Smokin!

Saturday 07/07/2011

After enjoying the sunshine (when it had burnt off the marine layer!) and the beach at Myrtle, the Turtle headed inland - westward ho!!!! Back we go across the USA - east to west this time! On our way home!

We headed for the Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee, where we are staying at the Sunrise Resort at Pigeon Forge for a weeks R&R.

We passed through Darlington where there was a huge crowd gathered at the big Speedway there where they were having  NASCAR racing - we have never seen so many people!

Next we passed through Charlotte, North Carolina, with her interesting downtown buildings and then on to Asheville and into the Great Smoky Mountains  - immediately you understood the significance of the name as a blue hazy smoke (or the appearance of) coats the lush green hills and mountains. A bit like our Blue Mountains in NSW, Australia. After a big 9 hour day and 3 states Captain Pete and The Turtle got us safely to our destination - Sunshine Resort, Pigeon Forge! Great job team!

Downtown Charlotte's city skyline with its attractive modern buildings

We travelled across the Foothills Parkway to Gatlinburg( Pigeon Forge's next door neighbour) - what a
beautiful drive! The scenery was stunning!

The foothills of the Great Smokies

We started to notice the blue smoky appearance of the mountains in the background

The smoky appearance became more evident as we travelled further into the hills and mountains 

Gatlinburg's famous Aquarium

The scenic chairlift

Our  lounge room R&R retreat for the next week with it gorgeous view over the mountains.
Pete's got a swivelling rocking chair!!! We intend to enjoy this for the next few days
while we recoup!

180 degree view from our balcony

This will help the relaxation! The indoor pool and spa
Again with a beautiful view out across the mountains

The cabins in the resort 

The outdoor pool and spa and our unit block in the background 

BBQ area

The Turtle has settled in for its R&R to!
The two boys at the front desk were drooling over the Turtle - could have sold it to them there and then!
They also were fascinated by us - they had never met real live Australians before! Funny!

The beautiful Great Smoky Mountains - we can't wait to explore the National Park
during the week

Breakfast on the balcony every morning! Yes!

It's going to be a great week!

An intriguing name Pigeon Forge - and why is this peaceful but exciting little town called this?

The name "Pigeon Forge" comes from an iron forge built by Isaac Love (1783–1854) sometime around 1820. The name of this forge referred to its location along the Little Pigeon River, in the vicinity of what is now the Old Mill. The name of the river comes from the flocks of Passenger Pigeons that frequented its banks at the time of the first Euro-American settlers' arrival.^[4]  Pigeon Forge, Tennessee - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Little Pigeon River runs through the middle of town.