With a hip hip hooray we were “on the road again” thus, concluding our Memorial Day holiday. We pointed our “coach” toward the hills of Tennessee with a plan to go into Nashville but ended up spending two nights in Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge. We enjoyed our stay and found the area rustic, alive and touristy. We enjoyed a tasty BBQ dinner at Bennets BBQ and a well prepared prime rib dinner at Peddlers on the river in Gatlinburg. Ken deemed the prime rib to be comparable to Lowery’s in West Hollywood which is highly complimentary and I deemed the salad bar awesome.
Wednesday we awoke to rain showers that lasted throughout the morning but by noon blue sky could be gleaned afar as thunder heads moved silently above. We believe in blue sky so we gathered our faculties and drove into Pigeon Forge where we had a light lunch at Alabama’s(the country musical group)Bar and Grill. Ken wanted to do a country western evening and Louise Mandrell was “en residence” but I lacked enthusiasm. Inasmuch as it was my birthday of sorts,my preference carried the day, much to Ken’s disappointment. After lunch, we did what I enjoy most and drove into the countryside in search of the “spirit” of the culture and the beauty of the country side. As we drove into the “outback”, Ken wondered aloud whether any or how many "moonshiners" might still practice their trade in “them thar hills”. I was “put out” that he would dare suggest that “moonshine” might still be a viable labor in those heavily wooded and protected hills. I retorted that I believed the production of “moonshine” liquor ceased with prohibition and that, of course, sparked debate. We engaged in spirited “banter” each of us holding firm to our preconceived ideas and assumptions.
We stopped at a combined “country store” and gift gallery in a beautiful setting on a paved country road. We each went our own way and as I browsed a local shop, I engaged a nice man in one of the stores in conversation. I told him about my discussion with my husband and to my great surprise, he said Ken was right. I know that I sometimes look at “my world” through square rose colored glasses (friends have accused me of this) but I do admit that I was surprised to learn that the folklore of “moonshine liquor” still exists.. The man further stated that the “moonshiners” hate the “pot growers” and conduct their own vendetta in pursuit of the “pot” transgressors. . To my inquiry as to why the “Revenuers” do not “raid” the stills, my “source” assured me that they are not only hard to find and catch but that the Feds are afraid to pursue the moonshiners who are well protected by the thick foliage and timber and carry guns with LIVE ammunition. Well, you could have knocked me down with a feather, cause I was sure that those “days” were behind us. The man added that the business of “moonshine” brings good money. Ken’s win brought a look of glee on his face but I still have reservations and I can’t help but think that “old country boy” thought he had a couple of “live ones” and was having fun feeding us a line. Admittedly, it did add a “little glamor” to what otherwise seems a quiet, laid back lifestyle. Nevertheless, the countryside is green, lush and beautiful and if those “good old boys” from Tennessee can eek out a living by “brewing” a cup of Tennessee Tea” more power to ‘em.
A STILL IN THE HILLS?
FLY FISHERMAN
Ken stopped to capture on camera a man fly fishing in a nicely flowing stream in an effort to capture a moment of “vicarious” living before we circled back into the Smokey Mountain Park and Gatlinburg where we concluded our day with dinner on the river. So ended this, the first day of my 72nd year. And the ‘GIG” goes on.
Early the next morning we pointed our coach toward Knoxville and into Kentucky for our last night on the road before arriving at the source of my roots in Southern Indiana. We did a brief stop at Renfro Valley, where in my childhood I remember the weekly country music presentations by the Renfro Valley boys.
My niece, Rachel, and her fiancee, Niall, joined us Saturday evening. Together we toured the renovations at the West Baden Springs Hotel. In the early 1900's until 1929, it was a grand hotel visited "in season" by the rich and famous. During my “youth” it was a Jesuit College and my memories of the hotel include robed young Jesuits out for an evening stroll and meditation. The gardens and grounds were immaculate and the stately, domed building seemed the most exquisite building in the world to my young eyes. The hotel is in the process of being restored hopefully, to its once elegant status, in preparation for accommodating patrons of a new casino to be erected nearby. Hopefully, the new casino will bring “action” and new life into an area that has suffered economically by lack of enterprise.
