Smokies Hiking Trip - Day 3

I was awake by 0530 again and started teleworking.  All told, I spent about two hours in Brenna's living room, working, until she was ready to go to work (0740).  Outside, it was clear but cool (30s).  We started towards Brenna's school but she forgot her purse and we had to backtrack.  Once we finally made it into Harrisonburg proper (Brenna lives in a little suburb), we arrived at the Chick-fil-A to find that it was under renovation.  Instead, we picked up some breakfast at Mr. J's Bagels (0800). I'd hoped to visit with Brenna some more but she had some things to do at work and wanted to get going.  As a result, I said goodbye to her and drove over to a nearby Shell gas station for a gas fillup (0810).  From there, I headed south on I-81, listening to an audiobook on the way.  After coordinating with Mollie for when and where to meet, I arrived at the Virginia Tech Campus (Squire's Center) just after 1000.  I had to wait for Mollie until 1030 so did some telework in my car.  Once she arrived, I drove her to do some shopping at Kroger and teleworked a little more until she was finished (1100).  We next drove to the house she shared with two other students and I got to see inside for the first time - I'd actually only been there about a year before, just after she'd signed the rental agreement but before she'd moved into the house.  We then took a nice walk in her neighborhood - the weather was beautiful; clear, sunny and temps in the 60s.  After we got done with the walk, we headed over to eat at an Asian Fusion place that Mollie wanted to try (Kuma Moon) and stayed there from about 1145 to 1245.  We had a great talk and the food was really good.  I then took Mollie to the Virginia Tech Campus so she could start her job at the Entomology Lab.  While there, I got to meet one of her colleagues and explored the green houses a little.  Soon, it was time for me to get going again so I said goodbye to Mollie.  Back in my car, I decided that I should probably try to reach Pigeon Forge so I would be close to the hiking zone.  I took I-81 all the way into Tennessee and stayed on that road until I was almost to my destination (one bathroom break in TN).  Listened to audiobooks on the way.  Traffic wasn't too bad on the Interstate and it was great to find that the weather stayed nice (it was also getting warmer).  I reached TN-66 and headed south until I got on US-441.  From there, the traffic got horrendous...  Fortunately, I was able to patiently navigate my way into Pigeon Forge (much busier and crowded than I remember from my last visit) and figure out where I could get an inexpensive hotel.  Once I located it (Rodeway Inn on Henderson Chapel Road, deep in the middle of a huge renovation), I checked in at 1700 (got a military discount because I didn't use the internet to make a reservation).  Started teleworking in my room until I began to feel hungry.  Because it was so nice outside, I took a walk down to the main drag (US-441).  Since a Sonic that I'd last visited with Mollie a few years ago was close to this intersection, I stopped there and ate my dinner there (ordered at 1830).  Spent my meal texting with the girls, thanking all three for entertaining me during my drive to the south.  After another short walk, I was back in my room by about 2000 (still very light outside).  I had time to do some more teleworking.  After getting done (2100), I talked to Eileen on the phone, read and did some Duolingo.  Tired, I went to bed at around 2215.  Whew!