Family Vacation in the Smoky Mountains

I survived. No, I am not referring to the recent experience with a tornado. I am referring to our family vacation in Pigeon Forge. Anyone with small children knows that traveling with a five, four and two year old can be unpredictable. Upon arriving to our very plush cabin, we quickly dispersed and staked claim to our rooms. We all had our own bedrooms and bathroom. What a change for me. When we all get together, it is usually sofa city for me. After making an extensive grocery list, me and my brothers performed a quick marathon run and filled our shopping cart in record time. I felt like we were on that grocery store game show. Of course basketball was playing in the background as we visited with each other. I tried my skills shooting pool. Needless to say, I did not win the pool tournament. Saturday morning I woke up early, made some coffee and walked out onto the deck to watch the sun rise. Mom and dad soon joined me for what would be our last moment of serenity for the next few days.

We somehow managed to all get ready and loaded up into the cars. Our goal was to see the Smoky Mountains and some waterfalls. So maybe I misread and the short hike that I had planned turned out to be a little longer. Never mind that it was a gorgeous day and the scenery on the way to the waterfall was beautiful. And so what if the waterfall was not as spectacular as I had hoped it would be. It was still beautiful. Besides, it's all about family and being together, right? Wrong. Apparently I had not prepared them enough and lugging their children on their shoulders was not as fun for them (which I lugged part of the way for the record). After eating in Gatlinburg, everyone was chipper again. We returned to the cabin for nap time. This was the perfect time for the ladies to go shopping. Of course, I did not receive the shopping gene that the rest of my family did, so I just followed along. Being the excellent cook that he is, my brother-in-law prepared a delicious fish fry for us. We all relaxed the rest of the evening, eagerly anticipating the Easter Bunny's arrival. While my niece and nephew were concerned that the Easter Bunny would not be able to find them, we reassured them he would. I pretended to spot the Easter Bunny hopping down the hill which backfired on me and scared my niece. Apparently she likes to wake up to find baskets and presents, but is not so excited about who delivers them.

Luckily the Easter Bunny did find us and left goodies for everyone. We would all see the effects of chocolate very soon. After playing a little while, we all got dressed and went to church to meet some of our relatives that live near Pigeon Forge. After church, we all met back at the cabin for lunch. Since the men had their turn babysitting the night before, the ladies loaded up with the children and headed back to the Smoky's. We drove on Cade's Cove Loop, an 11 mile one way loop road where history and nature truly do meet. This land was initially inhabited by the Cherokee Indians until the first white settlers started to arrive in the early 1800's. Along the way we viewed old homesteads, churches and barns dating back to late 1800's. It was not hard to find an open field full of turkeys and deer. It was more difficult however, for my niece and nephew to share the binoculars. We started our drive back riding along the river. The scenery was beautiful. It looked so peaceful. I wish I could have said the same for inside the car. Nestled between my niece and my 2 year old nephew, with my five year nephew behind me, I began to reach my breaking point. Between Laurel telling a princess story, Matthew singing a song, and Mason making roaring bear noises all at the same time, my patience had grown thin. I consider myself a patient person, but 3 hours in car with those three was not only my yearly dose of birth control, it would last for several years. I wouldn't trade those moments for anything in the world though. Monday morning we woke up to find snow! As we packed and cleaned, the flakes got bigger and bigger. It was gorgeous driving back down the through the mountains with fresh blanket of snow falling. One last adventure before heading home. We took back roads home in order to find Bald River falls. Again, the scenery was amazing. It reminded me of Oregon and made me realize once again how much I love the mountains. We had a great time together but as always it didn't seem long enough.

Heading to Maryland soon. Hopefully will have more adventures to share!!!

Toto...we're not in Kansas anymore!!!

