1 year, 10 months and 16 days from today - A May 2016 PTR FINAL UPDATE 5/6/16

[KatMark]

Darla, sounds like a fun travel group. I can't wait to hear more about this mini-trip report.

 

[MEK]

That cabin is adorable!

I've only been to the Smokies once while we drove out to see our son play in a soccer tournament in Nashville. That was in July and I can honestly say that the traffic was worse than anything I have encountered here in the mid-atlantic. But the Smokies were beautiful and I am sure there are some place well off the beaten track.

Looking forward to hearing about your mini trip!

 

[ddstratton]

Darla, sounds like a fun travel group. I can't wait to hear more about this mini-trip report.

It was fun! An update will be coming shortly.

That cabin is adorable!

I've only been to the Smokies once while we drove out to see our son play in a soccer tournament in Nashville. That was in July and I can honestly say that the traffic was worse than anything I have encountered here in the mid-atlantic. But the Smokies were beautiful and I am sure there are some place well off the beaten track.

Looking forward to hearing about your mini trip!

Traffic in July is horrible. The Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area has become much more tourist-y in the past few years, and it gets PACKED. You couldn't pay me enough to go in October, during the "leaf season"...

We've been to Nashville once - and traffic there was a nightmare. SO MUCH construction was going on, right in the area we needed to be.

 

[ddstratton]

Mini Trip Report, Day 1

Alrighty, on with this mini trip report within a pre-trip report. Day 1 of our trip -– Thursday, March 20, 2013. I had planned on going in to work for a half-day, but decided to just stay home and get a bit of an earlier start. We packed up the car and did a few last-minute things. DD was ready to go and in fine form.

Her latest musical obsession is Jerry Reed. The day we were leaving –- March 20th -– was his birthday, so she was chattering on all morning with different Jerry Reed trivia.

We finally got everything loaded up in the van, and we left at 10:25 am. It was 37 degrees. DD texted everyone as we left. This is a common theme throughout our trips, lately. DD keeps the family at home up-to-date via text. We hit the highway (I-86) at 10:30 am. There was light rain and some snow flurries as we left.

Entered PA at 10:56 am.

We stopped for gas just after crossing the border. 10.932 gallons at $3.65/gallon. $40.00 for gas. Also bought an apple Danish and a cherry Dr Pepper for $3.82. Back on the road at 11:04.

We stopped for lunch at McDonald’'s in Williamsport at 12:05. $24.11 for lunch. Mom Stratton had a Big Mac meal. DD had a bacon double cheeseburger and a chocolate milkshake. DH and I both had quarter pounder with cheese meals. We left McDonald’s at 12:36.

We stopped at a rest area just before Exit 37 at 2:43. Bought a lemonade for $1.75. Left at 2:53. Hmm… No pictures of the rest area.

All throughout this trip, DD and Mom S played a little game in the back seat. “Count the Big Trucks” They actually kept a tally of all the big trucks they would see. This was just part-way through day one.

Entered MD at 3:29.

Entered WV at 3:40.

Entered VA at 4:00.

We arrived at our hotel for the evening at 4:09. We stopped at the EconoLodge North, in Winchester, VA. $128.38 for two rooms.

We spent some time getting settled into our rooms - we had two rooms, right across the hall from each other.

We had planned on having dinner right next door to the hotel, at a Denny’'s. However, it was closed for refurbishment. We ended up ordering for delivery from a menu in our room - a little place called 3.14 Pizza. We called and placed the order with no problem. It was delivered right on time.

I got lasagna with salad and bread.

DH had a 12"” sub -– Italian sausage with cheese.

Mom S had a chicken Philly and cheese sub with fries.

DD ordered a dozen wings.

The portions were HUGE!!. DH's came with chips, but no one liked them –- kettle cooked chips. Dinner was delivered right around 5:30 pm. Grand total was $39.01, plus a tip.

After dinner, DD and Mom S went to their room. We played around on our laptops and watched TV for a while. DH tried to text and call DD around 9:30, but she didn'’t answer. Turns out, she was already asleep. We all called it a night and went to sleep as well.

 

[KatMark]

Sounds like an uneventful first day of travel. The weather even looks like it cooperated after the slight drizzle/snowflakes in the a.m.

Those sandwiches do look huge.

