Day 28: Gatlinburg, gateway to Smokey Mountains

 

Saturday, Oct 1, 2022

Drove to Gatlinburg, a big town right next to the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. It is very crowded, the traffic is horrendous. However, it is scenic since it is surrounded by the Smokey Mountains.

The morning breakfast at the B&B in Glasgow was interesting. The time for breakfast was 8:30, but I reached down to the dining room about 10 minutes late. I was very surprised to see all the guests and the B&B owner sitting together at a big table, waiting for me. They welcomed me to the table and the owner said grace before everyone started. I was a bit embarrassed to have made everyone wait.  

The drive was mostly through side roads today. I continued my practice of stopping at interesting churches in the countryside and take a few pictures. They are a prominent, visible landmark in these rural communities. A reminder of the very important role religion plays in their daily lives. I am also intrigued by the location of a graveyard right next to church. Seems appropriate, but is also different from other religions. 

 

The drive took longer than expected due to heavy traffic. I was rerouted multiple times through side roads by Tesla navigation to avoid it, hope it was doing the right thing. It was raining when I reached my hotel late afternoon.  After checking in, I drove to the "Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail".  It was a beautiful drive, with the rain making everything fresh and even greener.

Saw a bear not too far from the road. This was the first time during this road trip that I saw one.

After this hour long drive, went for dinner to "Taste of Italy",  based on a recommendation from a blog I like and follow (earthtrekkers.com). Great way to end the day before retiring for the night. 

The raw numbers for the day:

• 262 miles driving, 2000 steps walking
• 2 Tesla supercharger stops
  
• 2 states - Kentucky, Tennessee