Cades Cove Country, Smoky Mts, TN

 We started out our Tennessee trip by stopping in Blacksburg for a trip down memory lane. 

Walking down the paths across the drill field took me right back to college, walking to class.

The view of Burruss Hall from across campus.  

I definitely have some good memories being there. So strange to not have been back for over 30 years.

And then there's the Top of the Stairs. Not sure I can say I have many "memories" there. 😐

Coming into Pigeon Forge and then Gatlinburg was a shock. I knew from looking online that it was potentially a tacky place, but I had no idea how bad it would be. We were kinda shocked at how built up and how tacky it was. I've honestly never seen anything like it in my life. Ripley's Believe It Or Not storefronts, live alligator and live shark advertisements, t-shirts, ice cream, fake lodges, fake log cabins, so many trinket shops, so many shitty shitty places selling I don't know what - it made you feel like you needed a shower by the time you got through. The shit show went right up to the edge of the park, so you literally went from Disney Land type stuff to solid trees. We found a bypass to avoid most of Gatlinburg and got straight to the park. This was the view looking back. 

We drove 24 beautiful miles through the park to Cades Cove Loop. Here I am ready for the 11-mile ride.

Steve ready too!

The loop is basically 11 miles around a huge meadow with mountains all around. The forecast had been rain, but we started with blue skies dappled with clouds.

Before 1819, the Cherokee inhabited this beautiful place. But after years of attempted accommodation by the Cherokee, Andrew Jackson's policies prompted 14,000 Cherokee to abandon the area on the Trail of Tears in 1838. An estimated 4,000 died. 

After that removal, the number of settlers living in the area grew to 685. The National Park Service began purchasing land in the 20th century and, by the 1940s, the area was preserved as an historic area.The park service preserved a  number of historic cabins along the loop that were built by families who had settled the area. None of the preserved structures appeared to be connected to the Cherokee. I don't remember the Cherokee being mentioned in any of the historic markers at all.

Here is Steve turning down the path to see the first settler cabin we encountered. 

I was impressed it was a two-story building.

They had a window positioned exactly to look down the valley.

The second story. Used for sleeping quarters or food storage or both?

Signs discouraging vandalism.

Steve in the distance heading off into the valley.

We could feel the rain coming, then the wind picked up and I knew it was inevitable. We saw a turn for a Baptist Church and sought shelter just in time.

Steve in the congregation (not paying attention).

Even thought I was dark with the rain coming, the light was beautiful.

The cemetery out back.

Steve starting to get antsy.

And then there was another church. This one was Methodist. And they apparently had a bit more money, because the wood work in here was much less primitive. The pews were beautiful. 

Balanced on piles of rocks!

Everything was lush green after the rain.

A couple of wild vultures...I mean TURKEYS. 

A new amazing view around every corner.

After reading this, I forgot to look for snakes. 🙄

We came upon what had been a small community around a mill and general store. 

Amazing how they figured out how to harness the water. 

A large barn.

More water diversion.

And we're back on the road.

Another two-story cabin. I guess once you build one everyone has to have one.

This one seemed a bit fancier, with a mantle and multiple rooms.

The upstairs.

Steve looking in from the front room. 

I took this just to show the empty parking lot because, like my trip to MT with Connor, we managed to go to this very popular place and enjoy it nearly alone (Cades Cove Loop is closed to traffic on Wednesdays). 

We had arrived at Cades Cove at about 3pm after driving from Blacksburg. By the time we finished riding and visiting the historic buildings it was after 6. So we headed home to check into our cabin. On the way back, we followed the river the whole way.

Distance: 11 miles

Speed: Historic scenery & bear spotting speed (though we didn't see one)