The Great Smokies

Tuesday October 23, 2012

We were up this morning and had breakfast about 8:30. Breakfast was pizza, eggs, raspberries, apples, pears and plumbs. We were off shortly thereafter, headed north on the Foothill Parkway then east on route 73 through Townsend, where we got our first stamp at the VC, then into the Great Smokey Mountain National Park.

Our second stamp stop was at the Great Smokey Mountain Institute and sure enough we got the stamp. The Institute is a place where you can live for a few days or a few weeks and learn what life was like years ago. You learn by doing the tasks that people did before electricity and plumbing and the other conveniences we take for granted.

We went to the Cades Cove CG to check on campsites for the night they only had 10 or 12 available and none were adjacent so we decided not to stay there. We started the drive around Cades Cove Loop to the Visitor’s Center and our third stamp. The loop is a one way road 11 miles long that is 1 lane with turnouts. Before we started into the loop there was a flashing sign that said it would take 2 to 3 hours to do the 11 miles because of the traffic. And sure enough it was bumper to bumper, stop and go all of the way around and the visitor’s center is right in the middle of the loop 5 and 1/2 miles from the start. L.A. beep and creep traffic has nothing on GSMNP. We did get our stamp at the VC and looked around at some of the old stuff. There was a waterwheel powered mill where wheat and corn were ground that the park service still runs and sells the grain and corn meal in the VC store. There was a blacksmith shop and a cane grinder for sorghum syrup. There were a number of other buildings, barn, house and other out buildings.

Back into the rolling caves and into the traffic fray once more. We finally got off of the loop after about 2 hours, which really wasn’t too bad. We then headed back to the VC in Townsend where we stopped for a little lunch. Then after talking about what we would do we headed back down the Foothill Parkway to the Look Rock CG where we stayed last night. We have dined and are encamped in a couple of spots different from last night, but still comfortable.

  The trip into Cades Cove was fairly long, as far as driving time, and we are not sure we would do it again. It was, however beautiful in its fall colors. The water in the streams is clear but they are bright with floating leaves. The meadows are green and the grass is tall. There were several pull-offs on the loop where elderly people were just setting in the meadows on blankets looking off into the distance, maybe looking at the colors, maybe seeing something that had happened in their youth, but truly enjoying the view.

More chiseling tomorrow. Good night y’all.