There were several restaurants. We would have chosen the Sunset Terrace, but it was quite cold outside. We chose the Vue 1913 at the end of a long walk, since it seemed more romantic. I liked the reflection of my favorite guy.
Sunday, January 7, 2018
Asheville's Omni Grove Park Inn Oct 25, 2017
Our Airbnb host gave us a suggested list of restaurants and offered to watch Sarita for dinner. We chose the romantic Omni Grove Park Inn, complete with outdoor lighted archways and trees, an antique car, huge fireplace and three restaurants, one al fresco. It was too cold to eat outside, so we braved the long walk to the upscale and elegant Vue 1913. Apparently several Presidents have eaten there.
Sunday, December 31, 2017
Bryson City to Blue Ridge Parkway Oct 24, 2017
The next morning, we
headed to Asheville after breakfast in the cabin. We returned to Bryson City
and stopped at the “Loose Moose” gift shop, where I bought a funny T
shirt showing a moose trophy on the wall, while his appalled moose friends said
“Hey wait a minute, isn’t that Jim???”.
I took some photos of the red caboose and the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad getting ready to leave.
We drove to Fontana Lake to see an overlook and the recreation area. Unfortunately, the lake was man made and looked it, but it was still a pleasant stop.
We headed towards Asheville from the bottom of the Blue Ridge Parkway at mile marker 469, stopping at Cowee Mountain,
Caboose in Bryson City
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
We drove to Fontana Lake to see an overlook and the recreation area. Unfortunately, the lake was man made and looked it, but it was still a pleasant stop.
Fontana Lake
Near Fontana Lake
We returned to Cherokee to see a little of what we missed. Jim went to the Museum of the Cherokee Indian to learn about the “Trail of Tears” and the Cherokee who managed to escape that horror. Since the dog couldn't enter the museum, I visited the Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual with our dog, Sarita in my jacket, to admire the 3 striped handmade baskets made by using black walnut and bloodroot dyes. I bought some small earrings for a friend since it was all I could afford there. The crafts were beautiful and very expensive.
Museum of the Cherokee Indian
Trail of Tears sculpture
Blue Ridge Parkway tunnel
We headed towards Asheville from the bottom of the Blue Ridge Parkway at mile marker 469, stopping at Cowee Mountain,
Cowee Mountains Overlook is known for beautiful light and shadow. Next we viewed Graveyard Fields, Yellowstone Falls, and Looking Glass rock, a large half bald mountain peak.
Looking Glass Rock at sunset
We stopped for dinner at The Pisgah Inn, but a man told us the wait was 90 minutes and it would be better to go elsewhere. I took some quick photos of the view and we continued, only to find the Parkway was blocked!
Pisgah Inn rockers
Sunset at Pisgah Inn
So we went to the little store just down the road to ask why. The road was partly washed out because of the Monday storm. We picked up some snacks and sandwiches for dinner and drove back 3 miles to exit at Brevard Road, then another hour to Asheville in the dark, arriving a little after 9 pm at Andy’s Mountain Home. The last left turn was a humdinger. It looked like we were driving over a cliff, so Jim got out to check for a road beyond the turn. It was there, but a little nerve wracking. Andy had texted me earlier, saying that the River was flooding, but it receded right before we got there.
So we went to the little store just down the road to ask why. The road was partly washed out because of the Monday storm. We picked up some snacks and sandwiches for dinner and drove back 3 miles to exit at Brevard Road, then another hour to Asheville in the dark, arriving a little after 9 pm at Andy’s Mountain Home. The last left turn was a humdinger. It looked like we were driving over a cliff, so Jim got out to check for a road beyond the turn. It was there, but a little nerve wracking. Andy had texted me earlier, saying that the River was flooding, but it receded right before we got there.
Tuesday, December 19, 2017
Bryson City NC Sunday October 22 2017
After arriving in Bryson City NC, we spent the day in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park again. I spent some time at the Farm museum at Oconaluftee Visitor Center and visited the roosters.
Then we drove up to see the sunset view at Clingman's Dome, even though we knew the observation tower was being renovated.
I decided to hike up to the observation tower before dark and brought a little flashlight. When I decided to turn around on the steep path, since I was alone, a young woman caught up to me and we decided to continue up together. Safety in numbers!
I huffed and puffed my way up, but we got to the top before it was too dark to see. We were met on the way down by her father and a helpful man with a flash light. Jim and her father got concerned and they came looking for us, even though the path was wide and paved. The parking lot was dark and foggy when we returned, but it was nice to have extra company.
After driving down from the mountain to have dinner, Jim told me the brakes were grinding. This was frustrating, since we had a full safety inspection before our trip at Jiffy Lube. Later, we found that they had not checked the brakes!!! I called the police for suggestions, since it was a Sunday night. The officer suggested we park off the road and he called a towing service for us. They showed up with a tow truck and a 2nd car to take us back to our mountain cabin on the top of a twisty turning cliffside road. No thanks to Jiffy Lube!!!! At least we were safe, but stranded with enough food for 2 meals.
Bryson City Sunset View October 23, 2017
We were stranded at the Sunset View Cabin in Bryson City NC all day while our brakes were repaired. It rained hard all day, washing out trees and roads even days later.
I washed our laundry.
Finally the skies cleared toward evening, so I took a few photos.
Why the cabin was called sunset view.
Wednesday, December 13, 2017
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.
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.
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 Sinks Falls
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
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.
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.
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