Heading East for a Wedding

Me on the icy trail at Clingman's Dome

After lots of pure travel adventures, we set out on a trip to attend a wedding. Scott's nephew, Tim, was marrying the very lovely Lisa at a resort in Georgia. November is not a great time to drive from Colorado to the Appalachians, but we did it.

A raw day to drive

Our first stop was Becca's house in Oklahoma City, where we had some great burgers and Mexican food and saw Aaron play soccer. 

Becca's house in OKC

We ate at Miss Polly's

Then, we took the long boring drive from Oklahoma to Memphis, Tennessee, for some barbeque, chicken 'n waffles and blues. Scott loves Memphis. I can take it or leave it. It always seems kind of rundown and sleazy (but, Scott likes rundown and sleazy, especially when it comes to restaurants).

My Dad grew up there, but never talked much about it. But he did love BBQ. He left long before chicken 'n waffles (invented in Harlem, New York) was ever a thing.

While there, we took a walk on a lovely trail along the Mississippi River. 

A nice fall day

Then, we went on to Gatlinburg, where we had a fabulous trout dinner at the Smoky Mountain Trout House and the weather got very cold and snowy (it was November, who knew????).

Yum!!!

It was probably the clearest (and coldest) time I have ever spent in the Smokies. And, with just a little bit of trepidation about icy roads, we did a quick motor tour.

Scott suited up for the brisk day

We visited Cades Cove, where the big attractions are White-tailed Deer ...

Much more delicate than our Mule deer at home

... historic buildings ...

Scott visiting the Primitive Baptist Church

... and an old, but working grist mill (Cable)...

The Cable Mill with ice on the wheel

Then, we climbed the (icy!) curving walkway at the top of Clingman's Dome to view the surrounding area ...

Clingman's Dome's elevation is 6,643 feet

Unfortunately, like Colorado, the Great Smoky Mountains are experiencing massive tree die-offs due to bugs (the Balsam Woolly Adelgid there; Pine Bark Beetle here). Unfortunately, it's too difficult and expensive to halt the destruction.

A sad view

We drove the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, where we saw more historic homesteads ...

Pretty on a frosty day

And, a Black Bear way up (about 80 feet up) in a very spindly tree!!! I don't know what was worth such a risky climb.

That looks tricky

Snow and ice

The trip offered some really pretty reminders that winter was on the way: ice, snow and frozen waterfalls.

Plus, it was a chance to revisit historic sites and memories of our many past trips to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

An Appalachian Trail trailhead

And, we stopped at the beautiful Biltmore House, the estate George Vanderbilt built in Asheville in the 1890s.

Photo: Biltmore.com

We continued on from the Smokeys to north Georgia for Tim and Lisa's wedding. Despite some cold, rainy weather, it was lovely. Classy, warm and so joyous. We are so happy for Tim and Lisa.

Tim and Lisa taking their vows

Then, on to Florida to pick up my china cabinet and china from Jim. 

Well worth the trip!

It was a fast trip because the weather was going to get bad in Colorado. So, we packed it all up and hauled our way home through some strong wind, wicked tumbleweeds and rapidly icing roads. We got home just as the storm hit. It was so icy, we had to wait a few days to unload the trailer.

We got home just as the storm hit. It was so icy, we had to wait a few days to unload the trailer. But, now the cabinet is in place. Well worth the trip!

Trip date: November 12-16, 2013