One of our favorite rides on our trip south is the trip over Newfound Gap across the Smoky Mountains. It is different each time we do it. This trip the ride was punctuated by the damage left by the November fire. It was above freezing when we left Riveredge Campground in Pigeon Forge, but the temperature dropped quickly as we climbed towards the peaks and it started to snow.
This past November, right after Thanksgiving, I was watching the morning news and a quick alert flashed across the screen about fires in The Great Smoky Mountain National Park in Tennessee. It caught my attention because we love the Smokies, we love Gatlinburg, and we even have a certain affection for the craziness of Pigeon Forge (ever heard of Dollyville?)
A day later, the wildfires in the National Park had exploded into a full-blown emergency and flames were licking at the mountain village Gatlinburg itself. The town was evacuated. Vacation housing and resorts in the area were at risk or, in several cases, consumed by fire. Continue reading The Smoky Mountains On Fire
Yup, you can sort of see it now: the bones of a tug. Here are a few more photos that show the progress.
It’s been a cookie winter. First the Tug Cookies, now the Scottie Cookies. Funny thing is, I’m not normally a cookie/sweets person, but that’s what I have to offer this winter. 
BruceBeard.com 