Jaunts to Expeditions

Today was Bourbon Day. The day started off with an incredible breakfast. I’ve never had a breakfast appetizer before, but each place setting had a small plate with a baby bagel, lox, capers and cream cheese.  The rest of the meal was ordered off the menu and the bacon was some of the best bacon I have had in years…the melt in your mouth kind of bacon. The Brown Hotel was built with the check in desk and restaurants on the second floor.  This was done so that guest did not need to hear or view the local trolley cars that were the mainstay of transportation when the hotel was built in 1923.  This feature allowed the hotel to survive the flooding of the Ohio River in 1937 and serve not only their guests but the surrounding community.  A plaque on the Broadway side of the building marks the high water mark of the flood. The Bluegrass and Blue Ridge Tour is one of several Ken Burns tours offered by Tauck.  Through a collaboration, Burns has created vignettes ...

Today was our transition day as we switched from family vacation mode to guided tour mode.  The drive from Knoxville to Louisville was uneventful.  The day started very early with a ride to the airport in time for the 7am departure for those Boston bound.  Returning to the hotel, we spent a few hours catching up on the blog and organizing for our tour. This is one of the first US tours for Tauck since the COVID pandemic started.  The tour started with a reception where we met our fellow travelers and our guide, Steve.  At only 15 members, we are very small tour group.  The reception area was set up to promote social distancing with 7 small tables spaced throughout the room. Besides getting details about the tour logistics, we signed a COVID waver, attested to being vaccinated or having a negative PCR test in the last five days, and had a presentation on COVID precautions.  We will be expected to wear our masks when are not outside and 6 feet apar...

We packed up the car and departed the cabin this morning, heading to Knoxville, about an hour drive away.  Although we enjoyed the cabin and the view, I was very happy when we made the drive down the mountain road one last time.   We made a reservation at a hotel across from the airport as Maura & Amelia will be Boston bound on a 7am flight tomorrow morning.  That left most of the day available for seeing Knoxville and, since children of all ages enjoy the zoo, we set our sights on Lions, Tigers & Bears. As we pulled into the parking lot, Mary stated she wanted to grab her camera; that’s when we had an oh-oh moment…the camera bag was still hanging on the back of the chair in the dining room IN THE CABIN.  We dropped Maura & Amelia at the entrance to the zoo and made our way back to Pigeon Forge.  By the time we returned to Knoxville, there was not much left for the others to see at the zoo, so we just waited in the car. Once at the hotel, we en...

What a day we had…a good time was had by all, but Amusement Parks do take their toll on those of a more advanced age!  I don’t remember it being so difficult to exit swinging rides when I was in my twenties. Our morning start was little delayed.  As we were climbing into the car, a neighbor in a passing vehicle stopped to point out a nearby mammal; two doors down a very large brown bear was raiding a couple of trash cans!  We decided to retreat to our deck, for a more protected viewing spot.  It certainly seemed to like what was on the breakfast menu and did not seem to mind an audience.  After capturing a few great pictures, when his attention turned elsewhere, we quickly jumped into the car and headed down the mountain. Dollywood is not yet open every day and is limiting how many guests can enter.  We purchased day specific tickets several weeks before leaving home.  The restriction on the number of guests, along with a strong threat of rain, m...

In the words of Bob Seger…”I awoke last night to the sound of thunder”.  Mother Nature provided quite a lightning show for us early this morning.  Not sure if the height of the mountain has anything to do with it, but it seemed as if you could reach out and touch individual lightning bolts.  Once the main storm rolled through, a heavy blanket of fog covered the area making for an eerie sunrise. We decided on pancakes and bacon to fortify us and then were off the to Ripley Aquarium in Gatlinburg.  The trip took a little longer than expected as getting off the mountain is just as confusing as finding the cabin; let’s just say we took the longer but more scenic route. We wandered the Aquarium for about 30 minutes, then headed for our pre-scheduled glass bottom boat ride.  A short ride, about 10 minutes, it goes out over the shark tank.  If you visit here, skip the ride, the views from the underwater tunnel are much better.  After the ride, we visited...

Wow, the view from our cabin is spectacular….however, the drive up the mountain is not for the faint of heart and one I would not attempt after dark.   It seems that guardrails are optional and they opted out, but then again, a guardrail would take precious space needed to squeeze past any oncoming cars. After a quiet morning at our hotel, we picked up Maura & Amelia at the Knoxville Airport and yes, all the luggage fit, although, most had items under their feet.  Lunch was BBQ at a local chain, Calhoun’s.  You could smell the smoke as you entered and the Ribs and Burgers did not disappoint.  We made a quick stop at the Publix to pick up a few fresh and cold items and then made it to the cabin by late afternoon. Our cabin, A Walk in the Clouds, is fairly new.  The previous cabin on this spot was destroyed during the Great Smoky Mountain wildfires of 2016.  All around, you can see cabins being rebuilt.  The new cabin is three stories with balcon...

We hit the road on schedule and had smooth sailing all the way to Cincinnati.   One minor detour due to a missed exit, but made it on time for lunch with my cousin.   Prior to lunch we did a quick drive-by of my mother’s childhood home.   Built in 1835, it has lots of good memories.   During my mother’s time there, they had a large garden, lots of fruit trees and chickens.   Living there during WWII, it provided a comfortable life and resources that could be bartered.   I grew up hearing stories of family sing alongs and daily pie baking. After lunch, we made the drive to Knoxville.  Other than the usual traffic issues associated with large trucks and the hills of Tennessee, it was again uneventful.  A quick bite to eat at a local pub closed out the day…the calm before the storm….tomorrow we pick up family at the Knoxville airport and head out to Pigeon Forge.  It’s going to be a very full car!