We drove to Cades Cove and took the 11 mile driving tour first. The scenery and historic sites were outstanding. The tourist congestion was the worst we’ve seen in the past 7 weeks … it looked like hordes of retired people came out to look around.
Cades Cove
John Oliver Place … built in the early 1890s; it’s the oldest home in Cades Cove
Methodist Church … a blacksmith and carpenter built this church in 1902 in 115 days for $115
Missionary Baptist Church, built in 1915 ceased to meet during the Civil War because members were mostly Union sympathizers and the Confederates held the upper hand here
Blacksmith Shop
John P. Cable Grist Mill was built about 1870. It was originally a grist mill and a sash sawmill
Corn Crib
Drive-Through Barn
Smoke House (and snake resort ... they warned us not to go inside)
We were tired and hungry after spending 4 hours on the Cades Cove tour. We drove to Gatlinburg for lunch and got a big surprise … we don’t like it. It’s a tourist city with a circus atmosphere and no parking. We’re really grateful for the visitor center worker who suggested on Monday that we stay in Townsend “on the quiet side of the mountain”.
Over the Mountain
We drove over the mountain to Newfound Gap and to Clingmans Dome after leaving Gatlinburg.
We drove over the mountain to Newfound Gap and to Clingmans Dome after leaving Gatlinburg.
Smoky Mountains from the Newfound Gap (5046 ft) … looking toward North Carolina
Clingmans Dome (6643 ft) … the temperature dropped to 42°F and clouds covered the peak
Clouds at the Dome
We headed home through Pigeon Gorge and discovered it’s much like Gatlinburg. The main road was a lot wider, but it tipped the scales on the “circus meter.”
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