3 States
1,931 miles
44 hours, 23 minutes drive time
A holiday weekend is an opportunity to take a few extra days off to fill in more of the map:
But this Memorial Day weekend trip had to be short and cheap.
Short since during the March trip to England an unidentified customer criticized to a colleague I took too much time off. Undoubtedly this was a recently ‘inherited’ customer as my dedication and work ethic has long been proven with long time accounts.
Cheap because of a draconian pay cut accentuated by dwindling revenue due to poor company performance. AmEx gift cards won from a vendor for a sales spiff helped offset gas, food and lodging. Furthermore I subsisted mostly on apples, bananas, yogurt and cereal.
A month earlier I started scouting airfare to nearby destinations (to spend less time in the air) then got a Midwest Airlines e-mail for a 3 day sale. Nashville had the best arrival/departure times which maximized canvassing the state:
Thursday, May 22nd, 2008
Well, this trip is starting out great. Out of the airport for only 10 minutes and look what I stumble upon!
Friday, May 23rd, 2008
Skipped running to get a jump start on the day so was in downtown Nashville by 6AM. First perused the waterfront featuring old warehouses given second lives as nightspots. Next was the Arcade, Nashville’s first shopping center built in 1902.
The tradition of pictures in front of Capitols continues.
This early hour avoided Pancake Pantry’s notorious long lines. Having searched the country over for the best pancakes my anticipation for their renowned Sweet Potato Pancakes was dashed. Fluffy and moist yes, sweet potato or any other distinctive flavor no.
Music Row.
Well outside of the city limits The Loveless Motel and Café doesn’t accept lodgers anymore but still is bait for real southern cooking.
I hit two staples with the Country Ham n’ Biscuit. This dynamic duo had the pork’s saltiness countered by the metallic twang of the moist layered biscuit. I was even taken care of by “The Biscuit Lady” herself, Carol Fay.
In Gallatin I was reminded of the last time I was in an old gas station turned bakery was in Wenatchee, Washington.
Rugby is an 1880s British colony town rejuvenated as a remote enclave of B&Bs, craft shops and tree sheltered gravel roads.
Jamestown.
Placidly motoring along highway 52 with a seemingly unending small mountain range on one side and similarly seemingly unending plateau on the other with an audiobook on the radio the thought impulsively sprung, “What a great country.”
What a welcoming site in La Follette. I was parched and it was straight up 2 o’clock, just in time for Sonic happy hour and ½ price drinks.
Knowing the Lincoln Museum closes at 4 I had been rushing all day to get to Harrogate to have enough time to see the exhibits. Walked in at 2:55 and asked to purchase a ticket. “We close at 4.” Very puzzled. “It’s four now.” she continued. I crossed a time zone without realizing it.
Built as part of the Manhattan project Oak Ridge is known as The Secret City. In the early 40s Jackson Square was open 24 hours servicing as the communities hub for shopping. Outside of town are K-23, Y-12, X-10 and S-50; massive manufacturing facilities dedicated to creating the atomic bomb. Isn't there a rule you have to stop at a ice cream place with 'lab' in the name, a German flag, a plastic pig and ice cream cone?
It requires navigating many miles of narrow twisty roads, some gravel, to get to the Mennonite community of Muddy Pond. The restaurant was closed, but the bakery wasn’t.
Saturday, May 24th, 2008
Sparta has a trilogy to lure with a gazebo, old theatre and historic façade.
Rolling into Knoxville the Sunsphere is visible for miles so World’s Fair Park was the first stop.
Really lucked out that the Market Square Farmers’ Market was in full activity.
Rolling into town on Main Street deep lawns fronted by a variety of attractive fences festooned with bunting led to Rogersville’s historic district.
Blountville.
Jonesborough is one of those admirable great old towns that embraces its history while grasping revitalization to polish up its curtain of character.
Cherokee National Forest.
As Gateway to the Smokies it was borderline gridlock in Gatlinburg on this holiday weekend. Skipped Stars Cars Museum and good thing since the traffic continued north in...
Pigeon Forge is known for Dollywood and the main drag has a gazillion hotels, every chain restaurant, T-shirt shops, amusement parks, mini golf and fudge.
Serenity ensued to the west as conifers and deciduous trees nobly lined twisty highway 321.
Sunday, May 25th, 2008
Athens.
Old theatre and train depot in Etowah.
On one side of the road mountains rose abruptly and on the other side the Ocoee River offered rapids for thrill seekers in kayaks.
Further downstream the river calmed and opened up into Ocoee Lake.
It was their tourist mecca rep that compelled me to Ruby Falls Cavern outside of Chattanooga. While parking and seeing a ticket line I brought European Car magazine with me. Good thing since once in the cave the tour became standing in narrow passages waiting for other groups to move by. Read the whole issue. Waste of time and money. Good articles though.
If you want to be astounded by a cave get to Carlsbad Caverns in SE New Mexico.
On the other hand Rock City across the state line in Georgia was worth it. The barn roofs painted “See Rock City” are as famous as the site itself. This advertising campaign was created in the 50s as a way to draw tourists to this off the beaten path wonder. A rocky outcropping is accentuated by gardens, bridges, caves with the culmination being the overlook to see 7 states.
Lynchburg.
Fayetteville.
Middle of nowhere.
Crossed into Alabama that night for lodging.
Monday, May 26th, 2008
Following ancient Indian trails later used by settlers throughout the 1700s and 1800s the Natchez Trace Parkways is about pure motoring. Reaching from Natchez, Mississippi to Nashville I first drive the Natchez to Jackson section in 2004. No billboards, no interchanges and no businesses. What you get is a two lane well maintained road with grass shoulder. This jaunt started near the Tennessee border to the outskirts of Nashville. Along the parkway is Meriwether Lewis’ death and burial site (top right).
Leipers Fork has maybe a half dozen businesses with Puckett’s serving as grocery, gas station and restaurant.
Seeing the smoker out front and hunks of beef behind the counter I knew a BBQ Sandwich was the way to go. Succulent meat was boasted by a sauce having perceptions of vinegar.
Amiable downtown Franklin.
Already pre-scouted the overfilling parking lot at Dotson’s Restaurant justified this stop.
Having protein earlier I bypassed the traditional southern ‘meat and 3’ going healthy with the ‘3’ with a Veggie Plate. The selections were turnip greens, sweet potato casserole and black-eyed peas. “Hey moron, those aren’t all healthy.” I know, I know…but who can resist? And I only had three small forkfuls.
Shelbyville town square.
Again, good time to quench the thirst. Last of the trip bringing the grand total to 76 Sonics in 17 states with 85 menu items enjoyed. New Mexico still handily holds the record for hitting 23 in one trip.
A rare situation was having some time to kill before the flight so I drove by the Grand Ole Opry and Opryland then took in a great example of American consumerism at Opry Mills.
Thanks for reading. Hope this was a fair depiction of Tennessee and highlights more of The-Greatest-Country-In-The-World-In-The-History-Of-The-World.