Friday 19 June The Great Smokey Mountains

Randy (who I hired this place from) dropped by this morning. He was probably checking I hadn't trashed the place, but stayed talking for quite a while, and gave me extensive tips for Nashville and other destinations. I told him that if I take out sleeping and drinking time in Nashville, I only have about 20 minutes spare. He saw that I'd been doing some washing (well, after a week I thought the pants had earnt a rinse!!) and offered me his own washing facilities at his house, which was kind.

Back into the Smokeys today, and to the highest point, Clingman's Dome. Just more scenery. Then for a very slow drive round the Cades Cove loop, 11 miles of more scenery, with the added chance of seeing a bear, which I did (see today's album). It really is very picturesque now the cloud has lifted, but I think I'm ready to move on from trees.

There are some great country songs including "Rocking the beer gut", and one with the classic hook "I gave up smoking, drinking and women last night; And it was the worst 15 minutes of my life." This is on WRVK radio, which is littered with adverts for Father's Day presents. I can understand the new custom fitted boots, "fragrances", even, in East Tennessee, the guns - but how many Dads would really be happy with a new bench saw? And how many kids can afford a new John Deer at $12499 (down from $13999).

I missed two agenda items here. Dollywood was low on my list, but it is a theme park owned by local Dolly Parton and is apparently quite a good day out for adults as well as kids - history of country music etc. The Wood and Dulcimer shop, just ½ mile from my cabin, has a Friday evening jam session - I plain forgot.

On tonight's drive I was the second or third person to hit a cat sized animal. It was alive when I hit it, but tomorrow it'll be on some redneck's dinner plate. And I discovered something weird. The TomTom PDA always charges fine in the dark, but won't charge in the day. Now I know, I can plan round it.

BTW a vote of thanks to my American & Canadian buddies George and Phil, whose tips over the years at Sebring have enabled me to properly utilize a cool box. I have 15 small bottles of water frozen down to pack it with tomorrow. Cheaper than buying an equivalent in ice blocks. Only problem being I have nothing other than unfrozen water and two cans of Mountain Dew to put in it!!