GATLINBURG - BRRRRMMMM BRRRRRMMM

On Sunday, October 28th I got on my Honda Shadow and headed down I-81 to Gatlinburg, TN. I try to avoid Interstates - it's just not as much fun "slabbin' " as the bikers call it. But it was about 4 1/2 hours on the I-81 vs 12 hrs on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

And since Lesly was meeting me there to go riding in the Smokies, the Interstate won.

An uneventful 5 1/2 hours later (I stop and stretch often) I arrived at TreeTops Resort, a beautiful Time Share, complete with Jacuzzi and fireplace.



On Monday we rode through the Park to Cades Cove. The link will provide lots of info, but you really have to ride the loop to appreciate the quiet beauty and isolation. I got lots of "slow riding" practice as the cars in front of us stopped to watch deer. The leaves were at their peak and it was a beautiful ride. A motorcycle is definitely the way to do it - unless you're a LOT younger than I am and would like to do it on a bicycle.

Tuesday was a shopping day. I found a pair of snowboard pants that are perfect for keeping me warm on the Shadow. And Lesly found a BIG candle in a bucket that provided us with warmth and fragrance for the whole week.

I had told Lesly that Dollywood was a "must see" because we had to spend a lot of time listening to the Bluegrass and Old Tyme music that is a part of these Tennessee hills. But I hadn't realized that there would be bands playing all over the place. Several locations in town and at lots of shops along the "Arts and Crafts Community" road.

Here is one of the "side walk" groups that we went back to listen to several times. The banjo player is 14 years old and is one of the best I've ever heard.



I even got to jam a little with Jerry and Joan Paul of the "Lost Mill String Band". Jerry was nice enough to let me play his 1935 Bass.



Of all the banjo players we heard, Joan Paul was the ONLY one playing "old timey" style clawhammer or "frailing" banjo. I'll probably hear from some purists who'll ask me, "Which was it? Clawhammer or Frailing?" She called it "Clawhammer" and after 44 years, I can't tell the difference. She was VERY good and it was a real pleasure playing a tune with them.

Jerry introduced me by saying, "We haven't seen a good Bass player passing through these parts in a long time." I said, "You still haven't." He said, "Oh yeah, you wouldn't have accepted the offer unless you had some talent." I said, "You're wrong. In my case, 'no talent' goes along well with 'no shame.' "

Wednesday we went to Tellico Plains, TN to ride Route 129 over the mountain to Deal's Gap, NC. This road was discovered by motorcyclists about 25 years ago and has become world famous among bikers as "The Tail of the Dragon". It has 315 curves in 11 miles. Many of them look like this but many others are much tighter.



I MUST go on record as saying that Lesly is the best passenger in the world. We rode the Dragon both directions at safe but still exciting speeds. And she didn't scream, "Oh My God, I'm gonna die" one single time. Not even when I started dragging the footpegs.

We did stop at some overlooks to enjoy the views.



Thursday was another day of shopping and hanging around downtown people-watching.

One more day of riding - this time in the car - took us to the top of Clingman's Dome. For those of you who don't click on the links, it's the tallest point in the Smokey Mountain National Park at 6,643 feet high. And, as promised, it was COLD and WINDY. But worth the drive and then the hike to the top and the observation platform.

Lesly took these wonderful pictures






What a wonderful week it was! We went late in October to accommodate Lesly's work schedule even though the leaf color typically is gone by then. But, just like New England, they were at their peak while we were there.

Another uneventful ride on the Interstate got me back to Salem safe and sound.

NEWS FLASH - at least in TN, Waffle House is now smoke free !! YEAH ! GREAT omelettes and no cigarette smoke ! Haven't checked out VA yet, but it's on my to do list.

"Life's Not FAIR" - Thank you God! If life was fair, I'd not be having NEAR this much fun !

BACK IN SALEM FOR TWO HAPPY SAD DAYS

October 25th -Arrive back in Salem around 11:00pm.

October 26th - collapse for a day of rest.

October 27th - Memorial Service for dear friend Bob Myers in morning. He passed away quietly in his sleep. Bob's wife, Loretta and Mary Ann had been good friends, brought together at Church by her incredible Granddaughter Emily. Loretta passed away in 2004, 3 months before Mary Ann did. Here's the letter that 7 yr old Emily wrote to me when Mary Ann died.




When Mary Ann died, Bob was still pretty much a basket case, but he was three months less of a basket case than I was and he was a major inspiration that helped me through the initial grieving. And Emily was there every Sunday hugging and loving on me. She was, and still is, an incredibly Faith filled young lady and it's a major Blessing to have her in my life.

Bob and Loretta had moved from Baltimore to Roanoke because their Emily and her brother, Andrew were here and his passing will leave a huge void in their lives. On top of the loss of their Grandpa, their recently separated Mom is struggling with her new life as a single parent with a difficult ex-spouse. I took the kids out for Pizza before I went to New England. And we all went to a Christian Motorcycle Association skate party last Monday. Carol (the Mom) and I have talked on the phone for hours and we're now sitting together at Church, taking turns crying depending on the Hymns that are played.

They've found a place in my heart that feels like I have a new family. I hope that I have been some help to them during this hard time.

God is still providing me with Blessings. Emily and Andrew came to Church with Bob and Loretta. So I didn't know Carol. I called her to offer to take the kids for an afternoon or evening and we talked for about 3 hours. My motive was simply to try and return some of the love I'd received from the kids at my time of need. And God Blessed me with so much more than I've given.

As I've said here before,

My favorite Meister Eckhart quote is:

“If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, 'thank you,' that would suffice”.

And as the publisher of "Tinkerbell Jerusalem" says, all that is required to develop Belief is "SUPA" - "Show Up and Pay Attention". If you do, you'll see God at work in your life.

I see reasons to say, "Thank You." every day. And the more I say, "Thank You.", the more reasons I see and the stronger my Faith grows.

Life really is good.