July 20
Monday, 2020 Palmeter Vacation
Monday Sunrise
6:46 AM – Spectacular start to an incredible day!
Judy and David Lifetime ‘Bears in the Wild’ Spotting Score
1939 (and 1942) to 2013 – Zoo bears only
2014 – Ten days in Alaska – no bears in the wild (just one bear in a park for rescued animals)
2015 – Two weeks driving from Noblesville in the Central Hoosier Flatlands to Yellowstone in the Rocky Mountains and home – no bears at all
– but then – finally!
2020 – After just two days in the Smoky Mountains – A BEAR!
What do you do when it itches?
Where did the bear go?
Newfound Gap and The Appalachian Trail
7:44 AM – After the bear excitements, some fantastic scenery on the way to Newfound Gap on the Tennessee – North Carolina border.
Wild turkeys at the Gap.
We were flatland walkers but wanted to experience a portion of the AT. This is info from a Hikers Guide –
“This is a popular scenic overlook due to its proximity to Newfound Gap and the opportunity it provides for the visitor to get great views of the Smoky Mountains. This is also a popular way to access the Appalachian Trail (AT), so you probably won’t be alone as you make your way along the crest of the Smokies. Expect heavy crowds for the first .5 mile to mile of the trail, however, the crowds will thin some the further you get from Newfound Gap.Surface: Mountain Trail, Packed Dirt, Roots, Rocks”
(David made it, as predicted, and with help, about .5 mile up and a half mile back.)
Wow, they weren’t kidding, this was one of the easier stretches, it got rougher.
David was fortunate to have Nancy to help the old guy up the trail and Karen to help him down – it was a long half mile each way, but worth the experience!
Well ahead of Grandpa, loving siblings Kyle and Brooke enjoying the view on the Appalachian Trail.
Teen cousins Luke and Brooke celebrating their conquest of one of the tougher rock piles called the Appalachian Trail!
Karen and David celebrating a return in one piece by Mr. Wonderful; they are also doing a good job hiding their disappointment at not finding out what is a ‘Sweat Heifer’. (But fairly certain they didn’t want to follow one up the creek.)
A kindly tourist from Kentucky was nice to snap a shot of this borderline bunch.
Great scenery on the way back, this is a particularly well-framed shot of twin peaks.
Another nicely composed shot of the amazing Smoky Mountains scenery.
Downtown Gatlinburg
Flapjacks in downtown G’burg? Neh e is!
Ripley’s Believe it or Not in G’burg. Actually, there were a couple of other tourist traps, too!
Cake in the Cabin
Step One – put the butter in the sun on the deck to soften it up. Watch it carefully….
Step Two – Put on a blue shirt and perform STEM experiment: Do watched cakes cook faster or slower?
Step Three – the sweet part, icing the cake. If the icing is not cooperating, stick your tongue out!
Step Four* – Icing and cake crumbs left in the bowl? Not there for long when you use Four* fingers at a time!
The chef takes a selfie bow.
And the taste test party gets underway. Magnificent!