Before we could embark on our adventure, we wanted to pick-up our registration for the Rally. The program I downloaded from the web, said registration was in the convention center, we walked there ... building locked. Another Rally goer, said yesterday afternoon, they were checking people in on the porch of the office, so we walked over there. No on there, we waited in the chairs for a bit. Still no one. So, we decided to walk to the pavilion, where many of the activities are taking place ... Success! We got our registration packets! Sevierville is located in the foothills of America’s most visited National Park. Not only are the views gorgeous, but the opportunities to hike and get some great pictures are unparalleled. Jack, Jackie and Lacey went to explore the Great Smoky Mountain National Park today. Barbara and Bob have never been to Bush’s Beans, so the rest of us headed there for a tour and maybe some beans!
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| Observation tower at Clingman's Dome in the Smoky Mountain NP |
I’ll tell you about the National Park first. It covers over 500,000 acres and straddles the border of Tennessee and North Carolina. The sights are breathtaking and they offer over 800 miles of maintained trails for hiking. The most popular inhabitant of the Smokies is the American Black Bear, there are roughly 1,500 bears living in the park. The most unique inhabitant is the 30 species of salamanders, making the Smokies the “Salamander Capital of the World.” The biggest inhabitant is the Elk, which can weigh upwards of 700 pounds. Yes, Jack and Jackie climbed to the top of the dome!
Back to Bush Beans. We love it there. The first time we stopped on this trip, was just for lunch and Pattye and I hit the gift shop. Naturally, the men had to check out the old trucks and cars at the museum.
This time, we explored the very building where AJ Bush operated his General Store. We saw the movie and learned about Bush Brothers & Company’s 100-year-old canning history and how Bush became the number one name in beans. After the movie, we walked through the century-old history of an iconic family business. There are so many interactive exhibits in the Bush’s Story located in their free museum, Bob had to try a few!
Barbara and Bob have never been to The Apple Barn, so we decided to go there to tour the shops and to enjoy an early supper. The Apple Barn really is a barn, it was built back in 1910 and was part of the farm that the Hicks and Kilpatrick families bought in 1972. They planted our first trees in 1976 and they plant more every year. The orchard has over 4,000 trees. They began renovating the old cattle barn in 1980, structurally, they left it pretty much as it was. The sturdy old barn began a new era as The Apple Barn in 1981. Soon, they added a Cider Room where you can actually watch the apples being pressed into cider in the fall.
With all those apples, they had to include the Apple Pie Kitchen, where we bake delicious treats like fried apple pies, apple doughnuts, and apple dumplins for eating there or taking home. They also have a Candy Factory which produces original sweets, including old-time favorites, handmade on century-old equipment; and develop recipes for making our own ice cream for "The Creamery" ice cream parlor. The original Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant is the big draw for dining, but it could not serve everyone. The Applewood Farmhouse Grill opened in 1995, along with the Apple Barn Winery, specializing in delightful apple and fruit wines. We ate at the Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant. All three men had meatloaf, Pattye had Catfish, Barb and I had fried chicken. Naturally we enjoyed apple fritters with apple butter and homemade soup! We were all too stuffed for dessert, but we took some fried apple pies home for later! We toured the Christmas Shop, the Winery, peeked in the windows of the Creamery, the Candy Shop and the Bakery. We finished our shopping at The Apple Barn's General Store. We always have to squeeze a bear for our friend, Karen. The General Store features a wide variety of handmade mountain crafts, food items, home decorations and collectibles. And of course, apples and cider, from which it all this Apple empire began.
We drove back to the campground to relax, before the opening ceremonies of the Tennessee Fall Good Sam Rally. The opening ceremonies were held in the convention center on the campground. It was a short program that included a welcome, by the Tennessee State Director; an Invocation; presentation of the Colors; Pledge of Allegiance; National Anthem and the Declaration of Rally Open.
There were a few general announcements and a review of the upcoming few days. We met a group from the Memphis area, River M Sams. We enjoyed visiting with them for a time after the opening ceremonies. We also met a couple from Lake Placid. They belong to a chapter near them, but they were here alone … so we brought them into the fold. By the end of the week, Sandy and Paul might rethink joining up with us, but it will be a week they won’t forget!
We finished off the night with a campfire and visiting with new and old friends!
Check back for more misadventures at the Tennessee Good Sam Rally!
This time, we explored the very building where AJ Bush operated his General Store. We saw the movie and learned about Bush Brothers & Company’s 100-year-old canning history and how Bush became the number one name in beans. After the movie, we walked through the century-old history of an iconic family business. There are so many interactive exhibits in the Bush’s Story located in their free museum, Bob had to try a few!
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