June 29th - Pigeon Forge, NC

We dropped the dogs off at a boarding facility in Sevierville. Then we drove to Cade's Cove, one of the most popular destinations in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The drive took us up the Lauren Creek Road, named after the mountain laurel bushes which line nearly the entire road from the entrance of the park. It was a sweet reminder of the site where Hank proposed to Angie.

​There is an 11-mile loop that people drive around six days a week, frequently complaining about bumper to bumper traffic and "bear jams". But on Wednesdays in the Summer, the Park Service reserves the road for cyclists and walkers. As many as 700 people once lived in the verdant valley, from about 1830. The US government began buying the land in 1927 for the formation of the park. Today there are many historic structures still standing, including cabins, churches and a mill. 

It is also one of the best places for viewing wildlife. Bear and deer are often sited during visits there. We saw only three turkey, a young elk and a snake. The elk was very close, though. 

On the way home, we stopped for a meal in Gatlinburg and then dropped into Ol' Red, a chain owned by Blake Shelton, for some live music. A 17-year-old singer songwriter from North Carolina, Presley Barker, performed. He had a deep voice and fast guitar fingerings. Presley had appeared on American Idol, where he advanced to the Hollywood Round before being eliminated in January. He has already recorded a couple of original songs in Nashville, as he continues work on an album. 

He was a delightful performer, polite and appreciative of the audience. He played a wide variety of songs, including songs by The Black Crowes and Eric Clapton in addition to country classics and original songs.