Christmas Trip - Day 10

Left hotel at 1030. Stopped at TN info center - weather was great! Figured out how to get into Great Smoky Mountains National Park - at Visitors Center by 1415. Saw some great sites - even with snow and ice in the park. Checked out Gatlinburg... Also explored a frontier town on the Cades Cove auto tour. Drove over to Athens, TN, for gas and a late lunch (early dinner?). Nicky wanted to drive, so I let her. She freaked out in Birmingham - couldn't get merged and stopped in the middle of the road (blocking traffic). She wanted me to get out and switch seats, but we made it through OK... Pulled over just outside of the city, though, and I drove the rest of the way home. Took I-59 all the way to Tuscaloosa before stopping again (dinner at Taco Bell) - Nicky called home. Made it to Meridian by 2315. Dropped Nicky off at home and headed back to the house. Bed after midnight.