Sunday, October 25, 2020

Before we headed out for Pigeon Forge (The name Pigeon Forge comes from an iron forge built around 1820 by local business man Isaac Love, who named it after the Little Pigeon River where it was located  (which was itself named after the passenger pigeons that frequented its banks).  we were able to attend church with Jan and Lee at the Messiah Lutheran Church (the churches first meeting since covid started...it was outdoors in their parking lot).

We had one more great meal with Jan and Lee at their nice home and then wended our way toward Pigeon Forge via Chattanooga and Knoxville.  

Jan and Lee's home...lawns all over the neighborhood and no fences.  No sidewalks and peaceful streets.    What a difference from the neighborhoods that we find in San Diego.

Lovely living room where we had great conversations

Dining room where great meals and conversations happened

So, see the house right next door in the picture below??  That is Janelle's house, Jan and Lee's younger daughter.  Their grandchildren go freely from one house to the other.  We spent Saturday evening in Janelle and Mark's back yard with a nice fire and speaking with them and their children, Marit (17), James (14) and Natalie(10).  Natalie even popped over earlier in the day to show off her Halloween costume....devil and angel combined.  Cute.

Oh, and just an aside.....you can see a small graveyard practically in Jan and Lee's backyard....Lee's opinion???.....their graveyard neighbors are quiet and they don't mind if Jan and Lee and family are not.  Perfect he says.  Great attitude.

So after church and lunch we set of for Pigeon Forge (home of Dolly Parton and Dollywood).  The drive was beautiful and we were starting to get those great fall colors.

After Knoxville (big, big, ol' city) we took 441 and then turned off on River Divide Road....I sure hope these pictures/videos convey how beautiful and serene this country road drive was:

And then we came to US441- Dollywood Parkway....if you have not visited Dollywood it would be hard to describe how jarring this was after River Divide Drive.  It is equivalent to turning into Las Vegas Blvd from a serene country road.  Equivalent to shock and awe(ful).