 

[ddstratton]

Sounds like an uneventful first day of travel. The weather even looks like it cooperated after the slight drizzle/snowflakes in the a.m.

Those sandwiches do look huge.

Yup, a nice quiet travel day. The weather turned out fairly nice after our cold start. The sandwiches were huge, but DH's mom managed to finish hers! The portion of lasagna I got was enough for two, easily. In fact, I think I shared with DD, as she thought the wings were too hot, and DH ended up eating part of them.

 

[ddstratton]

Mini Trip Report, Day 2

Friday, March 21, 2014. We got up around 6:30, got showered and dressed, and packed up our room. We went to the lobby and checked out the “free breakfast,” but this one was kind of lousy. Some donuts, a few slices of bread for toast and two choices of cold cereal. We decided to pass on this. We had a better breakfast in mind, anyway.

We left the hotel at 7:59 am, and arrived at IHOP at 8:10.

DD was so happy that they had iced coffee…

Mom S and DD each had a cheese omelet with fruit. (fruit didn'’t make it into the picture)

DH had the Colorado omelet with pancakes. (pancakes didn'’t make it into the picture)

I had a ham and cheese omelet with pancakes. (again, pancakes didn'’t make it)

Total here was $47.01, plus tip. We had a $25 gift card also, so breakfast didn'’t cost us too much. We left IHOP at 9:10. We were all VERY full at this point.

Stopped for gas at 9:17. 89 octane. $3.49/gallon, 11.431 gallons. $40.00. Left at 9:21.

Stopped at a rest area at 10:10, and left at 10:18.

Stopped at another rest area at 12:11, left at 12:20. At this rest area, there was a truck carrying plastic pallets. We thought it looked like it was made of Legos.

Stopped for gas at 1:28. $3.10/gallon, 9.649 gallons, $30.00. There was a Dairy Queen at this gas station. DD got a French Vanilla MooLatte, Mom S got a strawberry sundae, DH got a chocolate milkshake, and I got a Peanut Butter Blaster sundae. $13.35. We were still fairly full from our big breakfast, so this passed for lunch today!

Entered Tennessee at 2:58.

Stopped at Walmart at 3:40, mainly to stretch our legs and for a potty break. Bought a coffee drink for DD, a cherry Coke for me and two puzzle books. $6.83. Left at 4:06.

Entered North Carolina at 4:29.

Still playing the game…

Coming into Asheville from this direction is -- interesting. You go up and over the mountains. Not a problem in good weather, but we've done this in rain and snow before – not fun!!

Here'’s our exit!!

Arrived at 5:09. Visited with Gail (DSis-in-Law) for a little while, then Angie (DNiece) got home.

We left at 7:24 to go to dinner at Ryan'’s. $82.80 here. After dinner, DD and Mom S went home with Angie and Gail, while DH and I went almost next door to our hotel.

Comfort Suites, Room 104. Parked out back, right in front of the back entrance door. Total here was $350.76 for four nights.

After bringing our stuff in, we walked to Kmart –-- across the parking lot. We bought a gallon of milk, some puff corn, a 2 liter of Cheer Wine, and sunglasses for each of us. Total here was $35.16. Went back to the hotel and played on computers and watched TV, then sleep for the night.

 

[KatMark]

Gosh, I can't remember the last time we went to an IHop. Those omelets look good (except your husband's ).

I can't believe they kept the game going and all that writing.

Very nice Comfort Suites.

 

[MEK]

I've been down Route 81 several times and to count ALL those trucks must have been a daunting task. OMG! Kudos to anyone who can do that. I love how you note the exact time to all your stops and the exact amount of money you have spent. I'd probably keep track of that for the first 4 hours then stop.

Yay to arriving at your final destination. Looks like a nice hotel. I agree with Kathy - those omelets looks yummy!

 

[ddstratton]

Gosh, I can't remember the last time we went to an IHop. Those omelets look good (except your husband's ).

I can't believe they kept the game going and all that writing.

Very nice Comfort Suites.

We only got to IHOP when we travel. The closest one to us is an hour and a half away. Yup, we live in a RURAL area. The omelets were so tasty! And very filling, along with the pancakes. I know I didn't finish my pancakes. I think I ate about a quarter of one.

