A Quest

Aunt Wanda, Nila and Judy came for lunch a couple of weeks ago, and we looked at old pictures. The photo below is one of my mother, Zella Mae Peters, on the left, and her sister, Floy. As I didn't know just where it was taken, I asked Bob, the fount of all knowledge down here, and he told me it was taken in the Smokey Mountain National Park. I did a little quick research on the web and found it was located on the line between North Carolina and Tennessee. So, Tom and I set off to find it. And we did! Here I am at the same spot. If only my cousin, Susan, Aunt Floy's daughter, had been with me. I'm going to have to track her down and see what we can do. Of course, Mother and Aunt Flo look like they were barely out of their teens in this photo - so I am old enough now to be their mother. But let's not think about that too much....

The park is about two hours from our house and can be a day trip - as long as you don't go on a Saturday in July. Which, of course, is when we went. We had lots of time sitting in traffic to gawk at the beach-like atmosphere of Pigeon Forge. It was full of amusement rides, Ripley's Believe It or Not, hotels, souvenir shops, and one building that, I swear, was upside down. I never did see what it actually housed, as all I could do was stare. I want to go back in November and explore the whole town! I was too stunned to even take my camera out of the case, but I promise, next time I will.

In the actual park, I regained my composure enough to take a few photos. It was a speedy trip, and I quite literally hopped out of the van to snap these, and then hopped back in. So these are the kinds of photos you can take in Smokey Mountain National Park without even trying. On a Saturday in July.

The dogs had to go along, of course, and they were really, really good. They are such good travelers. The only problem we ever have is that Minnie and Chotti fight over my lap. Did you ever hold a dog in your lap in the car for eight hours? I have.

But one look at this face, and you can see why we couldn't leave them at home.

Now that we're down here, we're finding that there is so much to do and to see. Every few days brings a new discovery, opportunity, or adventure. Even if it's only in the backyard.