Home 5636

How great to be home. Our last night on the road was at the same place as our first njght, Big Sky Casino New Mexico. The weather was the best we have had all summer. We opened the windows in the bedroom and was cool. So great to be back to DRY HEAT.
Jon and I both had a good night at the casino. We both won.
We drove to Verde Valley on Tuesday and decided to pack the car and come home.

TX to Big Sky NM 5396

Today was cooler.

Ft Smith Arkansas to Amarillo TX 5088

TN TO FT SMITH ARK 4557

Saturday morning we decided to head west. We liked Cherokee Landing but the heat was geting to us. My foot was still swollen and painful.

DEER

Finally I ran into deer with my camera. We are still at Cherokee Landing.

Sevierville TN to Memphis 4185

Still hot and humid and according to the weather we are headed to the hottest city in the US.

We arrived at Cherokee Landing aboyt 70 miles east of Memphis. A wonderful park with a very nice lake. It is so hot that there are almost no campers. We have met two nice couples. I saw a mother and baby deer but of course no camera handy.

Arrived on Wednesday and Thursday Jon had to take me to the clinic in Midleton. My foot was badly swollen and I could not walk. I had a bad case of gout that women don't get. I guess Dollywood did me in. My foot started hurting in Cade's Cove and just got worse.

Well, two shots in the hip and two medications later I feel much better.

We think we are going to cut this trip short and head west.

It did rain last night and is much cooler. 13 people have died in Memphis due to the heat, one man mowing his yard.

Cades Cove

The remains of a community in the 1800's. A valley of forest and pastures surrounded by the smoky mountains. Even with the stream of cars going 10 miles an hour around the oneway circle, it is very peaceful and quiet. It was a hard life evidenced by the cemetaries filled with young children.

I had the chance of a lifetime when a mama bear came out of the woods and crossed the road just as we passed. Jon stopped the car but wouldn't let me get out. I couldn't get a picture thru the car. A baby followed. We were 10 feet from her.

About 10 miles further the traffic was stopped and everyone was taking pictures of a cub playing in the weeds. I saw him but was just to far to get a picture.

Dollywood

A beautiful day at Dollywood. Jon and I enjoyed pinto beans, pulled ham and cornbread while the kids went to Adventure Mountain. We went on the 5 mile Dolly Express and 3 roller coasters. I have decided that I am to old for the Mystery mine head banger. It took me 20 min to unscramble my brain.

Aaron and Julia

Aaron and Julia came to visit. A rainy Saturday so we went to the outlet mall (kids liked the crocks outlet). Then we toured WonderWorks, the upside down house that is the amusement park for the mind. You can go thru a hurricane, an earthquake, pull your own weight, lie on a bed of nails and end up with laser tag. Aaron beat everyone.