I used to have a customer who owned 2 miles of shoreline on one of the lakes a little north of the national park. He got out of the business when China took such a big chunk of the business away. Haven't been to that area in years.
Interesting. We were going to Montreal, where my daughter was moving. But that got delayed and Canada wasn't clarifying the processes for Americans to enter.
It's been at least 25 years since I was there, but I recall soon after you enter the park there's a road to the right that runs along side a creek. We rented inner tubes for the kids and they tubed the creek. Nice scenery. The road leads to Townsend. They used to advertise Townsend as the quiet side of the Smokies. Don't know about now.
The pictures I posted last week were from the mountains just above Dollywood. You can really enjoy the fresh air and the scenes. I love the mountains. Here are a couple:
Wow. Great photos, Bert. Thanks for re-posting. My enthusiasm for the trip gets a boost! (The dynamic in my marriage is that I'm pretty much an insecure work-a-holic who would never take a vacation and my wife is a well-balanced person who looks forward to them. So she finds a place, makes a schedule, and threatens to go alone or with one of the kids. Then I go and have a good-to-great time. See last weekend in Philadelphia.)The pictures I posted last week were from the mountains just above Dollywood. You can really enjoy the fresh air and the scenes. I love the mountains. Here are a couple:
exploretownsend.com
It's been several years since we've been but I much prefer the Arts and Crafts Community outside of Gatlinburg. It's an 8-mile loop filled with unique shopping. Not the junk found at many of the shops in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. We stayed at a fantastic place right off the loop called the Hippensteal Inn. Beautiful views along with a terrific breakfast. Here's a link with all the shops/restaurants/etc..
www.gatlinburgcrafts.com
I jumped in a foxhole only once during the whole Gulf War and that was in the middle of the night when MLRS (Multi Launcher Rocket System) had a mission and fired on targets before the ground war started. We were asleep and had MLRS within our perimeter because they did not have the means or weapons for perimeter security so they stayed within ours. They moved outside the perimeter before firing and waited. Vehicles move throughout the night anyway with night ops and security so, we were used to that and slept on until we heard a loud roar of engines. Thinking is was enemy aircraft everyone quickly jumped out of our cots, grabbed our gear and jumped into the foxholes only to find out that the MLRS rockets were headed for a preselected target. If you have ever been around MLRS when they fire their engines you would think a high speed jet was zooming over if you did not know better.
As part of my reporter's role, I was inside the cab of an MLRS during the first bombardment of Iraq by units of the Big Red One. It was quite a scene. An AP photographer with me chose to stay back where he could capture it better. The first picture below shows the rounds exiting. I'm in the cab. Lots of shaking and noise. Then, one of the asbestos sleeves got hung in the launch bay and flames swept back over the cab. The soldiers initially thought it was a "hung round" and we were seconds from being blown to bits. But we were able to escape, obviously. Photographer Bob Jordan told me, "I thought I was shooting your death." The second photo is on me standing around with the soldiers after the fire subsided. (I'm the tall guy in green jacket holding the notebook.) It was funny by then.
rarehistoricalphotos.com
Loved reading about the exploits of the Flying Tigers as a boy. Some may not know that Pappy Boyington, portrayed by Robert Conrad in the show "Baa Baa Black Sheep" flew with the Flying Tigers in China before transferring into the USMC...I mentioned the Flying Tigers the other day. Not sure how many of you are familiar with them. They were not actually part of the military and were bounty hunters of a sort. They were still around in the Nam days shuttling people and equipment. Quite a group.
The Flying Tigers over China, 1942 - Rare Historical Photos
The Flying Tigers were a group of American fighter pilots that flew over China skies in 1942. In this photo the squad is flying in close formation.
My old house before the one I am in now was not far from Ft. Sill's east boundary road which is not far from firing points they use here to fire MLRS from the east range to the west range. I could see them in position from my house porch so, when they fired it was loud at my house. Used to at first freak my wife and dogs out but, after a while it became common place for them. Still in the same town, we moved to the other side but, can still hear them from a distance. You know how loud they are. When Artillery hits the ground at Sill we feel it in our house as well. Sometimes my daughter will ask if that was thunder that she just heard from her room. She has not quite figured out the difference unless the sky is clear.
You got it.
You could take an extra day and swing by Smiths Grove. Smiths Grove is as flat as the Smokies are hilly!
True, but he's only a trained monkey (pardon me monkeys, no disrespect intended) dancing to whatever tune his organ grinder plays. Sorry if to political, but today has me tore up.
Just reported. 4 Marines killed and 3 wounded. This is a catastrophe. So sorry for their families.
damn Joe has blood on his hands. This was not necessary. 18 months without a dead American and now this.
Need time to come up with some lies.
They are saying 10 now.
I just heard the situation on the ground is still going on. So this total may increase too. God help those poor men and women who have Biden as Commander In Chief.
www.thegatewaypundit.com
