Great Smoky Mountains, Townsend to Bryson City

Continuing our Great Smoky Mountains trip:

The next day, October 20th, Jim was feeling better, so we dropped our dog Sarita off to spend a day in the park doing activities that dogs weren't allowed to do.  The drive to the dog sitter in Maryville was crazy, full of turns, but we eventually got there.  The sitter was nice and we continued on our way to Sugarlands Visitor Center. 

After driving up a huge twisty hill, Jim asked me to take him to the hospital, since his vision was bad and he was getting a 3rd migraine!  The hospital was a 45 minute drive back to Maryville, where we spent several hours.  The doctor said one should never quit one of the drugs he left at home suddenly, and that he had treated a patient who was seeing lightning bolts as a result!  So the hospital pharmacy straightened it out with insurance, and gave us a two week supply, and Jim was discharged.  If we hadn’t dropped off Sarita that day, I wouldn’t have been able to stay with Jim in the hospital, since it was quite hot and I would have been dog-sitting outside.

Jim felt much better, so with the doctor's blessing and a recommendation for a dinner restaurant, I drove us to Foothills Parkway to see the view.  We arrived too late to go up to the observation tower, but I took a few lovely photos of the view before going to the nice restaurant, the Dancing Bear.

       Foothills Parkway

The Dancing Bear Restaurant, Townsend, TN

The next morning, October 21st, we headed towards Bryson City and stopped at The Sinks Falls and Sugarlands Visitor Center, where I walked to Cataract Falls alone, while Jim stayed with Sarita.  The Falls were tiny, just a thin thread of water, but I photographed it anyway, since I had gone to so much trouble to see it. 

 

 Great Smoky Mountain Creeks

                The Sinks Falls

Cataract Falls, near Sugarlands Visitor Center, 25 feet high

We continued on the Newfound Gap Road across the Great Smoky Mountain Park, north to south.  By sunset, we just happened to arrive at Newfound Gap, a photographically recommended sunset or sunrise location.  The sunset was different, but at least it wasn’t non-existent.  

                                      Newfound Gap Sunset

Memorial to Laura Spelman Rockefeller and the dedication of the Great Smoky National Park at Newfound Gap.

We continued in the dark to Bryson City, NC, through Cherokee.