I've been down Route 81 several times and to count ALL those trucks must have been a daunting task. OMG! Kudos to anyone who can do that. I love how you note the exact time to all your stops and the exact amount of money you have spent. I'd probably keep track of that for the first 4 hours then stop.

Yay to arriving at your final destination. Looks like a nice hotel. I agree with Kathy - those omelets looks yummy!

Not only did they do this on the way down - they did it on the way back, too!

For this mini trip report, I'm copying from my original notes I took on the trip. When we take a trip, I take a notebook with me (yup, old-fashioned paper and pen) and make notes throughout the trip. Each evening, I'd type up my notes, along with taking my pictures off the camera onto my laptop.

The hotel was actually pretty nice. The room was clean and comfy - about all we could ask for! And the location was perfect. It was less than five minutes from the family we were visiting. DD and Mom S love staying with them, but they've got a two-bedroom, one-bathroom home. There are already three of them living there. Try stuffing in another FOUR people -- not fun. So DH and I have taken to staying at a hotel while we visit. Makes a nicer visit for everyone when we're not stepping all over each other in the mornings

 

[ddstratton]

Mini Trip Report, Day 3

Moving right along with this mini-trip-report-within-a-pre-trip-report...

Saturday, March 22, 2014. DH and I got up around 7:30, got showered and dressed, and went to breakfast. It was crazy busy! The food wasn’'t the best, either. Cold or luke-warm eggs, sausage and biscuits. No trays to take our food back to the room. Just a so-so breakfast. This was surprising to us, as we’'d always had a nice breakfast at this chain of hotels.

After eating, we went to Gail and Angie'’s. We visited on the porch for a few minutes, watching some squirrels play around.

We then took DD to Morrison'’s Gun/Book store. This place was such fun! It was a gun/accessory shop, but most of the shop was filled with floor to ceiling books!

Only problem –-- they were no longer open! Bummer! We had loved that place. Instead, we went to a few pawn shops and other shops. DD loves to browse around at a pawn shop. First we went to the Goodwill store. I bought a cd player/clock radio for the kitchen. Total cost here was $11.00.

We went to Alan'’s Pawn, but didn’'t find anything. This was the same pawn shop where DH bought his rifle last year.

We went to the Cook Out for lunch. I had a bacon cheese hot dog, drink and onion rings. DH had a cheeseburger, fries and drink. DD had a drink and two mustard relish dogs. Well, she started out with one, but decided that it was so good -– she needed another! Total here was $13.89.

The sunglasses that we bought for DH last night matched the ones that DD had. She was very happy about this. Hers are prescription sunglasses that we bought through Zenni Optical online. She wanted them because they looked like the ones Jerry Reed wore in “Smokey and the Bandit.” Did I mention that this kid is kind of obsessed with Jerry Reed?? Oh -– and if anyone is looking to buy a second pair of glasses, or a pair of prescription sunglasses -– I would recommend Zenni Optical. The glasses were cheap in cost, but don’'t look or feel cheap, and the ordering process was really easy.

After lunch, we went to the Leicester Gun and Pawn shop. Didn’'t buy anything here either. We did go through a car wash, though…

We went back to Gail and Angie’'s. DD and Angie started playing guitar together.

Ollie was enjoying the music.

After a bit, we took Mom Stratton to the Discount Shoes store. She found a pair of Sketchers sneakers that fit her pretty well. She has a very hard time finding good-fitting shoes. She has very long, skinny feet. They were only $49.95 plus tax -– a lot cheaper than the last pair of shoes she bought there.

We just visited for a little while, then all of us went to Angie’'s salon. We stopped at a gas station and I picked up a cheerwine, a coffee drink and a fruit punch. Total here was $5.76.

Arrived at the salon about 3:15. DD got her hair cut and colored. Mom Stratton got her hair cut. DH walked back to the gas station and got a mt dew, a coffee drink and four scratcher tickets --– we were losers on all of the scratchers.

This was DD’s first time getting highlights done in her hair.

Jerry'’s cute little dog, Meggie

DD’s hair came out a LOT lighter than I thought it would -– almost grey-looking. However, by the next day or two, it had toned down a bunch, and I loved the look of it.

