Goodbye North Carolina; Hello Tennessee

It rained last night...no thunder and lightning, just a nice soft rain hitting against the roof of the motorhome.  This morning it was wet but cooler.  On the road by 8:30 a.m.  No problem with the motorhome starting...thank you, Lord!  It was so much cooler that we turned the heat on in the motorhome.  The leaves were beginning to put on their fall coats.  The farther west we drove, the trees became prettier but still not peak foliage.

As we neared Ashville, North Carolina, we begin to get into the mountains.   The motorhome would  begin its downshift routine as it chugged up the mountain.  Carol and I would subconsciously lean forward trying to help it climb each mountain.  These mountains are not nearly as high as those in the west that it has climbed in the past but like us, the motorhome is older and mountains are harder to climb..  Anyway, we were glad when the road leveled a little and the engine could relax.  Occasionally, a huge gust of wind would hit the passenger side of the motorhome causing Carol to hang on to the wheel tightly to keep us on the road.   Kudos to Carol for keeping the motorhome on the road through the wind gusts, crazy traffic, and mountain climbing.

We stopped for gas at the Sevierville, Tennessee Buc-ees.  We have never seen such a mess.  Cars, trucks, motorhomes, etc.  all trying to find a empty gas pump.  Every parking spot was filled with cars driving around trying to find a spot where someone was leaving.  We managed to find a free pump and while Carol pumped gas, I went inside to buy something for our lunch.  Inside was just as busy and a mess as outside.  I talked to an employee who told me that if I thought this was bad, I should have been here Labor Day!  He said that this Bu-ees opened in June and is the largest one in the United States.  It is also on the main road to Sevierville and Gatlinburg; thus, the increased traffic.  Usually we buy our lunch and sit in the motorhome to eat  but not today because there were no parking spots.  We had to take it "to go."  The positive side was that gas was only $2.99 per gallon.

Our first glimpse of the mountains the motorhome would be climbing.

This is one mountain that we did not climb; instead, we took a tunnel through.

Some of the exits had been planted with flowers like these.

We were surprised to see this large Confederate flag flying.  It was not the only one we saw.

Knoxville skyling.

The skyline was not impressive but the traffic was.  It was nearly bumper-to-bumper.  I had to activate the passenger side brake several times!

This is spot #38 in Nashville East KOA.  We were glad to get here and set up.  It is much cooler.  I am wearing a sweatshirt and Carol has put on his flannel shirt.  What a change from the last four weeks when we wore shorts and sandals.  I think we may actually feel that fall is here.  Tomorrow we will be home...for a day before we take off again to Turkey Run State Park, Indiana.