DOME WEST BADEN HOTEL
WEST BADEN HOTEL INTERIOR
We concluded our evening “on the town” with a walk through the grounds and lobby of the French Lick Springs Hotel, just one mile away. At a later date, I will share more pictures of the area and review its history in greater detail but suffice to say the town is more than the birthplace of Larry Bird. There is hope of a renaissance now that Indiana politico’s have finally approved the site for a gambling enterprise. A return to its past, perhaps?
After breakfast, prepared RV style, Sunday morning, Rachel, Nial, Ken and I did a drive "about" through the hills where Rachel's great grandparents on both her grandfather and grandmother's side lived and worked the small farms that through long hours and hard work provided economic support for their families. In the afternoon we were joined by a nephew and his wife and the six of us drove into the countryside for a visit to the recently opened country store and cafe of another nephew and his family. Soon we were joined by two grand nephews and the porch of the country store took on the look of a family reunion.
PINNICKS COUNTRY STORE
RELATIVES PORCH SITTING
OLD STORE
INDIANA COVERED BRIDGE
ANOTHER VIEW
Monday was a laid back day, preparing for our Wednesday departure to California and a wedding, on Sunday the 12th, in the Sonoma Valley. Tuesday morning we drove the coach to my nephew, Steve’s, where we left it and our “towed” until our return. Tuesday night, we dined with family including Jaxson, our youngest “kin folk” (just 10 weeks) and enjoyed a delightful evening of visiting and “catching up” with nephews and nieces that I see too infrequent. Grand nephew Kyle tapped on our “door at 4AM on Wednesday morning and we were off to Indy’s airport for our flight into Los Angeles. Gary was waiting for us when we arrived, the cat ignored our arrival and Terri seemed glad to welcome us home after our seven weeks on the road. Ken’s brother, Don and wife, Linda with friends from Cottonwood had arrived on Sunday so we were treated to a short visit with them in between their full vacation schedule,before leaving for Santa Rosa California and the wedding that brought us home for the occasion.
Our friends, Raoul and Jan Roth gave us notice of the wedding date of their daughter, Stephanie a year and a half ago. Thus, we had plenty of notice to make trip plans around the date and all arrangements were made before we left in April. We have known the Roth children since they were teenagers and we remember Stephanie when she still needed her "blanky" on our sailing trips to Catalina. The Roth children were always a joy to have aboard boat and they seemed to be enthusiastic sailors, had a wonderful sense of humor, and great fun. Thus, the wedding was a very special occasion for us and we were delighted to be included in the family celebration.
The outdoor wedding was beautiful and the day was picture perfect, bright sunny and warm but pleasant thanks to the redwood trees that provided shade as we watched the couple exchange their vows. Stephanie and her new husband, Ken, are honeymooning in Aruba, a locale suspect for safety at this time but Stephanie assured us that she would not be nightclubbing with strange young men and certainly did not plan to get into stranger’s car.
Monday we meandered over to Bodega Bay where we had a wonderful breakfast on the wharf and then followed the coastal route into San Francisco, over the Golden Gate Bridge. We stopped in Monterey for lunch at Abolinettes's on the wharf, concluding with an overnight in San Simeon. Tuesday morning we were up early and back home by noon. So went our weekend.
As I write this, we are preparing to return to Indiana where I will attend my 55th class reunion and the alumni bash at my alma mater. I’ll report on that in my next “blog”. We will remain in Southern Indiana until after the 4th when we will once again mount our "diesel stead" and take to the road Eastward. In the meantime, let us not forget the "sweetness" of the freedom that we celebrate on July 4.
SIGNING THE KETUBAH
DEED IS DONE
MOTHER OF THE BRIDE
HERE COMES THE BRIDE
HAPPY COUPLE
BROTHER OF THE BRIDE
BODEGA BAY NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
