans start tailgating at the crack of dawn. There was not a decent spot to be found. We drove around until we finally found a parking space across the river. That meant we would have to walk over a mile up and down the hills to get to the game!  Oh well, we got our grill set up and Keith started cooking. 

Once the burgers were ready we discovered that the entire pack of hamburger buns were covered with mold!  I guess it was a good thing we parked where we did because there was a little gas station/market next to us and Keith ran over and bought buns. We ate, packed up the truck, and then started our long trek to the stadium. It was a long walk, but I must say the view was great!

We got to the stadium and that's when the bottom fell out!  Rain! Rain! Rain!  Fortunately we "borrowed" some seats under cover and stayed there until their legitimate owners showed up and ran us off. Fortunately, the rain stopped and we arrived at our real seats just in time for kickoff. The rest of the evening was fantastic!  

Vols 38, Utah State 7. Hopefully, we will have a good football season. 

After the game we went down and out of the stadium, up the hill, over the river, through the woods and back up the mountain!  Keith and Jeff headed straight for the hot tub. I headed straight for the shower and the bed!  A good time was had by all. 

On Monday, we all slept late. After unpacking the truck, we nibbled and watched baseball while Keith got the grill ready for Smoked Ribs. 

We concluded our two weekend Labor Day Extravaganza with dinner on the deck. 

Another great holiday in the books, but autumn is coming and we have big plans for October. Stay tuned!

Independence Day

July 4 weekend must be an excellent time to go to the mountains because it sure was crowded! Keith had business in Knoxville on Tuesday so we got a jump start on the traffic. After dinner with Jenny & Bobby, we headed to the mountain. As usual, I spent Wednesday planning and cooking. For some reason when I come to the mountain I take the time to try new recipes. Some work and some don't, but most of them have been keepers. This Flag Cake seemed to be a popular choice on the internet so I tried it. It tastes like Strawberry Shortcake. (Keeper!)

Jeff arrived on Wednesday afternoon and we went ahead and cut that cake a few days early. 

Thursday morning Keith and Jeff went for a short hike. They couldn't venture too far out of cell range since Jeff was on call for the weekend. They hiked the Fighting Creek Nature Trail near the Sugarlands Visitors Center. They saw the John Ownbey Cabin. 

Thursday afternoon was spent watching World Cup Soccer and then we had dinner on the deck. I grilled Cheesy Buffalo Chicken with red, white, & blue potatoes. Actually the potatoes were purple, but close enough!

After dinner we headed to the ballpark to see the TN Smokies play. There was a tie and the game was finally decided in the 16th inning!  The Montgomery Biscuits won 4-3. Yes, they are called the Biscuits. It seems like a strange name for a baseball team, but there you have it. The fireworks were fantastic as usual. This time the music was a medley of patriotic tunes. 

We finally got home after 1:30 am and, as luck would have it, Jeff got a work call at 4 am!  Needless to say, he spent part of the 4th sleeping, when we weren't watching soccer. 

We had our Fourth of July Feast (Surf & Turf) on the deck. We had Brownies with homemade ice cream for dessert. I really like my new Oster Ice Cream Maker. It makes just the right amount for a small family. 

On Friday night we went to the Patriot Festival at Patriot Park. Last year it was rainy so the crowd was somewhat smaller, but this year the weather was perfect and the crowd was huge. The traffic was a nightmare. I think the Pigeon Forge PD needs to go get some traffic flow training. There has to be a better way to get people in and out of there!  Anyway, we enjoyed Lonestar and the fireworks were great there as well. 

After a fun day, the guys hit the hot tub. 

We spent Saturday resting and watching more soccer. We decided to go to The Island to check on the progress of the world's largest jigsaw puzzle at Puzzles, Etc. This 33,600 piece puzzle is being worked in sections by the general public. When completed, it will be glued together and placed on the wall in the store. The first section of the puzzle is almost complete. You can follow the progress on You Tube ("Wildlife", Pete Jucker) and if you watch closely you might see me and Jeff standing at the table sometime around 7:15 on July 5. 

We had dinner at the new Magaritaville on the Island. The food and service were really good, considering the place opened only two weeks ago. The Island continues to open more stores and is a very popular place to be. 

Keith and Jeff hiked the Cove Mountain Trail on Sunday. They continue to explore all the nooks and crannies of the park. Jeff has been on 30 hikes in the park during the past two years. 