We left the salon around 7:00 and went to the Asiana buffet (it's actually called Yao, but we know it as Asiana). $84.21 for all six of us, plus tip. We love this buffet. There are a TON of choices here. No one can walk away hungry -– even the vegetarian in our group (Angie). You can get everything from your basic salad to frogs legs and crawfish. Lots of yummy options, and we all had a great time just chatting and eating.

We stopped at Ingles to buy a gallon of milk, some cold pills for DD (who had mentioned that she felt like she might be getting a cold) and some grapes and blackberries for me. Total here was $20.24. Angie, Kayden and DD went on home while we stopped in at the grocery store. We took Mom S and Gail back to the house, then went back to the hotel. We just played on our laptops for a while, and vegged for the rest of the evening.

 

[KatMark]

Sorry to hear breakfast wasn't very good.

That is a lot of books. Great deal on the clock/CD player!

Oh my....I didn't know anyone used those caps anymore for their hair coloring. I remember the torcher of those things. I think DD's hair looks great.

 

[ddstratton]

Sorry to hear breakfast wasn't very good.

That is a lot of books. Great deal on the clock/CD player!

Oh my....I didn't know anyone used those caps anymore for their hair coloring. I remember the torcher of those things. I think DD's hair looks great.

Yeah, breakfast was disappointing, but at least we got something to fill us up for a while.

These bookstore pictures are from last year - the store is gone now. But books, books, books, everywhere!!! DD loved that place, and so did I. We did get a good deal on the cd player. I really wanted on in the kitchen that I could plug an mp3 player into. This one did the job!

Angie had thought about doing foils for DD's highlights, but decided to do the cap in the end. I love how her hair came out.

I MISSED A DAY!!!!! Read below for day 4...

Mini Trip Report, Day 4

Sunday, March 23, 2014. We got up around 7:45. Got showered and dressed, then headed over to Ryan’'s for breakfast. We drove over, as it was raining this morning. Got to Ryan'’s right around 9:00 am. $22.22 including $3 tip for breakfast. I found Ryan’'s to be only OK for a breakfast buffet. I honestly expected more of a selection. Not that our breakfast was bad –- not by any means. There just wasn'’t as big a selection as I expected.

Went to the Dollar General Market after breakfast. Bought a wind chime and a bird feeder for Gail’'s birthday present. We bought DD a Carolina t-shirt, so she would have an actual present to open. We also bought a small bird ornament for Mom S. Add gift bags/tissue paper, some garbage bags, two drinks and some shave cream and we were done here. Total here was $34.18. Checked out here right around 10:00 am. Stopped at the ATM and withdrew some cash, then headed to Gail and Angie’'s.

We just visited there for a while. DD went with Angie to pick up Kayden, who had been at his dad’'s. DH and I went to Subway and shared a tuna sub and large drink. Total here was $9.15. After that, we stopped at a small “Outlet shop” near Subway. There was a little of everything here -– even used stuff!! I bought a bottle of Oil of Olay and a pair of earphones for DD. Total here was $8.24.

We went back to Gail and Angie’'s. We just visited for a little while.

The green tub of toys you see in the picture above are a bunch of toys that DD decided she didn’'t want anymore, that Kayden would love. Stuff like trucks and wrestlers. They had a ball playing with those.

Around 3:30 or so, we headed out to the salon. We were having a birthday party for DD, Gail and Robert (Jerry'’s brother-in-law). We had dinner here (sandwiches, dips, salads, etc) and cake.

We gave DD her birthday surprise, and she was thrilled! This is where she found out that we were going to Gatlinburg and staying at the Lovesick Blues cabin. She thought we were leaving to head home on her birthday. We were actually leaving to go to Gatlinburg on her birthday!

DD got volunteered to cut the birthday cake.

She was glued to Jerry most of the time, of course. She had idolized him since we first met him, years ago.

We stayed here until about 7:45 or so. We went back to Gail and Angie’'s for a little while, then DH and I went back to the hotel. Once at the hotel, we just watched TV and played on our laptops for a while.

 

[ddstratton]

Mini Trip Report, Day 5

Monday, March 24, 2014. Back at Gail and Angie’'s, DD rode with Angie to take Kayden to school. We had Angie drop DD off at the hotel, because we had some last-minute surprise plans for her.

