Saturday, Nov 2 Tom, and a company of 8, were up early for a hike to Grotto Falls. Early was required because the parking spots at the trailhead fill by mid-morning! The group left at 8:00 and drove the 7 miles to Gatlinburg to get on the Roaring Fork Motor Trail -- the trailhead was near the end of that 11-mile loop road. The hikers were back early in the afternoon, just in time for Tom to have a a rest before Caleb and Halie arrived! They had been unable to do the Smoky Mountains as planned for their honeymoon -- so this little trip was to celebrate their 2nd anniversary! We were terribly excited to have them join us and witness Halie's introduction to the GSMNP! In the afternoon we took them on a tour of the new end of the Foothills Parkway, where we were totally in awe of the views and the colors! The end of the drive which conveniently dumped us in Pigeon Forge for a little introduction to Margaritaville. Caleb and Halie rode the giant Ferris Wheel, we walked a few shops, and had dinner at Margaritaville Restaurant – the noise was at a decibel that did not allow much conversations. We completed the circuit tour through Gatlinburg and back to Elkmont, arriving just in time to go to bed! With 4 people/2 dogs in the camper, it was warm inside overnight – even though the temperature dipped down to 27! (We set the furnace temperature at 55 degrees, but it barely came on during the night!) Sunday, Nov 3 The four of us set out early in the morning to Townsend, eating breakfast at the Carriage House – a buffet. From there we took a quick trip to my hometown of Maryville and then made our way to Cades Cove and drove the loop road. It was beautifully sunny, and color was at its peak!. We hurried back to the campground where Caleb and Halie packed up and we moved them into a hotel on the downtown strip of Gatlinburg. They hadn’t eaten since our big breakfast, and we turned them loose in Gatlinburg to eat and explore on their own. Their hotel allowed them the convenience of going out the door and being steps away from restaurants, junk shops and attractions! Back at the campground Tom and I joined our friends around a campfire until bedtime/darktime. . . which came very early with the time change!.
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October 2021
We don’t go camping any more . . . we go ‘streamin’ ! The “SIlvermine and His” is our 2018 25' Airstream Serenity with Salsa interior and front twin beds., and ‘streamin’ is the name we use to describe our adventures. Stream along as we document everything from weekend trips to longer summer excursions and full-blown vacations. You know what they say: if you’re not in an Airstream – you’re just camping!
Tom & Ella Brown |