July 2, 2013

Very little sleep last night. We didn’t run the generator and weren’t plugged in so no AC. The window open was fine but car noise in this 24hr parking lot and very bright security lights were not our friend. Then at 6am a construction crew, that is working across the street, decided to park next to us and unload their boom for their work today. Sigh, don’t they know I am working on Central Time, maybe even Mountain Time?!?

Barely could drag myself from bed at 9. Not that I was getting much rest, but I just didn’t really want to get up…

Finally got up and Flyer wouldn’t start. A quick jump with the battery pack (good idea to buy that Sparky) and Flyer was good to go. Sorry I left the headlights on last night, Sparky…

Grabbed the rental car, packed some lunch and headed South into the Smoky Mountains.

We headed through some very narrow, steep roads with 180 degree switchbacks. Glad Flyer is resting peacefully back in Alcoa.

We stopped at a little farm stand and bought a few Georgia peaches and some TN pickled beets.

The kids were starry eyed with all the go-karts, amusement rides and activities in Pigeon Forge, but we really made this trek for Gatlinburg. Ever since Legoboy bought 2013 Guinness World Record at Costco he has been asking to go to the Ripley’s Believe It or Not Odditorium in Gatlinsburg, TN. We are only a few miles away, we’ll keep going and then come back and catch a few attractions in Pigeon Forge before going back for Flyer and continuing home.

Found a cozy spot for Oscar to hang for the afternoon and headed on to the Odditiorium.

The “odd gallery” was quite interesting

saw the tallest man

and a gigantic chair

huge antlers

a plate of “lint sushi”

a 2 headed calf

and goat

Sister Bear loved this horse made from little wire triangles and squares

and Legoboy liked the train made out of match sticks

MAN, some people have A LOT of time on their hands.

Finally we saw the worlds largest tire

largest ball of elastic bands

and a transformer

Then walked the center of town; picking up some popcorn, rode a simulated train in a hurricane, and of course had some sweets (since every other shop is a candy store).

Sister Bear found this cute purse.

After walking up and back through the mobs of people we were ready to head back. I never knew this place was soooo popular. It is pretty nestled in the base of the SmokyMountains, but the shops reminded me a lot of Kissimmee, FL for anyone who has been there.

Back to Pigeon Forge for some go-kart fun

Then some all-you-can-eat family style southern food (I’m pretty sure that’s not on my plan, but I suppose neither was the fried peach pie I had back in KY!)

before grabbing Oscar and heading back to the airport to fetch Flyer.

Returned the rental car and reboarded Flyer. We are headed up Rt 40 to I-81 North. We plan to travel a few hours and pass into Virginia before finding a place to settle for the night.

In VA we stopped to get gas. It was dark and we circled around the back of the station to find a pump that had enough room for us to move around. The kids all sound of sleep, Sparky pumped gas in the calm darkness. As we pulled out around the station to head back to the highway this is what we saw

Not sure what had gone down inside the station but it sure brought a lot of action… We were just 100ft around the corner and had NO idea! Hmmm, not so peaceful after all…