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We'd really been looking forward to this day, Labor Day, 2010. Our good
friend, Cliff Hannah, invited us to his hometown celebration months ago, and
it was finally time. We left Hidden Mountain with plenty of time to get there,
should be about an hour and a half, so we figured. As it happened, it took us
longer than that just to get out of Sevierville. And then, things really slowed
down.
friend, Cliff Hannah, invited us to his hometown celebration months ago, and
it was finally time. We left Hidden Mountain with plenty of time to get there,
should be about an hour and a half, so we figured. As it happened, it took us
longer than that just to get out of Sevierville. And then, things really slowed
down.
Here's the road out
to the Parkway,
usually about a 3
minute drive, maybe
two or three cars
along the way, that
turned into 20
minutes, by the time
we got to the sign on
the corner.
to the Parkway,
usually about a 3
minute drive, maybe
two or three cars
along the way, that
turned into 20
minutes, by the time
we got to the sign on
the corner.
Something well
over 2 hours to get
from the lodge to
the Interstate, but
we saw some
interesting things
along the way.
over 2 hours to get
from the lodge to
the Interstate, but
we saw some
interesting things
along the way.
The Smoky Bears minor
league baseball team is
hugely popular in this area.
league baseball team is
hugely popular in this area.
We finally made our way out
of Sevierville to I-40, headed
East toward Canton, and we
made great time, until...
of Sevierville to I-40, headed
East toward Canton, and we
made great time, until...
Reduce speed! Are you kidding? We hit another construction zone, and we're going about 3
mile per hour, when we're going at all. Another hour and something lost, stuck behind this
guy from the People's Republic of Minnesota, for pity sake!
mile per hour, when we're going at all. Another hour and something lost, stuck behind this
guy from the People's Republic of Minnesota, for pity sake!
Oh, well. Sherry liked the Virginia license plate, with
the bird and the flowers. We both kinda liked the big
bear paw. Bears are numerous and popular here.
the bird and the flowers. We both kinda liked the big
bear paw. Bears are numerous and popular here.
We wondered whether anybody believed that flimsy fence would
protect us from a rock slide, and we saw a fire on the mountain.
protect us from a rock slide, and we saw a fire on the mountain.
No, Sherry, I didn't make a
wrong turn, and we're not back
in Wisconsin. That's Clayton,
GEORGIA for crying out loud.
wrong turn, and we're not back
in Wisconsin. That's Clayton,
GEORGIA for crying out loud.
While we're waiting in line, we struck up a conversation
with this guy, hauling a 1949 Greavette boat back to his
place to restore. He's done several already. Should be
worth MANY thousands of dollars, when he's through.
with this guy, hauling a 1949 Greavette boat back to his
place to restore. He's done several already. Should be
worth MANY thousands of dollars, when he's through.
Two more locations to consider for Jay's Mall South, where there's plenty of
free parking, but NONE of it's paved.
free parking, but NONE of it's paved.
So this hour and a half trip has turned into an all-afternoon deal,
and we're thinking we'll get to Canton, when pigs...
and we're thinking we'll get to Canton, when pigs...
Great! Maggie Valley. And Canton's
just a few minutes beyond, right? No.
Frau Bluecher, our GPS, apparently
blew a mainspring, and sent us on a
time-wasting wild good chase. And
we're beginning to feel like two
characters in a Stephen King novel.
just a few minutes beyond, right? No.
Frau Bluecher, our GPS, apparently
blew a mainspring, and sent us on a
time-wasting wild good chase. And
we're beginning to feel like two
characters in a Stephen King novel.
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