Spring Break - Day 6 and 7

  March 19.

Today was our last day before heading home tomorrow.  It was a busy one.

Quick breakfast then off to the park.  We hiked the Cataract Falls trail.  Valerie, Michael, Mom and Dad all walked it.  

Then to the Metcalf Bottoms Trail to the Walker Sisters cabin.  At the end of it, we had walked 4 miles, with a total of 5 miles or so today.  

We also saw Brandon and his family on the trail, them coming as we were going. 

We took the bypass around Gatlinburg and settled in to relax a bit.  We started packing also as tomorrow we leave for home. Leftovers for supper in order to clean out the fridge a bit.

This was the last time to enjoy the hot tub, but it was really hot tonight.  Mom came over to visit for a bit, and they went back to the Old Mill restaurant with Brandon.  They apparently serve much larger portions in the evening (and lunch is already huge, at that).

March 20. 

We set the alarm for 5:30 and we're on the road by 7 am.  Michael and Valerie are going to Cincinnati to see her sister, so we said our goodbyes.  

Gas is high due to the Iranian situation, but we found gass for $2.99 at Casey's in Pigeon Forge.  We didn't need gas as this truck has a 36 gal tank, but it held 6.6 gallons.  That will almost get us home.

I drove and Stephanie navigated.  Mom showed I-40 closed due to an accident so we hit some back roads.  One took us over a really pretty lake.

Steph took over in I-840 around Nashville and planned to drive to Parker's Crossroads where we could picnic.

We stopped at a rest area with picnic tables for lunch but everyone else ate in the car, moving on.  We didn't stay long but long enough to get our second wind.  I drove through Memphis.

We didn't need gas but I needed a rest so we filled up the tank.  Steph then drove through Little Rock until we got to the Okolona rest area.  I drove from there to Texarkana.  Construction was crazy, and it took a while to get to the Raising Cane's.  But we did.  Are and rolled on.

We took 19 thru Athens; the rest went through Dallas.  We beat them home as there was strange police activity in the city.  Our route was uneventful except for a wrecked truck around the Corsicana loop.  

Home at 11:05 pm.

Trip totals below:

Jamaica Beach - last day. Summer 2025

For some reason this didn't get posted before.  

July 19 -

Today was a day to be in camp.  Since we are to go home tomorrow a simple, relaxing day was in order.

Mom and Dad had breakfast at the food truck.  Looked good!

Bikes to the beach and tried to fish and put one line out for about an hour and a half.  No luck.  One rod has too thick of line and I ran it to the arbor, so before coming back I will need new line.  One man claimed that we were on a private beach and shouldn't be fishing.  He needed to read the Texas Open Beaches Act.  He didn't make any more fuss but I also was careful to keepy lines away from him.  

Then back to the Lazy River for a while.  It was very crowded today and people were everywhere.  A lot of noise and loud music in camp.  Some played old country, but the pool had hip hop, etc.  I don't like electronic bass.

We started picking up, and cooked our redfish and shrimp on the Blackstone.  It is a favorite thing to do here.  Then we rode the bikes to the bay.  There is a lot more land back there and places to ride than we thought.  Fishing would be good!

The distances are not exactly accurate.  I only set my watch for the return. I also forgot to stop the timer.    It was about 4 miles round trip, but the time was about right. 

A bit of sitting around, packing up and visiting.  To bed around 10:15 or so. 

July 20 -

Travel Day.  Gas to cap off the tank, and a last breakfast and coffee on the lawn.  

Spring Break - Day 5

We had planned to hike today but the weather remained cold with the possibility of rain, so we went to Flapjack's for breakfast instead.  We had hoped to sit by the windows but those tables were not available.  I had the Walker Sister's Cabin skillet, Steph had the Corn Beef hash skillet and Sadie had the Strawberry and Cream pancakes.  So much food!

We came back to the cabin for about an hour.  Stephanie wasn't feeling too well, but when she was better we drive part of the Craft Loop.  We bought some candles and other things, including a concrete bear cub.  We also got our parking permit for the park.  

We walked Fergus up the trail behind the house and saw another young bear and some deer.  Also some cool flowers and mushrooms as well..

Mom and Dad got home from Townsend and Cades Cove, and came over to visit.  We fixed steaks and potatoes, and had a quiet evening.  We will try hiking again tomorrow.  

Spring Break - Day 4

It was cold this morning, as to be expected at 7:30 am. 

But then, it is cold back home, too, this morning 

It was a simple breakfast and then back to Pigeon Forge.  The Christmas Store seemed a bit less stocked but we still spent a lot.  Then to the Old Mill for lunch!  

