Dandridge Tn.-Ashville-Advance and Winston-Salem N.C.

Wed. On the way to Dandridge we stopped by two RV places we did not find what we were looking for.  After we got set up we looked up a church and found it near Dollywood/Pigeon Forge. We left early so we could visit the area.  On the way we went to a old covered bridge called Harrisburg covered bridge 1875. Linda was weary about going over it for it was narrow so put my mirrors in. Then we past a restaurant (Holston's Kitchen) that looked busy so stopped in for a big meal.  We ate my hot roast beef open face sandwich with mashed potatoes and mushroom gravy and took Linda's pasta home for dinner later.The portions where so big we could share! Then to church an a drive up and down the strip. After Starbucks (long overdue) we stopped by The Old Mill built it in 1830. They have a whole block of different shops.  We did not eat there but most of the folks come out with left overs and said the food was wonderful.

Thur. We drove to where Bush beans are made. When we got there we ate lunch.  They have a different sample of beans each day.  For desert we had Bush's Pinto Bean Pecan Pie boy was it good. We then went to the visitors center where we saw a movie of the history and how they make there beans.  They had a lot of interactive displays. My weight in beans is 137,472 and Linda's was 112,896.  From there we drove to Dandridge a town named after president Washington's wife, Martha Dandridge Custis Washington the second  oldest town it Tn. 1783. We stopped by the Tinsley-Bible Drugs and had a peanut- butter malt it was delicious.    It is the same age as the town and still acts as a drug store and soda shop.  We left there to go to a new RV park(Anchor Down).They were priced from $59-$79 a night! Some had a brick fireplace.  It was on the lake and had nice pads. After we got home ate dinner and I washed the truck.

Fri. We went swimming and relaxed.  washed the rig then played sequence.  This is the second afternoon that it hailed and the elect. went out. WE both found a tick on us. The first place we experienced them.

Sat. We got up enjoyed Linda's apple tart and coffee.  After our bible study we left for Asheville N.C.We stopped by rest area/information and got alot of ideas of what to see in N.C. Below are the Mountains we drove through, it just doesn't show their beauty.

We went into Asheville first to French Broad Chocolates. We each had a warm truffle were they GOOD. As we walked around this restaurant. It caught our eye Rhubarb. Below middle Linda is holding a rhubarb plant, next to her is one of the waitress. We had just eaten so we hope to go there next time we visit. We did do a take out Strawberry Rhubarb Fried Pie.  When we got home we found they had warmed it so we just had to eat it then!

If you look close to this trolley you will see that all the folks have to pedal to make it work.  When looking close they look like they  are at a bar as they pedal around town.

Sun. after church we met Heather, Al, Bob and Mona for lunch at Biscuit Head.  We had fried green tomato egg Benedict on a large biscuit.  We then had to get a biscuit for they had many honey and jams to put on them. 

Heather, Linda and I went tubing (2.5 mile over three hours) down the French Broad river.  It was very relaxing we need to do this at least once a week.

Mon. We left for our spot in Advance N.C. at Thousand Trails Forest Lake.  We got a nice wooded site.  After getting set up we went into Lexington to  eat Chinese for the folks where we checked in had take out and it looked good.  We got two orders and brought one home it was good and filling.  We went grocery shopping then home.  We went for a walk around the campground then back to the air conditioned rig.

Tues we drove into Winston/Salem  to get the truck serviced. We visited the Salem part first. It was a trading and traveling stop for those going west and south.  Moravians from eastern Europe settled in the area 1753 built the town in 1766 started the women's college in 1772.

The first three pictures below are in Salem the fence,  the hand water-pump and the tea pot. The rt. middle picture is a water bubbling and cascades of water that goes  around  the entire square park.  Winston started after civil war in 1851 as a industrial center.  They became one city in 1913. In 1929 the R.C. Reynoolds building was complete and was the model for N.Y.C.'s empire State Building(bottom rt). Bottom left is one of the many churches. This is where Krispy Kreme started in 1937 and for the sport fans 1954 birth of minor league baseball.

                               Today Winston-Salem is note for its arts and colleges.

Wed. we did laundry and went to church.

Diana Singing- Crossville and Dandridge Tn.

Tues. We went to Charles and Janis house played cards then to their church for a VBS.
Wed. We got up had coffee and did our bible study.  Then to the ham shed for pancakes breakfast.  The bacon was so crispy and the sausage had great taste.  The rest of the day we helped where we could then went to church.
Thur. I spent the morning putting a primer on the new doors on the ham shed.Linda made home made ice cream for the first time.It was choc. hers was 1 of 12 different types.They also had cookies, cakes, and pies.
Fri. What a long day. We went out to lunch with some sojourners.  When we got back we went to the sing from 7:30 till after 1am!!Over 3,000 people!! We had  a 1/2 hour break at 10. We were to tired to stay to the end.

