Day 7
Today was a travel day. We left Fairy Stone Campground around 10 AM with our destination for the day, the Great Smoky National Park, which was 275 miles to the south. Most of the drive was along I-81, so it was not too exciting, but sometimes you just have to take the interstate. We stopped for lunch in Bristol whose main street straddles the state line between Virginia and Tennessee. About every 50 yards, right in the middle of the double yellow line are plaques which remind you where you’re standing. You’ve probably seen the gecko in the Geico commercial that was filmed in Bristol.
For lunch Joni and I both had fried chicken at Eatz, a small restaurant on a side side street that features Southern home cooking.
The owner and his wife, Mark & Lisa Canty, were sitting outside the restaurant and greeted us with true Southern hospitality as we approached the restaurant. At first I thought they were just customers, enjoying the 84°F day, but they couldn’t have been nicer and were genuinely happy we chose to dine with them. They are Trip Advisor’s #1 rated restaurant, and that was a well deserved distinction; I’ve never had better fried chicken.
The owner and his wife, Mark & Lisa Canty, were sitting outside the restaurant and greeted us with true Southern hospitality as we approached the restaurant. At first I thought they were just customers, enjoying the 84°F day, but they couldn’t have been nicer and were genuinely happy we chose to dine with them. They are Trip Advisor’s #1 rated restaurant, and that was a well deserved distinction; I’ve never had better fried chicken.
Leaving Bristol we heading for Great Smoky National Park, but unfortunately we had to drive through Sevierville (Dolly’s birthplace), Pidgeon Forge (where Dolly grew up), and Gatlinburg before we could enter the park. Joni insisted we drive by Dolly’s statue in Sevierville; you can decide if it looks like her.
Anyway I don’t think I’ve ever driven through a longer stretch of outlets, fast food chains, and amusements parks in my life. Absolutely disgusting…but obviously a lot of people like it.
Anyway I don’t think I’ve ever driven through a longer stretch of outlets, fast food chains, and amusements parks in my life. Absolutely disgusting…but obviously a lot of people like it.
Our last stop before entering the park was in Gatlinburg where we picked up some take out BBQ for dinner and we finally made it to our campsite by 6 PM.
This is by far our busiest campground, but it is a weekend so we’re not surprised. The weather forecast for the next two days is terrible, rain and snow, but I’m sure we’ll still fun exploring the park.
This is by far our busiest campground, but it is a weekend so we’re not surprised. The weather forecast for the next two days is terrible, rain and snow, but I’m sure we’ll still fun exploring the park.
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