Cades Cove and Rich Mountain Trail

Today was a trip to Cades Cove.  We found a nice spot for a few pictures and then we headed to the Visitor Center.  There was a guy there playing banjo, guitar, dulcimer and a harpsichord.  We bought some tasty pumpkin butter. 

We cut back through the Cove on one of the cut through roads so we could go back and hit Rich Mountain Trail.  It is one of those unpaved not frequented roads :)  We didn't see one other person while on the tail. 

After the trail we headed to one of our favorite restaurants in Pigeon Forge, Huck Finns.  Michael and Anthony got catfish.  Jacob got gator tail!  He even ate the white beans there, he NEVER eats beans!  Michael ate all of his catfish but couldn't eat his mashed potatoes.  It might have as something to do with all the hush puppies they brought us before our meal! 

We got to the cabin a little early so I sat on the balcony off of our bedroom and worked on my play a little.  It was so nice out tonight that eventually all three boys were out there with me :) 

Michael lit the grill and they all made smores :)  We found the really cool special smores marshmallows here at Walmart.  Couldn't kind them at home!

And after loading the pictures for today I realized that Anthony didn't get out of the Jeep when I was taking pictures.

                                          Saw this really awesome gate at the end of the trail.

Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail

We had a nice drive through Roaring Fork today.  There were some really pretty spots to take pictures.  But I will say that I prefer the gravel roads that are less touristy.  The Motor trail was crowded!!  We tried to go find another trail that David had keyed into his GPS last time we were her but on the way we saw the Jeepism place and stopped there.  Michael got a shirt, Jacob got a hat.  Anthony decided he didn't want anything.  David found some handles to attach to the big plastic bin we got to carry our stuff on a rack on the back of the Jeep.  We bought it so we could bring the dog with us.  He is enjoying all the walks he is getting but I think he would be happier at our friend Brandi's house. 

We never found the other trail.  We decided to just go on back to the cabin when the GPS said it was and hour and a half to the trail!  Everything takes so long to get to here.  Not because its that far away, but because the roads are crazy curvy and the speed limit is low.  We grilled smoked sausage dogs and had potato salad and chips.  And of course all the boys had smores afterwards :)


 

Smoky Mountains

Yesterday we all piled in the Jeep, it was tricky getting the dog in with everything else.  Before we left Anthony gave me chocolates and a card for mothers day.  Diesel did pretty well during the drive.  We stopped and got lunch at a drive through and he poked his head up asking where his food was ;) 

We stopped at Smoky Mountain Knife works before we got to the cabin.  Jacob and I stayed outside with Diesel.  We got them out and walked him and gave him some water.  We managed to get him back in the Jeep just the two of us! 

After we got to the cabin and brought the dog and our clothes in we headed back out to find dinner and Walmart.  We couldn't bring any food with us because we brought the dog and he is pretty huge.  One of the main reasons we picked this cabin was because it said it had a charcoal grill.  Well they didn't, only a propane gas one.  And it wasn't a very good one at all!  The burners were touching the grill top.  So at Walmart we found a small little charcoal grill for 15 dollars. 

We got up this morning and headed into the National Park.  We went the south eastern part of the park.  We took some dirt roads up and down mountains.  It took us over and hour to go 16 miles!  The roads weren't really bad just very winding.   We got back to the cabin and cooked hamburgers on out little grill.  And we made smores afterwards! 

We had lunch at this really cool rock,

Were even on the Blue Ridge Parkway for a little bit today!!!

The view from our cabins balcony.