Road Trip To Texas - Day 3

Smoky Mountains

Waking up in Asheville we set off towards the Smoky Mountains. After spending far too long driving through the Blue Mountains we decided not to take the scenic route along the tops of the mountains and just went along the highway. Still, the views we had of the Smokies was fantastic as the fog (smoke) danced along the mountains ahead of us. The name "Smoky" comes from the natural fog that often hangs over the range and presents as large smoke plumes from a distance. This fog, which is most common in the morning and after rainfall, is the result of warm humid air from the Gulf of Mexico cooling rapidly in the higher elevations of Southern Appalachia. As we delved deeper into the mountains we came across Gatlinburg and the home of the first legal Moonshine still. 

The First Legal Moonshine Still

Parking up the car we took a stroll through the town which was pleasantly cheesy. It's basically a tacky tourist town with 'Ripley's' plastered across every cheap tourist attraction. It is very colourful though with every building being painted a variety of bright yellows, greens, and blues. I'm also pretty certain that there is often a Black Bear sighting in the area as I have never seen as many carvings of bears in my life. All sorts of shapes and sizes, from life size to small enough for the little guy to cradle your salt and pepper. Unfortunately I did not see a real bear. The Moonshine still was arguably the busiest part of town and even had a stage outside for local country and western singers to perform as you sit in the sun on your rocking chair; Tennessee does love its rocking chairs. With the queue far too long for the free tastings Evan and Hongi jumped in the deep end and shelled out for the original and apple pie flavoured respectively; I'm not looking forward to the night that gets cracked open. Before heading onwards to Nashville we 
sampled some local BBQ, and you couldn't get anymore local than the Hungry Bear BBQ. Basically this is someones house that they have converted into a little cafe that sell BBQ to eat in, or take away for a picnic. The lady behind the counter was friendly enough, although my English accent seemed to evade her understanding as on more than one occasion a blank stare was my only reply. The food that I'm guessing her husband cooked was amazing. For $10 we got sausage, ribs, pulled pork, bread rolls and a drink - bargain. Just to prove how much of a 'home' this was, there was a bathtub in the toilet. 

My Friends Think That I May Have
A Problem

Wikipedia

In 1856, a post office was established in the general store of Radford Gatlin (c. 1798-1880), thus giving the town the name "Gatlinburg". Despite the town bearing his name, Gatlin, who had only arrived in the flats around 1854, constantly bickered with his neighbors. By 1857, a full-blown feud had erupted between the Gatlins and the Ogles, probably over Gatlin's attempts to divert the town's main road. The eve of the U.S. Civil War found Gatlin, who would become a Confederate sympathizer, at odds with the residents of the flats, who were mostly pro-Union, and he was forced out in 1859. Despite its anti-slavery sentiments, Gatlinburg, like most Smoky Mountain communities, tried to remain neutral during the war. This changed when a company of Confederate Colonel William Holland Thomas's Legion occupied the town to protect the salt peter mines at Alum Cave, near the Tennessee-North Carolina border. Federal forces marched south from Knoxville and Sevierville to drive out Thomas' men, who had built a small fort on Burg Hill. Lucinda Oakley Ogle, whose grandfather witnessed the ensuing skirmish, later recounted her grandfather's recollections:

... he told me about when he was a sixteen year old boy during the Civil War and would hide under a big cliff on Turkey Nest Ridge and watch the Blue Coats ride their horses around the graveyard hill, shooting their cannon toward Burg Hill where the Grey Coats had a fort and would ride their horses around the Burg Hill ...

As the Union forces converged on the town, the outnumbered Confederates were forced to retreat across the Smokies to North Carolina. The Confederates would never return, although sporadic small raids continued until the war's end.

Hen Parties Result In More Trouble
Than Any Stag Do

Leaving Gatlinburg and its numerous miniature golf courses we set sails for Nashville and our first taste of a night out in the south. It'd be rude not to, especially as the time zone allowed us an additional hour. Parking up in a 24 hour car park we put our glad rags on and set off. Unfortunately it was raining but that didn't put a dampener on the local spirits, it helped that an Ice Hockey game had just finished as thousands of people headed for the pubs for a celebratory pint. Heading into our first pub we were greeted to a rendition of "God Bless The USA" from the locals - arguably the most tacky of songs I've ever heard. This was then followed by a lady in the corner getting her boobs out for the lads to motorboat - God Bless America! 

Forcing Hongi Up Onto The Bar
In Coyote Ugly

When queueing for the toilet the owner approached me asking where I'm from and what's brought me to Nashville. After explaining the road trip he shook my hand, or crushed, I'm unsure and wished me the best on my travels and a safe journey. I didn't get a free beer which would have been better, but beggars can't be choosers. On approaching Evan and Hongi a group of young girls (underage for drinking) noticed that I'm English. Que the stampede of questions and demands to speak. After telling them that I don't know the Queen, I don't like cups of tea, and I don't like Harry Potter, I was politely asked if I liked One Direction? Biting my tongue I eloquently told them that I am not a 15 year old girl.

Just In Case You Weren't Aware Of Where We Are

Moving on through the night we ended up going to Coyote Ugly and forced Hongi up on the bar to dance; that was after I was harassed by a Hen Party. Without warning I was dragged onto the dance floor and forced to partake in a dance I didn't know with a random woman. It's a good job I wasn't too drunk at the time as part of the dance was to jump on me and I had to throw her from my left side, to my right side, and then to the front before putting her down. Not bad for the heavyweight champion of Kenya. When the song finally finished I was told that I'm a quick learner and good dancer - there's a first for everything I guess. 

Wikipedia

The town of Nashville was founded by James Robertson, John Donelson, and a party of Overmountain Men in 1779, near the original Cumberland settlement of Fort Nashborough. It was named for Francis Nash, the American Revolutionary War hero. Nashville quickly grew because of its strategic location, accessibility as a river port, and its later status as a major railroad center. In 1806, Nashville was incorporated as a city and became the county seat of Davidson County, Tennessee. In 1843, the city was named the permanent capital of the state of Tennessee. Within a few years after the Civil War the city had reclaimed its important shipping and trading position and also developed a solid manufacturing base. The post–Civil War years of the late 19th century brought a newfound prosperity to Nashville. These healthy economic times left the city with a legacy of grand classical-style buildings, which can still be seen around the downtown area.By 1860, when the first rumblings of secession began to be heard across the South, antebellum Nashville was a very prosperous city. The city's significance as a shipping port made it a desirable prize as a means of controlling important river and railroad transportation routes. In February 1862, Nashville became the first state capital to fall to Union troops. The Battle of Nashville (December 15–16, 1864) was a significant Union victory and perhaps the most decisive tactical victory gained by either side in the war.