Feb - Apr 2024 MD, VA, TN, NC

Eastern Screech Owl in downtown Pigeon Forge, TN

After a couple of cold weeks in MA in Dec. we decided to head south to TN in Jan. for some better weather, and more mountains to explore. We stopped to overnight at Bob and Wendy’s exclusive “B&B” near Lynchburg, VA. Chief Bob prepared a bountiful breakfast before our departure. 

 

Gatlinburg and the GSMNP

We continued down to Gatlinburg, just outside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP), where we had booked a timeshare for a two-week period. First the ice came, and then high winds. Together they managed to deposit many dead branches and trees on the park roads.  Before the Park Service could get in to clear the downed trees, the snow came. Of course, they couldn’t plow the roads with all the trees in the road, so they closed all park roads for 10 days, and access to almost all the trails.

                                                    Snowy Day in Gatlinburg

We were left with downtown Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge to explore. Let me describe downtown Gatlinburg (GB), for those lucky enough to have not visited it - their main street is super over-developed with every possible tourist shop or activity. Pigeon Forge is the same animal with different stripes. It has several times more tourist attractions than GB, but the attractions are spread out over miles of endless commercial development. Many of the major shows and attractions (like Dollywood) were closed in January. 

Turkey Road Block

Brushy - at least he had the good sense to get out of the road

Bull Elk near Cherokee, NC

After two frustrating weeks, we headed to the east side of the Smokies and stayed at a timeshare in Maggie Valley, NC., wedged between the GSMNP and the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP). 

Indian Creek Falls, NC

Welcome to Waynesville, NC

Ice sickles near BRP

 On our return home trip, we stopped to have lunch with Floyd and Lauren, and the following day we had lunch with Ann Chab, a friend from our former neighborhood in Accokeek, MD.

Lunch with Floyd and Lauren

We enjoyed Susan and Windsor’s Super Bowl Party with our friends. Bob and Wendy came up from Lynchburg, VA and had dinner with us and Ron and Sarah. We went to a dinner theater to see A Chorus Line; we were not impressed. We celebrated Jen’s and Patrick’s Birthdays in York.  We attended a celebration of Wayne Wiles’ life; it was more like a friendly roast and we learned much about him through his lifelong friends. 

Dinner with Wendy & Bob and Sarah & Ron 

Elizabeth provided a great real Greek meal when we visited her in Hagerstown. We caught up with Kevin and Liz when we had lunch at Tony Locos. Ron gave us a historical tour of the AA county near Beverly Beach as we hiked the shoreline. We celebrated his BD with Sarah at Stan and Joe’s Riverside Restaurant. We set up a luncheon for my canoeing buddies from the last 50 years. Eldon gave a presentation on his canoe expedition to unexplored areas of Guyana, South America.  

Lunch with Liz and Kevin

Pat at Cherry Blossom Festival near the Jefferson Memorial

Pat and I went to DC on the first day of the annual Cherry Blossom Festival. The trees were already at peak bloom. 

Everything in bloom in DC

Linden's first swing; Look Mom, no hands

Violet - She a swinger too

After luncheons with Pat Scully and Stan, we celebrated Sharon’s return home with a party in her honor. Sharon has completed her missionary work in Albania. We spent Easter at Rick & Linda’s with the family and babies. On April 2 we are off to France, Germany, Austria and Slovenia for a 32-day trip.