We went to breakfast at a nearby Cracker Barrel. We each had biscuits and gravy. DH and DD had theirs with sausage, and I had mine with bacon. DH and I had Coke, while DD had sweet tea. We took our left over biscuits home for Mom Stratton and Gail to have. Kayden ended up snacking on one also. In the gift shop, we bought a jar of apple butter, a box of 70s candy and a reusable tote bag. Total for gift shop and breakfast was $34.64, plus tip.

Hmm.. apparently, I never took pictures of our breakfast today.

After breakfast, we took DD to West Carolina Freightliner so she could get a close-up look at some rigs. Yup, this was the surprise for her. She has become fairly obsessed with big rigs, and even says she wants to learn to drive one. While we were browsing at the line of trucks they had in the lot, DH went to the office to ask if she could see the inside of one. They sent him to the sales manager -– Beth Zabriskie. She brought out several sets of keys. DD got to climb up into several different rigs. The first one -– she got to start the engine and got a ride twice around the parking lot. Beth gave her a t-shirt, hat, posters, calendar, key chain and mints in a rig-shaped tin. DD was just THRILLED. She could not stop smiling!

After the Freightliner dealer, we went to a pawn shop -– Finklestein’s. DD got an electric acoustic guitar here. The price tag was $329.99. We got it for $282.43 after tax. It also had a nice hard case. Turns out, we made a good buy. DD took it to her guitar teacher when we got home, and he said that would sell in his shop for $500 without the hard case.

We took DD back to Angie’s and she rode with Angie to have lunch at school with Kayden. DH and I visited for a few minutes, then went back to the hotel to get my laptop and to charge the camera batteries. We stopped for gas at the Hot Spot gas station. $3.31/gallon, 12.052 gallons, $40.00 total. Later that day, the price went up 6 cents per gallon.

We went to Sonic for lunch. DH had a cheeseburger with tots and a Coke. I had a bacon cheese hot dog with a cherry lime-ade. Total for lunch was $11.21. We went back to Gail and Angie’'s and visited again for a while. DD and Mom Stratton went with Angie to pick up Kayden from school. DH took a walk. He went to Tractor Supply and bought a Power ade for $2.13. DD and Angie played guitar for a while again. DD’s playing her new guitar here.

DH and I went to Ingles. Bought a case of water, a bottle of cheerwine, grape tomatoes, blue cheese dressing, two magazines and some ice cream. Total was $21.77.

Jerry came down and brought DD a home-made chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting. She was thrilled with this, especially since Jerry made the cake especially for her. He doesn’'t even like peanut butter frosting, but he made it from scratch for her. Let’s keep count of the number of birthday cakes this kid ends up with… -- So far, she’s had two, and it’s not even her birthday yet!

Angie made a salad and put some baked potatoes in the oven. I helped Gail cook some steaks. We had a really nice dinner together, just visiting and chatting the evening away. DH and I went back to the hotel around 9:00 - we were tired and knew we had a long day coming up.

 

[KatMark]

Wow! Your DD is really having the best birthday.

How nice of the Freightliner company to take her for a ride and to give her all those great souvenirs.

Okay...going to try to keep count of the birthday cakes.

What a nice relaxing evening.

 

[ddstratton]

Wow! Your DD is really having the best birthday.

How nice of the Freightliner company to take her for a ride and to give her all those great souvenirs.

Okay...going to try to keep count of the birthday cakes.

What a nice relaxing evening.

She really did have a wonderful birthday. She stretched it out, too! The lady from Freightliner was the best! She took lots of time, explaining different details about the trucks to DD, etc. Turns out that she had started out wanting to drive the big trucks, and ended up selling them instead. DD had what we called "perma-grin" plastered to her face for the rest of the day.

 

[ddstratton]

Mini Trip Report, Day 6, Part 1

Tuesday, March 25, 2014. DD’s 15th birthday! We got up and around and got the van packed up. Left our hotel at 8:13. It had snowed a little overnight. Snowed!!

We went to Hardee’s for breakfast. DH had a sausage and egg biscuit. I had a double bacon, egg and cheese biscuit with tots and a large drink. Total here was $8.00. We walked to the Dunkin Donuts next door and got a large French Vanilla iced coffee to take to DD - $2.77. Left there at 8:45.