As always, I got the fried pork chops, and Stephanie and Michael did as well.  We all had leftovers to bring home.  Then we got stones made for a few animals we had lost, and even bought a LOTR themed stone as well!

Sadie wanted to go to a bookstore, so we found a Books-a-Million.  She bought 3 and I bought her one. 

Back at the cabin we had a cookie for St. Patrick's day and started planning our hike for tomorrow. 

Around 5:30 pm I set up the Blackstone for burgers. Brandon picked up Guinness for St. Patrick's Day and share it.   After supper Stephanie notice a mama bear and 2 cubs moving to check out the grease trap.  Of course they moved on when they heard us move onto the porch.  It was neat to see, but we didn't leave the griddle out.  I will try to share pics on a later post. 

 

Brandon and I went to town to the Barrell House to sample moonshine and maybe hear some music.  We bought a few things but the music was done for the night.  SK back up the mountain 

Steph, Sadie and Michael and Valerie were watching Darby O'Gill.  It was a good day!

Spring Break - Day 3

We had a high wind advisory overnight, and a thunderstorm came through this morning.  Snow later today?

Breakfast was quick and then we went to Sevierville and Pigeon Forge to shop at Merrills.  Stephanie needed new hiking shoes and Sadie found some she liked.  We all got shoes!

Then to the Apple Barn.  We bought cider and some syrups, among other things.  At the cider bar we got dumplings and ice cream.  Michael got muffins and Valerie got pie.  We brought home fried pies and fritters.

Shortly after getting back to the cabin it started snowing.  It did this all the rest of the day.  It was nice to see!

Supper was Poor Mans Dinner.  Brandon and family got home from town and went nuts over the snow!

We played games and discussed tomorrow.  It was a good day!

Spring Break Day 1 & 2

So Spring Break 2026 begins. 

Last year dates did not line up but this year it did, so we are heading back to East Tennessee.  Gatlinburg specially. 

This last fall we purchased a 2025 F150 because the old Tennessee Traveller was getting up in miles.  This truck has a BIG tank, so it will be interesting.

March 14 - Day 1.

We set the alarm for 6 am and was on the road at 7:30 am.  Michael and Valerie were waiting in Athens at 8:30 and followed from there.  Mom and Dad were on the road at 6 am so were blazing the trail.  This year it is I-20.

Our first stop was at the rest station near West Monroe, LA for lunch.  Mom and Dad were far ahead so they did their own thing.  Overall traffic wasn't bad but there was quite a bit of construction in Vicksburg and beyond.  

This was the case all across MS and Alabama. 

We arrived in Hoover just around dark, as this is near the time zone change to EDT.  We didn't go to Ragtime Cafe (although that would have been a better experience).  Sadie and I wanted Whataburger, but Steph and her parents voted for McAlisters Deli.  To be fair, I am not sure Michael and Valerie cared.  Mom and Dad went along as well.  

The food wasn't good.  The Cuban sandwich was short on pork and the bread was soggy.  The portion was also too small for the price.  Mom and Dad were told they were out of pulled pork, which may have explained a few things.  

We went back to the hotel, La Quinta, which is really nice and recently redone.  After a while I tried to call Mom but she didn't answer; her Life360 showed her still at the diner.  

I finally found her coming back in after a run tow Walmart, and it was the. She realized her phone was left behind, probably having fallen from her pocket.  I called McAlisters and a manager answered, and said that although they were closed he could bring it out.  Very kind as they didn't open until 10 am tomorrow.  

The drop broke her screen, however.  I know she was frustrated.

March 15 - Day 2

Did I mention the hotel was nice.  The breakfast was amazing - waffles and pancakes, sausage, eggs, biscuits and gravy! Etc.  

We were on the road by 8:30, and hit more construction.

At Hokes Bluff we side tripped it to the cemetery to visit the graves of my Ford ancestors.  Sadie did not remember our last visit here.  

We got turned around a bit, but finally hit the road north.  Traffic was awful, as bad as I have seen it.  I don't know that we will travel this route again.  Add to that: accidents on I-40 added to it. 

At Sam's and Walmart I got gas at $3.09 per gallon, which this Spring Break is pretty good.  I had to wait in line, of course.   At 23.8 mpg, it calculated that we could go over 800 miles til empty!

Traffic thru Pigeon Forge and Sevierville wasn't too bad, and we reached the top of the mountain fine - although we took the wrong road up.  

The house mom and dad are in are the one they stayed in when they had their wreck.  So some questionable memories.

Hot dogs for supper and coffee and the hot tub after that.  Time to relax.  

Fall Break - Photo Dump