Hampton Inn Knoxville North

... color, a few wild turkeys, and several deer grazing in the meadows in Cades Cove.<br><br>This is the 75th Anniversary (actually, my birthday, June 15th, was the date!) of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and Dolly arton was named the Ambassador for the 75th, so we were able to buy a fund-raiser CD written and sung by Dolly especially for the occasion!<br><br>We spoke to a park ranger, who discouraged us from taking the drive ...

... so once we got the motorhome in our site and parked - we chose to just stay in and watch lots of good stuff on TV ("good stuff" being defined as the Angels beating the Red Sox to win the Division Title, my favorite driver Jimmie Johnson winning the Nascar Race at California Speedway, and the not-so-good NY Yankees beating the Minnesota Twins). <br><br>Tomorrow, rain or shine...we're doing Smoky Mountains National Park!<br>

We leave the battlefield and drive to Chattanooga proper to the Terminal Brew Pub. It is fairly new but it in an old terminal station. I believe the waiter said the old Chattanooga hotel but I am not sure. I actually have a beer (a Belgium wheat) and the frufru sandwich (Chicken breast, pear, brie cheese). I also have the sweet potato cheesecake for dessert. It is very good. While we are dining the ...

... the kids just love. Bicycles, tubes for floating down the river. some areas have pretty good rapids parts are slower and relaxing. The bicycle trail starts right there accross the road and runs to the other end of town (5 miles). The Tuckaleechee Caverns are amazing and only cost about $12.00 per person for an almost 2 hour tour and it is open not not cramped like most. Many horseback riding stables. The best one is 1 mile from Lodge and ...

Yesterday was a pretty relaxed day of driving, minus the extreme sticky southern heat. This stuff the horribly disgusting!!!!! We only made a few stops, one was to get our normal beer and glass, we tried to get one at a few places in Nashville but we struck out a lot. So we stopped in Knoxville and we finally got one. After that our mission was complete. We got back on the road and headed to our destination Pigeon Forge, home of ...

... One single python ate an aligator that is six-feet long. Imagine what ONE SINGLE python could do to one human. Thank you for ...

Robert from the National Forensic Academy picked me up bright and early in the Hummer donated by Patricia Cornwall and we drive to the Knoxville Police Department to visit the CSI Unit.<br><br>I met the Head of Unit Lieutenant Vince Ayub and one of his CSIs who were kind enough to show me around the Department.<br><br>This was great for me as I got the opportunity to see how the training from the National Forensic Academy has directly impacted on operational policing.<br><br>Vince ...

Another big breakfast. Lovely day, left at 11am - went through Cherokee indian reservation. Up Route 441 - Newfoundland Gap. Went to Smokies National Park - stopped at Chimney top picnic area. Watched Americans picnicing. Lovely streamside setting with boulders. Drove through Gatlinburg, Dinner at Cracker Barrel ...

... are tubside. Couldn't be happier after the 4 coldest riding days I can ever remember. It is one thing to go for an hour jaunt in winter, another to commit to 4 or 6 hours in the saddle at highway cruising speed. I hope the weather warms up this week so I can get BB over for an oil change and check-up for winter.

... from the time we were physically off the plane until the time when we finally saw our parents, or in my case, parents and Ben. I was awake for about half of the car ride, but by then it was about 10pm Knoxville time(3 AM London Time), so I was out. So that was it, my journey back. When I have enough coherent thoughts to form a few closing words of wisdom, I will try to wrap up, but I need a nap. Signing Off, A