Kayden had a two-hour delay for school because of the snow, so we did get to see him a little more. As Angie was getting Kayden ready to leave, DH and I left to go to the Dollar Tree. Elizabeth wanted to take her left-over birthday cake and we needed some containers. We spent $8.11 on two sets of containers, some plastic silverware, a coloring book and crayons, a dr pepper and two nerds ropes. Apparently, I failed to take a picture of the coloring book -– it was full of big rigs! DD got a kick out of it, and actually colored in it on the drive.

We went back to Gail’s and got the van packed up. We left Gail'’s at 10:25.

DD enjoying her Nerds rope

Daffodils poking out through the snow along the highway.

Because of the bad weather, we were not sure if the highway through the Smoky Mountain National Park would be open or not, so we took an alternate route from Asheville to Gatlinburg.

Entered Tennessee at 11:15.

Stopped at a rest area at 11:21. Elizabeth got a whole bunch of the Kix Brooks pamphlets -– for his Winery near Nashville, and I got a bunch for different Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge attractions. We left the rest area at 11:37.

Interesting road-side sights…

Due to our alternate route, we drove right past the Bush'’s Baked Beans museum! It happened to be right around lunch-time, and they have a café next to the museum. Sounds like a plan! Stopped at the Bush'’s Baked Bean Museum at 12:03.

We walked through the museum. It was actually very interesting. They had several interactive displays, and the people working there were very nice. One of them offered to take our picture.

Inside the giant can of beans were several video displays.

After touring the museum, we browsed the gift shop. Bought DD a pair of socks, and a magnet/postcard for Mom Stratton. $10.95.

We went over to the café and were seated very quickly. Our waitress was right there to take our drink orders. Everyone was given a tiny bowl of beans as an appetizer. They were different flavors, but I don’'t remember what the flavors were…

DD ordered a grilled chicken sandwich with fruit salad –- they brought her a grilled cheese with fruit salad. She decided that it looked good, so she ate that rather than sending it back. Mom S had a grilled cheese with fruit salad. I had a fried bologna sandwich with fruit salad. DH had the catfish meal. Apparently, I only took pictures of half of my fried bologna sandwich…

By the time we were finished, all the food was eaten. I think Mom S and DD managed to finish off most of the fruit salad that we had all ordered. I know that I had part of DD’s grilled cheese – it was pretty tasty. $40.29 plus tip. We left here at 1:28

Stopped at a Pawn Shop at 1:45. Just looked around. Left at 1:53. Check out the weather we ran into!

Due to photo limits, stopping here for now.

 

[KatMark]

Have I ever told you I hate snow? Thankfully, it appeared to only be a dusting.

I LOVE Bush beans. How great is it that taking a different route you ended up at the museum and having a good lunch too.

 

[ddstratton]

Have I ever told you I hate snow? Thankfully, it appeared to only be a dusting.

I LOVE Bush beans. How great is it that taking a different route you ended up at the museum and having a good lunch too.

I don't usually mind snow - living in upstate NY, that's a good thing. I just wasn't really expecting it in Asheville, NC! I know they get a little snow now and then, but really! How dare it snow on our vacation! Even this little dusting caused a two-hour delay for the schools.

I'm kind of glad that we took an alternate route. We hadn't planned on stopping at the Bush's museum, but we really enjoyed it.

 

[ddstratton]

Mini Trip Report, Day 6, Part 2

Coming into Pigeon Forge…

We stopped at the Country Music USA Outlet, but they were closed on Tuesdays. We did see this amusing sign in the window.

We arrived at the cabin at 2:56. The cabin was just beautiful. There were two bedrooms and two bathrooms; one downstairs and one up in the loft. We had a full kitchen, fully stocked with utensils, plates, appliances, pots/pans, etc. There was a hot tub out back, as well. Now, for $100 a night, how could we go wrong??

View from the driveway

Here’'s a video of the drive down Ski Mountain Road. I really did not like this road. There was NO shoulder, and I did not appreciate the drop-offs… This was the only bad thing I could say about our stay in the cabin.

This overpass above us is the Gatlinburg Bypass. It goes from the Smoky Mountain National Park to near Pigeon Forge, allowing you to bypass Gatlinburg traffic.

We got our stuff brought in and got settled in.

Again, due to picture limits, stopping for now.