Gatlinburg Tennessee and the Great Smokies

Ready for more? No birds in today’s blog either, but that didn’t seem to bother y’all on Tuesday judging from your kind comments. This opening shot is the spectacular view from the tram coming down from Ober Gatlinburg back into the valley. The ride takes ten minutes, and we even got to see a bear checking out someone’s trash can as we went over some homes near the top. I love being high up and seeing panoramas like this!

There’s probably a bird somewhere in this picture, but if not, just imagine some amazing, gorgeous warbler (like this one that Barb would have found) back in the woods there…me, I was too focused on this cool stream to play in! Woo-hoo! Note the unfortunate choice of footwear though by the participants in the above scene. Today’s pearl of mountain stream hiking wisdom: always wear your Tevas, kids! That said, all shoes and clothes in this photo did, in fact, remain dry. Way to go guys!

Random blogging advice of the day: insert cute pictures of your kids often! Actually, this one was taken on the vacation as well, so it officially counts in our non-birding subject matter of the day. Seriously though, can you believe I get to walk into his room in the morning or through the front door at night and see this smile?! God is good!!!

Also from the department of great blessings in my life is young Mario Andretti here. I was an A.J. Foyt fan myself growing up, but I wasn’t sure too many of you would know who that was (four-time winner of the Indianapolis 500…my favorite race by a landslide). Growing up in Indiana, the tradition and pagentry of that race was and still is very special to me. Jim Neighbors singing “Back Home Again in Indiana”…don’t even get me started. And while I’m going down memory lane, anybody else out there know about Bolin’s Donuts or Bruno’s Pizza in Logansport? The carousel at Riverside Park? National treasures I’m telling you!

Okay, back to racing. Papa loves him some go carts! He introduced us to it on the first one of these family trips way back when the passenger there was the size of the cute little guy below. Now the oldest grandson is a big fan himself, and Papa is like ole Richard Petty in the 43 car. Get the two of them together on the Wild Woody track above and look out! Better stay tight on the rail, or they’re right by you!

Of course, if you get Papa down on the floor with the little man, it’s even more trouble…cackles and laughs like you wouldn’t believe!

Well, I know you’re all fading and heading to sleep on me, so I’ll ride off into the Smoky Mountain sunset. It’s been fun to relive a great vacation and share the pictures with you. We’ll get back to birds next week, and I’ll show you some birding classics of when I was a kid…when this interest in birds really took off. I’ve also got some nest pictures that two folks have sent in that I’ll pass on as well. Have a great weekend everyone!  Dave

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