I am all for adventure and sometimes I even ask for it. But this time I may have gotten more than I wanted. I completed my assignment in North Carolina and packed up the last of my things and headed for home this past Saturday. My dad had already warned me about the approaching storms and to be alert. I had not been driving in Georgia very long when the sky turned dark, the wind picked up and it started raining. I quickly found a local radio station and tuned into the weather. Unfortunately, it meant nothing to me as I had no idea where I was. All I knew was that the voice on the radio gave this warning..."If you are in the following counties...You are under a tornado warning. Please seek shelter immediately. If you are driving, find the nearest low-lying ditch." Panic set in. I pulled off at the next exit and went into a gas station. It was confirmed. I was in one of those counties. So I got back in my car quickly trying to figure out what to do. It was then that I heard the sirens. A tornado was coming. I drove over to a Starbucks but they had just locked their doors. As I scanned the street, all I saw were businesses with lots of windows. It began to rain and hail and the wind picked up more. I couldn't stay in my car. I looked up the hill and like a bright shining light, I saw a Ruby Tuesday's. Now I don't typically frequent chain restaurants but I was not picky at this point. As the hostess opened the door and welcomed me, I quickly stated that I was not there for food but for shelter. With a smile, he said, "that's okay...just wait it out at the bar." My heart is racing but I am glad to be inside. No sooner than I had sat down, the manager comes around and requests that all guest follow him. We walked in a single file line through the kitchen, into the fridge and on into the freezer. So here I am, my whole body shaking partly because I was freezing in my short sleeve shirt and partly because I was scared to death. Would this be my demise? Dying in a freezer, shoulder to shoulder with a bunch of strangers. And if I did make, would my car which contains everything I own, survive. The lights begin to flicker. This wind gets stronger. You can hear the hail hitting the roof. And then the lights go off. Just as if we were at a concert, cell phones began to illuminate the fridge. The Ruby Tuesday worker to my right states in a true redneck fashion, "If this roof blows off, I am smoking a cigarrete." I am not a smoker myself, but I think I would have joined her. The couple in front of me are hugging as the lady behing them states, "I wish I had a man". After stating that I am just passing through and don't even know where I am, the lady to my left is rubbing my shoulder saying, "just breathe honey, just breathe." Another worker in the back asks if there is any liquor stored in the fridge. After 25 frightening minutes, we were released out of the fridge and all paused momentarily by the ovens to warm up. We had survived. I learned that I was in Commerce, Georgia. I quickly made friends with the workers and they took me in under their wings like a momma bird. The manager, Anthony, gave me weather updates and told me to "stay put" as there were more storms coming from the exact direction that I was heading. Bob, the hostess, checked out my car for me and reported that there was no damage. The electricity finally came back on. Knowing that I was not going anywhere any time soon, I needed a drink to calm down. I then order some food. After about 4 hours, I was given the go ahead by my new friends that it was safe to get back on the road. I think they should consider the new slogan, "come for the shelter, stay for the food." So I clicked my nikes together and soon I was home. All I can say is, "only me".

Why so Blue?

The count down has begun. With only two weeks left, I am trying to pack in all the sight seeing that I can. With little convincing, me and a friend headed west for the Blue Ridge Mountains, or as the people like to call it in these parts, the high country. It was so nice to be back on top of mountains looking down at the beautiful scenery. I stayed in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. It is a cute little town with a village like feel. The main street is lined with stone churches and quaint shops. I discovered that off the beaten path, there are hiking trails leading to waterfalls. The descent into Johns River Gorge is a little deceiving until you are hiking back up it. Let's just say the legs and glutes got a workout. What a peaceful hike though as you follow along the river listening to water rush over rocks. I went in the shops, but as usual, I didn't purchase much because that is one more thing that has to come back with me. The night ended with a fabulous meal at an uppity local restaurant called Twigs. The duck that I ordered melted in my mouth.

Sunday was a beautiful day with perfect weather. After a large breakfast, it was on to Blowing Rock, a cliff overhanging Johns River Gorge 3000 ft below. Indian legend has it that a Chickasaw chieftan hid his daughter at Blowing Rock to avoid admiration from the white man. She fell in love with a Cherokee. One day the sky turned red and the brave Cherokee leaped from the rock into the wilderness below as this was a sign of trouble which commanded his return to the plains. The maiden prayed daily to the Great Spirit to return her lover and one night with the sky red once again, the wind blew her lover back into her arms. From that day on, a perpetual wind has blown up onto the rock from the valley below. For many, this was an explanation for the mysterious winds to cause snow to fall upside down. Now who doesn't enjoy a good love story? Yeah, yeah, yeah...anyway, the view was great from the top.

Next it was on to Grandfather Mountain, the highest peak in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Pioneers named it so because it resembles an old man looking into the sky, but it also accurately reveals it's age which is estimated to be more than a billion years old. It has been singled out by the United Nations as a member of the international network of Biosphere Reserves, is 1 of 482 Biosphere Reserves in the world, and the only privately owned biosphere in the world. Now if you are like me and are left wondering what the heck does that mean, let me explain and put a wrinkle in your brain. Grandfather Mountain has global ecological significance and is protected from development, has a history of scientific research, and provides public education. The mountain supports 66 rare and endangered species and as many as 200 species of birds have been found here. I was able to see cougars and even one bear that decided to come out of hibernation early. I particularly enjoyed the Mile High Swinging Bridge, the highest suspension footbridge in America and was glad that it was not too windy that day. However, not having adequate wind made it difficult for the parachute army men to really take flight off the side of the mountain. Not my idea but fun nonetheless. The panoramic view of the Blue Ridge Mountains was great. Ah...a definite "go God" moment. Although not looking forward to driving back to Rocky Mount, somehow it didn't seem all that bad knowing I only have two weeks left!