Having a blast in Tennessee!

At what we believed to be the end of the coronavirus pandemic, I encouraged Ed to find somewhere to go since both of us had a serious case of “cabin fever.” When he told me there were very few options - probably because the entire rest of the world also had "cabin fever" - and all he could find was Pigeon Forge, TN, I said, “well, since I’ve never been to Tennessee, let’s go!”

On Saturday, October 16, we traveled to McCarren Airport in Las Vegas for a non-stop flight to Nashville with our friends Jim and Mary Andrus.  It was a lovely flight – smooth as glass – with Mary and I sharing the very back row of the plane with Brett Arthur Rigby, lead singer in the BAR Band, from Las Vegas.  A very nice young man who was happy to share his contact information in case we needed a country band for an event in St. George.

 

We arrived late in the afternoon in Nashville, so the first order of business was to find a motel … NOT!!!  It seems October in the ENTIRE state of Tennessee is Octoberfest … and there was not a single available room to be found ANYWHERE!  We called at least 30 motels within a 100 miles between Nashville and Pigeon Forge to no avail.  We finally stopped at a “Bates Motel” kind of gas station where they gave us permission to sleep in their parking lot.  It was NOT a restful night – and “sleep” would be a stretch - but Sunday morning dawned clear and blue … and even in our less-than-appropriate-church-attire, we made the decision to attend the Pigeon Forge Ward where we were warmly received and pleasantly surprised to find ourselves as part of the audience for their Primary program.

 

The following day – our first in Pigeon Forge – we traveled about 12 miles to nearby Gatlinburg.  It was very commercial – and extremely congested - but, we had a fun day exploring this busy little community.

 

On Day #3 of our getaway, we spent a glorious day in Great Smoky Mountain National Park.  Spectacular, green and relaxing … and said to be the most visited national park in the U.S. … and perhaps the only one without an entry fee.

 

Day #4 found us at the 46^th annual Pigeon Forge Rotary Craft Fair, which raises $125,000 every year for their club’s service projects.  I got some great ideas which might become MY Rotary club’s signature project.  Then we went to Margaritaville (“It’s 5 o’clock somewhere”) / aka The Island where we explored and rode the ferris wheel which provided a spectacular view of the city.  From there, we drove back to Knoxville – 22 miles – to see the replica of Christopher Columbus’s sailing ship, the Pinta.  Back in Pigeon Forge, we attended the Dolly Parton Stampede.

 

Day #5 dawned cold with rain in the forecast. We debated about going to Dollywood, but decided to chance it, and after a serious downpour which had everyone scrambling for cover, we had a delightful day.  Dollywood is not as high tech as Disneyland – or anywhere near as expensive – but it was charming, fun and delightfully decorated for Halloween.  Part of Dollywood are lots of booths which, we were told, “Dolly provides free to charge to allow people from her hometown to earn a living in her theme park.”  Throughout the day we enjoyed great country music by a 5-member band called “Jct. 441” and another – larger  and probably better known group called “Shenandoah” - but the absolute high point of the day was a loaf of hot-out-of-the-oven cinnamon bread. It was AMAZINGLY, MEMORABLY delicious!!!  I'm not sure what I expected of Dollywood, but it was a sweet experience, and given the chance, I'd go back! 

 

On our way home from Tennessee, we took a few side trips in Nashville to see the Grand Ole Opry and the Nashville LDS Temple - both hallowed ground by my estimation.  It gave me an absolute chill to be at the Opry - the same place where Patsy, Loretta, Reba, Deanna Carter, Kerry Underwood, Brad Pasley, Garth Brooks ... I could go on and on ... got the time in the limelight.  Wow!  Just wow!!!

 

The temple was one of the small ones, but beautiful and on a Saturday busy with brides and grooms surrounded by happy families.  Ed served a mission in his youth which included Tullahoma, TN so he was delighted to meet a beautiful, black convert who told us her family is very unhappy about her decision to join the Church but she is so happy and is "working on them."  Ed was also tickled to find two missionaries - one from Orem and the other from Bunkerville, NV both serving in Tullahoma. 

 

First impressions of Tennessee are of God, country, ‘shine, trees, pancake houses, all things orange – especially on “game” day, -ville as in Nashville, Knoxville, Smithville, Gordonville, Sevierville … and of course, anything and everything Dolly!  We had a delightful time and got better acquainted with the Andrus's!  

 

It was a lovely and relaxing week with good friends, good food (we found a small local restaurant with amazing BBQ ribs and went there twice) and found the wonderful 46^th annual craft show, a Rotary fundraiser which raises about $125,000 each year to fund college scholarships for low-income students and lots of other community needs in Pigeon Forge.

 

And, of course, Ed took probably 500 pictures I am quite certain he would be willing to show you if you ask him.

 

Next, we're on to Halchita … Tucson … Anaconda and maybe a few other places in 2022!