Here is the journal of our trip to TN:
5.12.07 - Arrived after dark at Hollyberry Lodge what an adorable home with so much “character”!
5.13.07 – Mother’s Day – We explored river’s edge behind the house, went grocery shopping and went to the river and took a “dip”.
5.14.07 – Drove through Gatlinburg – decided that the parking was too remote from what there was to do, found a spot on the river between Gatlinburg & Townsend and swam in the "Little River"!
5.15.07 – Went into Pigeon Forge to get some things at Walmart; decided we would go back for the helicopter museum and Huck Finn’s Catfish Restaurant another day; went back to the "Little River" beach from yesterday and spent nearly 4 hours splashing & swimming.
5.16.07 – Rainy Day. Slept, read, saw a Sandhill Crane at the river behind the house. Picked up trash the coons got into!
5.17.07 – Cooler today but sunny! We went to Pigeon Forge and visited the Helicopter Museum. Christopher LOVED IT!!! (Although a bit over priced it has some cool stuff for helicopter lovers!). We ate fried catfish, hushpuppies and drank sweet tea and drove through the mountains.
5.18.07 Drove up Newfound Gap Road – WOW! We stopped several times to take pictures and one stop to put our feet in the "Little Pigeon River" – the most crystal clear water I’ve ever seen!! Drove to Clingman’s Dome – it was COLD – but the view was breathtaking! What kind of tenacity brought the settlers over that summit?! We were speechless. On the way back down Newfound Gap Road (we didn’t go all the way to the NC side) we saw a young black Bear nibbling in the woods!!! We even got some pictures. We got some books to use for homeschool curriculum when we get back to Indiana. An AWESOME day!!!
5.19.07 Drove through Cades Cove intending to drive Parson’s Branch Road. It was closed due to flood damage, so we continued through Cades Cove. Mid-day, Saturday = lots of people (!) but we still got to see a doe up close leisurely munching on grass. She posed so beautifully for photos! Then we saw a pileated woodpecker, up close and got a photograph that would invoke envy in the birdwatcher or photographers’ heart! We drove up to the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont and then followed the gravel road to the footbridge. We followed the Middle Prong Trail to see the Lynn Camp Prong Cascade. Last but not least, Claudia & Christopher walked next door to hear some dulcimer music on the Pickin’ Porch! What a wonderful week we’ve had!!
May 20, 2007 Headin’ home to Indiana!
PS There is a 2.5 snake living under the back porch of Hollyberry Lodge– we found the skin in the plants!
