River Plantation RV Resort, Sevierville, Tennessee
Yesterday, Blaine received a picture to his phone from a former co-worker and friend, Nick Taras. It was a black bear in the woods taken while he and his wife Cathy, were hiking. Blaine asked where they were, and lo and behold they’re on vacation and staying about an hour from us! We talked back and forth a few times and settled on a meeting place in Gatlinburg – about halfway for each of us. It was originally supposed to be a hiking day, but it poured the rain all day, so it became a shopping (mostly window shopping) day instead.
The drive into town
I didn’t know Ripley’s had mini golf (????)
Just doesn’t seem like it would be in line with what we expect from Ripley’s. They must have had to diversify. . . .
Driving into Gatlinburg,, the trees were gorgeous!
Look who we found!!!
Not a choice for any of the four of us, but it passed the day and most importantly, we got to visit!
We felt kinda bad for the business owners though, as we used their rocking chairs and porches (to stay out of the rain), but didn’t buy anything. Although I managed to talk Cathy into buying a cherry pit warming bag – you know, like the rice and corn ones? – but the pit ones don’t smell. We’ve had one for years, so I know whereof I speak.
We spent a lot of time here, on the porch and later sitting in rockers that were undercover. The pottery was really nice! Too bad we didn’t need anything – or know anyone who did.
We ate lunch at Three Jimmeys, a restaurant Blaine and I had visited a few years ago. Their slow-smoked corn beef reuben was by far the best we’ve ever had! Oh my! Sorry, I was too busy talking to think about taking a picture, but they just looked like a reuben, so you’re really not missing anything as far as that goes. 😊
Our waitress was obviously Eastern European, but for some reason she was reluctant to tell us where she was from. However, Cathy understands some Eastern European languages and when she asked her to say something from the country she was from, Cathy nailed it! But the waitress still wouldn’t confess. But persuasive Nick was able to get it out of her when we left. She’s here on a student visa from the Ukraine. She did well and tried her best to talk us into dessert, but we were stuffed.
We looked at all kinds of crafts and merchandise today along the advertised 8-mile Arts and Crafts Community – everything from leather, to cherry products, to soaps and candles, to jewelry, to silk scarves, to custom belts, to knives and everything in between.
What a wonderful day we spent visiting!! And as Nick said, “It was meant to be!”
We’re hoping to get on a trail tomorrow. We’ll go. As long as it’s not torrential.