A TRIP

with John and Hop-A-Long

John and I headed to Maggie Valley, North Carolina to spend the weekend together and celebrate his birthday. We were hungry and there is nothing that we love better then a "dive". We ate at the bar and the sandwiches were great!

The TV was playing a repeat of an Alabama game. One that we lost and we both had on our Alabama jackets......oh, well!

We just took off on this trip without any reservations. We stayed at this cute little old hotel. We were one of two cars there. It was full but everybody was on a motorcycle. Every time we pulled into our parking spot John said he bet somebody was sweating their bike parked next to us!!!

John and I had been hearing about Cataloochee Valley for years. That is where they released the elk to try and get them repopulated in the Smoky Mountains. John has always wanted me to hear an elk bugle. So, our plans were to come in September, when they are in rut ( did I get that right??), so I can hopefully hear their bugling.

Everything we had read about Cataloochee Valley was about how dangerous and narrow the roads are to get you there. So, since we couldn't go on the big trip I had planned we decided we would go see this Cataloochee Valley for ourselves and then we would know what we were doing when we went in September.

Well, they weren't kidding. But, we made it fine and I am glad that we have been there before we make the trip in September before sunrise.

It is a beautiful place!

this little church in the bottom of the valley was like a postcard

Inside the church. We are in the process of getting new pews at our church and I couldn't help but smile as I looked at these pews!

There was a very old Bible open on the podium

Hop A long

and her sweet, patient husband

We stayed in a hotel in Townsend the next night. Look a REAL KEY!

and of course

CADES COVE