We spent the rest of the day watching television and resting up before heading home. Another great holiday in the books. 

The Interview

On Saturday, June 14, Keith & Jeff hiked to the top of Mt LeConte.

I decided to interview them after their trip. Here is what they had to say:

Which trail did you take?

-We hiked up Alum Cave Bluff Trail. At 4.9 miles long, it is the shortest but also the steepest trail to LeConte. 

What time did you hit the trail?

- We started our hike at 6:50 am. 

How long did it take to reach the top?

-It took 3 hours and 45 minutes to reach the top. 

How was the weather and visibility?

-The weather was great. It was cool and clear going up. At the top it was 67 degrees with clouds below us. 

Did you see any bears or other wildlife along the way?

-We saw unusually tame red squirrels on top. No bears during our hike, but we did see a bear on the way home, just around the corner from the house.

We saw lots of Mountain Laurel, Flame Azaleas, and Rhododendron in bloom. 

Did you meet any interesting people along the trail?

-We met a couple from Knoxville who were quite knowledgable about the mountain. 

We saw lots of families with young children. We saw a man with three teenage girls from Atlanta. He wanted the "city girls" to experience nature, but they were more concerned about whether or not they would have cell reception. He kept telling them the top was "just 1/2 mile ahead" over and over. 

We also met a family from Memphis. They live near Germantown. 

What did you see/do at the top?

-After we reached the Lodge, we hiked to Cliff Top and Myrtle Point. 

Then we had lunch at the Lodge and shopped at the Lodge Store. Jeff bought the special Gold Mt LeConte hiking medallion for his stick. Keith bought a Mt LeConte t-shirt. 

How was the Lodge?

-The Lodge consists of a large dining hall, a building with the office and store, and several cabins for overnight hikers. They can accommodate up to 64 hikers. The Lodge is so popular that reservations must be made about a year in advance!

We were impressed by the historical display in the office and the rock steps going down to the dining hall. 

Did you meet any of the staff?

-We met Allyson, the Lodge keeper who gave us information about lunch. We were served lunch by a man who looks like Santa Claus. 

How long did it take you to get back down to the car?

-We stayed up top for 3 hours and then it took 3 hours 45 minutes to get back to the car. 

Was the trail harder or easier than you expected?

-The trail was easier going up than we expected. It wasn't as painfully steep as we expected. It was just steep for a long distance. It didn't take as long as we thought it might. 

What was the most challenging part of the trail?

-The most challenging part of the hike was maneuvering along slippery rocks while holding onto cables. 

What was the highlight of the trip?

-The highlight of the trip was reaching the top and knowing it was all downhill from there! Actually, Keith loved the view at  Myrtle Point and Jeff liked the Blind Corner. (The name speaks for itself!)

What was the funniest thing that happened on your hike?

- We were coming back down and at 4:30 pm. About a half mile from the car, we encountered this man and little boy with four women. The women were dressed in short, tight, fancy dresses with fishnet stockings. The man was "coaxing" the boy up the trail. As we passed them, one of the women looked at us and said: "We are not prepared!"

Will you go up again?

-We would like to go up again and stay overnight at the Lodge. 

***Congratulations to Jeff for reaching his first goal of 100 miles hiked in the Great Smoky Mountains. 

Jeff earned the GSM 100 mile pin by logging the following:

Grand Total: 101.5

Miles in Tennessee:  95

Miles in North Carolina:  6.5

Trail Miles: 37

Hikes: 28

Trails: 26

Waterfalls: 10

Historic Sites: 5

Towers: 3

Medallions:  16

The Big One

Keith and Jeff decided months ago to take off a weekend in June and hike to the top of The Big One - Mt LeConte!  We drove down on Wednesday, planning  to hike bright and early Thursday morning, but the skies were cloudy and overcast with rain off and on all day. Now they're not afraid of a little rain, but what's the point of hiking up LeConte if you can't see anything after you get up there? They decided to wait for some sunshine on Saturday. In the meantime, after a breakfast of Cinnamon Roll Waffles, we went to Gatlinburg and did a little shopping at one of my favorite spots, The Village. 

There are lots of cool stores there. We enjoyed browsing through the supplies at The Day Hiker, sampling the dips and spreads at The Pepper Palace, and watching the potter work the clay at the downtown Alewine Pottery store. 

We had lunch at Calhoun's and then visited the Nantahala Center and the Sugarlands Visitors Center to get more hiking medallions. Then we went back to the house and watched the first match of World Cup Soccer. Jeff put together a soccer pick 'em so let the competition begin!

