After a wonderful weekend at Lake Junaluska, NC, we woke to the best weather we've seen on this trip! We stopped at the Intentional Growth Center (http://www.intentionalgrowthcenter.org/)) and met some wonderful people who told us about some of their terrific learning opportunities. We also took in the Southeast Jurisdiction's Heritiage Museum and met the interim director, Rev. Art Swarthout, who turns out to be a retired clergy member of the Nebraska Annual Confernence! He knows many of the same people we do and showed us so many wonderful items from their wide-ranging collection.
After that, we set off on US-19 towards Cherokee, NC. It was so pretty and we thought we'd have a quick brunch. Little did we know we know we were in for one of the best breakfasts we've had (Cracker Barrel excluded!). Should you happen to be in Cherokee, look for "Grandma's Diner," you'll be glad you did!!! Charles had butterscotch pancakes! It sounds strange (there were some other rather unusual pancakes to choose from), but it was totally awesome!!! It was a good thing we did since this is Fat Tuesday (i.e., Mardi Gras). Belinda had to help him finish as the three pancakes were not only very large, but were also incredibly rich (butterscotch batter and butterscotch morsels in between the layers and sprinkled on top!). After that very satisfying repaste, we were excited to drive through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (www.nps.gov/grsm). It was wonderful! There was a lot of fog in places but there was also some wonderful views. At the upper elevations there was still a lot of snow even though by the time we reached the other side of the park near Gatlinburg, Tennessee, it was almost 60!
We had a passing thought of stopping at Dollywood (hey, it was on the way) but it was closed for the winter :( So it was on to Lebanon, TN and the home of CRACKER BARREL! We ate supper at the second oldest CB (the original isn't around anymore). Even though there wasn't any commemorative items (a missed opportunity for them!), we enjoyed the setting and the chicken fried steak was yummy!
We ended this wonderful day by driving into Kentucky and ending the day outside of Cadiz (there just happens to be a Cracker Barrel next door to the hotel). We travelled through three states in today; tomorrow, it is into Illinois and beyond!
After that, we set off on US-19 towards Cherokee, NC. It was so pretty and we thought we'd have a quick brunch. Little did we know we know we were in for one of the best breakfasts we've had (Cracker Barrel excluded!). Should you happen to be in Cherokee, look for "Grandma's Diner," you'll be glad you did!!! Charles had butterscotch pancakes! It sounds strange (there were some other rather unusual pancakes to choose from), but it was totally awesome!!! It was a good thing we did since this is Fat Tuesday (i.e., Mardi Gras). Belinda had to help him finish as the three pancakes were not only very large, but were also incredibly rich (butterscotch batter and butterscotch morsels in between the layers and sprinkled on top!). After that very satisfying repaste, we were excited to drive through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (www.nps.gov/grsm). It was wonderful! There was a lot of fog in places but there was also some wonderful views. At the upper elevations there was still a lot of snow even though by the time we reached the other side of the park near Gatlinburg, Tennessee, it was almost 60!
We had a passing thought of stopping at Dollywood (hey, it was on the way) but it was closed for the winter :( So it was on to Lebanon, TN and the home of CRACKER BARREL! We ate supper at the second oldest CB (the original isn't around anymore). Even though there wasn't any commemorative items (a missed opportunity for them!), we enjoyed the setting and the chicken fried steak was yummy!
We ended this wonderful day by driving into Kentucky and ending the day outside of Cadiz (there just happens to be a Cracker Barrel next door to the hotel). We travelled through three states in today; tomorrow, it is into Illinois and beyond!
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