Spring Break Trip - Day 4

Another great day in paradise! Mollie slept until 0800 while I teleworked. We ate breakfast (waffles, cereal) at the hotel and then we drove to the GSMNP again (0930). Our first activity was a nice hike up Mt. LeConte to see Arch Rock and Alum Cave (five miles round trip, great views). Spent a few hours among the red spruce that only grow above 3500'. This was the longest distance Mollie has ever hiked with me. When we finished (1230), we stopped at the Sugarland Visitors Center again (for hiking and fauna viewing information). Later, we drove over to the Cades Cove area and we got some lunch (hot dogs, bugles, cookies) at Cades Cove Trading Company campground store. We spent about five hours driving around the scenic loop (three times total), looking for wildlife. There were several deer, a black rat snake and a black bear near the road! So we decided to get closer... We took short breaks for snacks and to enjoy the pleasant weather. Also explored some of the old homesteads that had to be abandoned to create the Park. After we'd had enough fun looking for animals, we stopped to hike another mile (round trip) at the Elijah Oliver Place (old homestead). As we drove around the loop, we also at the Visitors Center and at several other places to enjoy the view. All day long, we had great talks and Mollie frequently said she was really enjoying our trip to her "favorite mountains". Just before we started our last loop, we picked up some more food (ham and cheese subs, chips) at the campground store for our picnic dinner and got some souvenirs. Of course, we also had to get some ice cream to eat immediately! :-) We later stopped for to eat the food while overlooking a beautiful valley. At 1900, we were finished and drove back to Pigeon Forge via the small village of Townsend. We arrived at the hotel around 2000 and I teleworked for over an hour. Mollie and I then watched TV and read until bed time (2315). Overall, enjoyed ourselves tremendously! Not leaving this area yet (or maybe ever)...