Smokies Spring 2019 Part 5

Smokies Spring 2019 Part 5 is the final chapter of the Smokies Spring 2019 trip. The other parts can be found:  Smokies Spring 2019 Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4.  We started the day having breakfast at Elvira Cafe in Sevierville.  Due to the rain, we decided to head to Pigeon Forge to do a little shopping (or more shopping) and for Tim to get his hard cider growlers refilled at Mill Bridge Winery.  Our first stop was Pigeon River Pottery because the winery wasn’t open yet.  Tim bought me two refrigerator magnets and a cute bear ceramic figurine.  

Next stop was the Winery that even though it was only 10am, apparently never too early to try different types of wine.  Who knew.  Tim picked up a few bottles of wine to go with his hard cider refills.  Needless to say, our first stop after was taking them back to the car so he didn’t have to carry them around Pigeon Forge.  

Next place was Iron Mountain Metal Craft. Tim picked up a couple of tee shirts because you can never have enough tee shirts and a very nice knife.  No idea what kind since I know nothing about knifes.  

Our adventure continued at the Gatlinburg Welcome Center right outside the park because we haven’t bought enough souvenirs. Mainly because we had never been there.  Yes there was a gift shop near Great Smoky National Park that I had not shopped out.  Shocking I know. Picked up another stuffed bear but this one is special. It has the markings of a bear named Wishbone who had a white mark in the shape of a wishbone on his chest.  He had been killed after getting hit by a car on Newfound Gap.  This would not be our only stop at the store today.  

Greenbrier Road

The rain had stopped so we headed to Greenbrier Road to shoot the river.  We took a break and headed to Hungry Bear BBQ for lunch and then went back onto Greenbrier.  This time we stopped near the turn off to Ramsey’s Cascades and climbed down the bank to the water’s edge and took many photos.  At one point, I was stepping from rock to rock, my foot slipped and went into the water.  That river is cold in early April.

We stopped back by the Gatlinburg Welcome Center to pick up maps of the Park. We originally planned to mark the maps on the hikes we have completed. The maps are so nice, we decided against it and will just frame them to hang them on the wall.

As is our custom, we went to BIg Daddy’s Pizzeria for dinner.   We usually go to the one in Sevierville but due to a car show in Pigeon Forge, we decided to eat at the one in downtown Gatlinburg instead.  

Our last excursion for the day was heading back to Cades Cove near sunset hoping to see a bear or ten. Unfortunately we didn’t see any but we did see a coyote on the side of the road who stood there for a while so Tim and I could get photos from the safety of the car.  

Another great day in the Smokies and unfortunately our last.