Cades Cove ~ Smokey Mountian National Park
After our excursion into America’s Heartland, I was homeward bound. I stopped and visited some friends in Tennessee. They live in Tennessee’s version of Florida’s Villages. Conspiracy theories abound here, as I parked my trailer under a Trump flag! I was in the presence of the Global Elite, and they didn’t even realize who they were. It was a truly surrealistic experience.
We did have a nice visit to the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center in Townsend, followed by a long, slow drive into Cades Cove. This early settlement was absorbed unwillingly into the National Parkβmore seeds of discontent for the Federal Government.
We left, heading southeast towards the coast. The drive through the Smokey Mountains was beautiful. We did the same drive last year but headed south toward Scaly Mountian, NC. This time, we went east and left the mountains once more for the less interesting drive to the coast and back home.π©πΏβπ¦³
Lessons from The Heartland
What did I learn about the Heartland?
- Corn π½ is King!
- It’s fucking big! I am glad I took as much time as possible to see what I did, but I think it is enough for one lifetime.
- β¬οΈ The vibe improved considerably the further north I went. β¬οΈ It pretty much went to shit when I was back in the South. π© Tennesse was the fucking worst.
- ποΈ Wisconsin’s Driftless region is the best place I visited. I would live there except for the winters. It looks like the perfect place to raise a child like Theo!
- There are not many brown π¨π½βπ¦° or black π©πΏβ𦳠faces the further north you go (at least where I visited in the country).
- I have an increased appreciation for farming and the farmer π§βπΎ, especially the work ethic and commitment. I can understand a bit better how this contrasts with the urban environment.
- If I feel something is too much from here on out, I will reconsider my decision. Hiking four hours and 1600 steps in the Bat Cave was not a good move. I ended up suffering the rest of the trip and having a less enjoyable time overall. However, I can live with pain if I have to, it seems. Maybe that is another perk of growing old.
π³
5,000 miles ~ 31 nights ~ Six stops ~ Another Excellent Adventure!
Final Thoughts
