Saturday, August 13, 2011

09-13-2011 The Ride

   Me and Denise headed out today. We were suppose to ride with Missy & Richard and Dale & Anna but they wanted to head to Bluff City, or something like that, towards Johnson City way. I've wanted to go to Cherokee, NC for 2 years now, so me and Denise decided to head out solo. Plus I think the trip and departure time would have thrown us riding in the dark. I can't see very well in the dark anymore. The first chemo 5 years ago done some damage but either this chemo or the Hyperbaric Oxygen therapy pretty much done the rest. They love to ride at night, I can't. Sooo the problem was fixed today.

  We left here at a little before 12, went through Dandridge, to Chestnut Hill, to Pigeon Forge. We bypassed Gatlinburg but doubled back to the end and got us some KFC. We had intended on eating at the Chimney Top Picnic Area, but it was full. Denise said she hasn't been to Clingman's Dome in a while (may has spelled that wrong), so we went that way. It started raining withing a few miles of there so we turned around and found a roadside pull over and stopped. We ate on a stump on the side of the road with a fantastic view. The rain passed and on up we went, all the way there. We walked around but didn't go to the Dome. We headed back down and the headed to Cherokee, NC. We saw an Elk on the way, first time I've seen one. Cherokee has changed a lot, a whole lot since I've been there. We didn't see many Cherokee there, except the fake dancing on the streets. It has become as ugly as Gatlinburg now, too commercial and with big business. We stopped and ate Ice Cream, then headed back.

  We took several stretch and butt breaks along the way, lol. Stopped at an old Grist Mill. Stopped at beautiful look out points. We worked our way back into Pigeon Forge, then came the back way into Dandridge, up the highway and home. Back home by 7pm!

  I wasn't sure if we'd be going anywhere, Denise brought home a stomach bug and I had it until this morning. It seemed odd at first, but then it was nice. Just me and her. Where we wanted to go, when we wanted to go, and how we wanted to go. And of all things... my tooth stayed in!

  I a going to so pay for this tomorrow, but today was worth it.