Sat.We drove to Tanners, Al. to watch Mackenzie play ball. We watched two games then drove back to the rig.  I helped cook some ham for the ham sandwiches.  There was only about 500 folks at the sing.  They sang 7:30 had a break at 9 then sang till late.  The girls came by around 9 and spent the night.
Sun. We went to church then drove to Columbia Tn. to meet Chris at Logan's Steak. we both enjoyed Father's day. After we drove to the rig we rested then church.  We came home got some things ready for us to leave.
Mon. We could not sleep so we got up ate did our bible study then got the rig ready to leave.  We drove to the dump station cleaned out the three tanks and drove to Crossville Tn.
Tues. We were up in the middle of the night again so we sleep in to 8:30. We drove to downtown Crossville (picture below is of courthouse) had a wonderful meal at a local restaurant
Kalis Kitchen. We drove 35 miles to see a tree house that was back in town(middle picture we drove about 3 miles off road). about 5 miles away not 70.  We could not get that close to the house the fence was locked (below picture on left).

Wed. We drove to Danridge Tn.

SPECIAL EDITION NICK AND KIRBY'S WEDDING

SORRY THIS IS SO LATE IN COMING. We have been in a area that has poor internet and then the clouds just did it in.  On Sat. June 6, 2014 Nick and Kirby were married in Bardstown Ky. At a place called My old Ky. Home. We had a great time for everything was well planed out and went like a charm.  Everyone had a wonderful time being together and enjoying the wedding activities.

This is the wedding

This was one of the activities we did.

 This was the P A R T Y after the wedding.

CMA -Nick and Kirby Wedding- Diana singing

Thur. Jim and Lana drove us to Nashville we had breakfast at Panera's then went to listen to seven artist at the CMA on the river front.

 Fri. we packed and drove to Bardstown Ky. got into our hotel room then met Mary and Carol downtown for lunch. We got back to the room and the girls along with Diana went to a brewery and  winery.  For dinner sixteen of us went to  The Tavern  for dinner.       Sat. We had a nice breakfast at the hotel then Tam, Kenn, John and I went to Maker's Mart distillery. It was interesting to see how they made their Bourbon Whisky compared to Jack Daniel Whiskey. We went to a BBQ place on the way home and all of enjoyed the BBQ sandwich.  We got ready for the wedding which was about two miles away.  They had the wedding at My Old Kentucky Home in Bardstown Ky. The wedding was at a cazebo. After the wedding we went to a open area outside the main building for drinks and hor d'oeuvre. They had a dinner inside everything was done so elegantt and went so smoothly. After dinner we went outside to the open area for drinks and dancing.  The evening went so quickly the only problem was when we sent lite lanterns three of them got stuck in the trees one flew up the other two fell and we put out the flame right away.  We drove into Louisville and went to the Louisville slugger bat factory.  Linda and I were impressed on how they made them.  We went to a batting cage where all the kids did well hitting the ball.  I evan hit several of them as they came at 50 mph. When we got home and went to church we then did laundry and played cards with Jim and Lana.

Mon. After we got the rig ready we dumped then put the rig back went to David Liscomb for Brendan's birthday party.  Al, Shannon, Diego, Xander, Chris, Jennifer, Mackenzie, Katie, Kenn, Tammy, Hope, Brendan, and Bryce were there(Lilimarie was at a girl scout venture). We played wiffle ball before we had to leave. We pick up the rig and drove to Diana Tn. for the Diana Singing.  After we got there they  had watermelon.  That night there was a revile at the church.

Tues. We got up enjoyed breakfast in bed did our bible study then went for a long walk.  At noon the had a bean pot luck lunch. I worked on the blog then a nap.     wed. We spent more time getting the area ready and I painted the window doors white.  They had just replaced them and I primed them.

 Will do post late about the wedding we have not had internet

Cedar Bend

Thur. We got wood from some campers that had to leave early and the kids helped stack it. The kids made some airplanes out of straws and cut up index cards. They had a water ballon fight then we went with Jim and Lana to Don and Debbie Mynster's for a feast. The kids played ball games in there large back yard.

Fri.The girls got biscuits ready to cook and helped cook the gravy. They went swiming everyday. We had a jell-o eating contest Diego first, Mackenzie second, Lilimarie third, Katie fourth, Xander fifth, and me sixth.  They then got their hobo's ready for dinner. While we were doing that a butterfly came and visited Lilimarie.

Sat. Our project for today was a balloon with a nut inside and the sound that each one makes. On the way to swim the core of eng. gave out tat toos Katie's is on her arm and Diego put his on his forehead. Grilled cheese for lunch and Jim and Lana bought ice cream sandwich for desert and snacks. We bought flars for them to put together. They watched a movie every night.

Sun. Diego helped with breakfast then the two of us did a devotion while the girls led singing. Before we went swimming we played volleyball. Then there project for the day was mixing salt and pepper together then rubbing a spoon in your hair. Diego went with Jim to get bambo from Don we then made flutes which we are going to have Tammy show us how to blow them. We played cards with the Perkins and the kids made thank-you notes to them and gave them the cards.Betty, Fred, Jen, Chris, Addy, and Kari came over for swim, camp fire and smores.

Mon. Mackenzie and Katie went home after our morning swim and lunch. We had hot dogs over the grill and the kids did a great job cooking them. Linda fell off her bike and we went to Don's office for both of us to get adjusted.  We played cards with the Perkins and the kids.

Tues. After our morning swim and lunch we took the kids home.  On the way we stopped by Sonic and got them a treat for being so good at Don office.

Wed. was a day we did alot of cleaning and odds and ends. We played cards with the Perkins the went to Camping World(for thing are starting to break) on the way to Jen's.. We meet Mike and Pam for dinner there.