After soccer we ate lasagna on the deck. 

After dinner, we decided, on the spur of the moment, to drive over to the Elkmont area to see the synchronous fireflies. 

Science Lesson: 

"Synchronous fireflies (Photinus carolinus) are one of at least 19 species of fireflies that live in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. They are the only species in America whose individuals can synchronize their flashing light patterns and they do so each year in early June as a mating ritual. The Elkmont area of the park has a high population of these fireflies and has become a very popular viewing area."

Lesson Over.

Apparently loads of people come from all over the country just to see these fireflies. Last week there were bus tours over to Elkmont and we tried to get tickets but they sold out very quickly. Anyway, we decided to go over and see if the fireflies were still doing their thing this week. So we packed up the chairs, the camera, the rain ponchos, the water, the umbrellas, the flashlights, and the Deep Woods Off and headed to Elkmont!  Our plan was to arrive and find a good viewing spot just before dark. We grabbed all our gear and headed up the trail just far enough to be away from car headlights. (Total darkness provides the best effect.) 

Shortly after we settled in and as darkness approached, we saw three bears. Fortunately, they were several yards distant and headed away from us. I found myself hoping fireflies weren't afraid of bears. Pretty soon the fireflies started blinking, but we weren't impressed. We were all afraid that maybe we had tramped out to the middle of the woods to see something we could have seen in our backyard. But, along about 10 pm the real show began. WOW!

Imagine: Barry Bonds just hit the record setting home run and all the flash bulbs are exploding. (No that doesn't do it.) Okay, you're at a rock concert and everybody just lit their Bic. (Still doesn't do it.) It was kind of like being at Speedway in Lights without the colors? (No!) It's just impossible to describe and you can't really get a good photo of it. You just had to be there! We're sitting in total darkness watching the most amazing light show I have ever seen! Billions, yes billions, of fireflies - flash, flash, flash for about 8 seconds, then dark for 5 seconds. Synchronized! We stayed till 10:30 and then headed home. That was truly an unforgettable experience!

Here are some photographic attempts that I stole off the internet, but they don't do it justice!

On Friday, the guys got up and hiked Huskey Gap (4.2 miles round trip). They were just warming up for The Big One on Saturday. 

When they returned, tired and hungry, we had a Pizzadilla Party (think Quesadillas with pizza fillings). Another idea I got from Pinterest!  We ate and settled in for some more World Cup. 

On Friday night we had dinner at Holston's Kitchen on our way to see the Smokies play the Mississippi Braves. The Smokies won 8-2 and the fireworks were fantastic!  

When we got home the guys packed up their gear for the big hike on Saturday. 

Saturday!  The day had finally arrived!  Time for The Big One!  The guys got up before dawn so that they could be on the trail by daylight. They were headed for Mt LeConte!

Mt LeConte, at 6,593 feet in elevation, is the third highest peak in the Smoky Mountains. It is the highest peak that is completely in the state of Tennessee. It's the mountain you see from our deck. This is what it looks like on a clear day. 

And this is what I saw out there on Saturday morning. LeConte was "in the clouds". 

Oh well, the guys headed on out hoping that the sun would eventually make an appearance as forecast. There are several different trails that lead to the top of Mt LeConte. They chose the Alum Cave Bluffs Trail. It is the shortest at 4.9 miles (one way) but that means it is also the steepest. 

All day I kept wondering how it was going and what they were seeing. I went to the internet (www.highonleconte.com) and read the blog for Saturday, June 14.  Lo and behold the sun was shining up top and the view from above the clouds was fantastic! 

At 1:00 pm they called me from the top (yes, there's cell service) to let me know they had made it with no trouble. They had explored the top and were having lunch and planning to shop in the Lodge Store.

They arrived home at 6:00 pm, tired and hungry.  We had a Slider Party on the deck to celebrate. Then we polished off the evening with hot tubbing and World Cup on the deck. Jeff declared it his "best vacation ever"!

As the honey moon peeked through the clouds, we called it a night. 

On Sunday we ate a big Smoky Mountain breakfast and then celebrated Father's Day. Keith got new deck rockers. 

We spent the rest of the day eating leftovers, watching soccer and resting our weary bones. And thus another huge weekend is in the books!

*** For more details on the hike to Mt LeConte, read my blog post titled The Interview.***