Pigeon Forge

We arrived in Pigeon Forge on Friday afternoon. The trip through the mountains, from North Carolina to Tennessee, on Interstate 40 was really pretty. The foliage was still very colorful and the trees were holding their leaves. Quite a winding road but nothing compared to 411 south that leads into Pigeon Forge. Holy Mackeral….the first 11 miles were pretty wicked. We came by the Bush’s Beans plant…very large plant in the middle of no where. We got to Eagles’s Nest campground and got set up. They are a Passport America park…so half off for the length of our stay. We’re not sure how long we’ll be here so paid till Monday ($66). We have a phone meeting with our boss this evening and will get our schedule.

Hanging out with Hugh and Dianne, our trainers with AGS. They are here working 14 parks over a three month period. They will finish up end of November and then go back to their condo in North Carolina. This is the only assignment they do every year (but heck what a big job it is). Dianne has been dying to see our trike so she tried it out by sitting on it. Last night we went to see Country Tonite, a country show in Pigeon Forge. They’ve started their Christmas show so the first hour was the regular country show and the second hour was the Christmas show.

It was very good and the comedian in the show, Bubba was hilarious. He did this one spoof on the song, “Jesus Take The Wheel” but instead it was Cletus Take The Reel….oh my, it was funny. Had a really good time and it was a fun night out. Today Hugh and Dianne are coming over to watch the race with us and grill out. Tomorrow we might take the trike out and get some riding in before we leave this beautiful area. Would hate to leave and not see any of the back country roads. We hear the rumble of bikes on the road, that goes past the campground, and know this area is a favorite for bikers. The Dragon Tail, an 11 mile stretch with 318 twists and turns is something we might tackle….stay tuned to see if we take on the Dragon !

Tennessee and all points in between...

We left Tenn. Wednesday morning and finished the last leg of our trip to Pennsylvania. We pulled into Chambersburg, PA mid afternoon and got set up. We're parked with the front end on a bit of a slope so it took a cinder block and many boards to get us leveled up. On Thursday we ran around getting errands done...got the oil and fuel filter changed in Bertha. Went to get propane and local place wanted $32 and I told them they could forget that...we'd go elsewhere. Linda ended up getting it at Flying J for under $20....were these other people crazy ?

I had left my Xterra in Chambersburg so late Thursday I took my car and Linda took Bertha and we went north. I took the dogs and went to my moms to stay till Sunday morning. Linda went to her son's place in Williamsport till Sunday morning. I had a great time with my mom, driving her around to different places to run errands and just get her out of the house. The dogs took quite a shine to mom and soon learned where she kept her "cookie" jar and she was very generous in giving them treats.Linda went to watch her grand-daughter's soccer game (She's #20)and do a bunch of activities with the family. On Sunday she and I met up in Williamsport, along with her son and his family, and we went to the Penn College picnic at Knoebels amusement park in Elysburg. This is such a great park for families....no cost to get in or park...only have to buy tickets if you want to ride. Park is totally shaded and has some world class rollercoasters. They used to have several rollercoasters that were listed on the "Top 10" list in the country. Linda and I ate lunch and went into the park for a little while. We got to see some of our Penn College friends while we were there. Originally Linda was coming home to go to her younger son's graduation from PSU but then he decided not to march so we decided to go with her older son to his function, since I would get a chance to see some of my former colleagues. We had a good time! We left there about 3....Linda heading back to Chambersburg with the dogs and me headed to Philly to spend a few days with my kids.

That is where I am now...in Philly. My kids have taken some time off from work and I will be here till Wednesday. Linda is leaving Chambersburg today to go see her daughters in Virginia Beach. I'll return to Chanbersburg on Wednesday and she will return at the end of the week sometime. Whew...it has been a whirlwind week of traveling and visiting. All good stuff !

Bristol,TN

Well these guys just about sum up our trip through the Unclaimed Baggage Center. If there would have been another chair there, I would have joined them.
Reminded me of an overpriced thrift shop. If I wanted to pay $40-50 for a pair of sneakers I'd go to a store and buy ones that someone hasn't walked around in for a while. They had quite a bit of jewelry which I guess is a hot ticket item for people going to the store. If you know anyone in the market for a Rolex watch or one that costs $9000, they've got one of each. And talk about fuggly clothes....no wonder someone left them in their luggage on the plane. I'd leave 'em too when they look like that or send them on a slow boat to china or put 'em on a greyhound bus. Some of them still had the price tags on them....probably the person looked at them and thought "What was I thinking when I bought that"....leave it on the dang plane.
A few things were surprising to see in such great quantities...sleeping bags for one thing. There were a bunch of them. If you went on a camping trip and had to fly to get there, wouldn't you remember that you'd taken something to sleep in. Hmmm.... And fishing poles without any reels on them. Interesting kind of fishing unless they were part of a trade show and the rep thought he'd just tell the boss he sold them all and give some baggage person a thrill by finding a boat load of poles in the baggage area.
We left there and began the journey northward. What a great route this is ! 72 to 24 to 40 to what we're on now...81. Beautiful scenery, great roads, not much traffic even around cities. It is a wonderful route and one that we surely will take note of if we need to get from northeast to Alabama area. We are spending the night just above Bristol, Tennessee....home of Bristol Speedway. Gonna be another great night for sleeping....down in the 50's. (We aren't missing the 90 degree days and high humidity :)

When Linda went in and told them that she had a
"bag" she couldn't find, this was the best they could come up with....