2010 October 11, Monday, Jack Daniels Distillery Lynchburg, Tennessee

This was our trip to Lynchburg, TN, to the Jack Daniel's Distillery. 

My husband slept late, and we did not leave until about 9:30 A.M. We arrived in Fayetteville, TN, at 11 A.M., stopping at Honeys Bar and Grill to eat lunch. 

Honeys Bar and Grill

I ordered a slaw hamburger, and my husband ordered a regular hamburger and onion rings. We both ordered iced tea with lemon. 

I took pictures of the Lincoln County Courthouse, CSA markers, two cannons that were brought here from Fort Morgan in Mobile Bay, the war memorial, and the old Lincoln Theater. 

Lincoln Theater. 

Lincoln County Courthouse, CSA markers, two cannons 

We then headed east on Highway 64 to Lynchburg, Tennessee. 

We met two couples from Ohio driving a Chrysler Town and Country, just the same color and year model as the one we. The driver laughed and said, "I hope you guys do not get mixed up in which van you are driving." " laughed and said, "I'm sure we would notice that the tag is from Ohio."

We parted ways and headed to the visitor's center, where we got tickets to go watch a movie about the life of Jack Daniel and the start of Jack Daniel's Whiskey.

The movie had already started, and the room was pitch-black, so I sat in the first seat I came to. My husband squeezed next to me, and I could hear his heartbeat with every breath he took. The man next door. I leaned over and said, "I am sorry if I am too close, but it is dark in here, and I was afraid to move."

After the movie, we were ushered outside to a small bus and driven to the top of the hill, where the tour began.

We were all asked to line up for a group picture, which could be downloaded for free from the Internet a few days later. 

I was telling my husband that a year ago, I had to actually walk up that hill, and the woman behind me said she remembered that. 

The area where we got off the bus was the charcoal area, and our tour guide, Jesse James, asked if anyone wanted whiskey sprayed on their arm. Several said yes, and boy, was it strong.

The guide explained how whiskey is made, but I was too busy taking pictures.

We followed him to the spring, from which all the water is used to make the whiskey. The water came from a spring inside the cave. The cave becomes smaller the further back it goes, until it becomes a small hole.

Jack Daniel's Tour 

Jack Daniel's Touinat the spring

Jack Daniel's Tour standing next to Jack

Jack Daniel's Tour relaxin.g 

Jack Daniels Tour sitting on the wall

Mr. James took pictures of several people in our group, each with their own camera.

We were then taken to Mr. Jack Daniels's old office, where we were told the story about the safe.

Jack Daniel got up early one morning and went to his office. Jack needed to get into his safe but forgot the combination. Jack got angry and kicked the safe with his foot, breaking his toe.

His toe got infected, had to be removed, and later his foot, then his leg, and later he died. 

Jack Daniel was only 5 feet 2 inches tall, not a very big man.

Several pictures were hanging in the office, and an old potbelly stove, and in one room was the grain used in making Jack Daniel's Whiskey: Rye, Wheat, and Corn.

We walked to the brewing house, where the brewing machines were shut down for the yearly cleaning. We went through several buildings up and down several flights of stairs. 

The last building we went through was the barrelhouse. This is where the whiskey is stored until it is sold. The whiskey stored at the bottom was the best, because it does not get as hot. 

We were told the story about Moore County being a dry county and how Jack got started making whiskey. Jack never married and left his distillery to his favorite nephew, Lem Motlow. 

Motlow was the brains behind making Jack Daniel's a success.

Barrel of Jack

Motlow House 

After the tour, we were given a glass of ice-cold lemonade. (Very good)

We toured the museum, taking pictures, and went outside to take some more.

We walked down to a bridge connecting the distillery to the small historic town of Lynchburg, Moore County, Tennessee. 

I walked across the bridge while my husband waited behind me. I walked around town, taking pictures of the courthouse, the Moore County marker, the veterans' marker, and several stores. 

As we were leaving, I took a picture of Lem Motlow's old home place.

We headed west to Winchester, Tennessee, where we stopped to take a few pictures.

Driving thru Winchester 

Oldham Theater in Winchest, Tennessee

We then headed toward Huntsville the long way. My husband stopped along the highway (Davey Crockett Hwy/64 hwy.) so I could take pictures of John Ruck, Kentucky, Polly Crockett, and Jesse Bean, all in Belvidere, Tennessee.

We then rode through New M, stopping to take pictures of the Skirmish of Limestone Road, the Town of New Market, and Buckhorn Tavern.

2 miles NW on Old Limestone Road during a Skirmish August 5, 1862
Federal General Robert L McCook was killed by men of Capt Frank Gurley's Confederate unit. In retaliation, the Federal forces burned and pillaged the area. 

We stopped at Cheaders in Huntsville to eat supper. I ordered a Caesar salad, taco soup (mostly whole tomatoes), and iced tea. My husband ordered grilled shrimp, ribs, and a couple of sides. 

I was not impressed with the fool. 

We stopped at T&T Grocery to get, and then we went home. I uploaded my pictures onto the computer and then to Flickr. 

Ready for my next day trip. Where will it be?

2010 ~September 25, -27 Hermitage, Dollywood, Tennessee Aquarium

Day 1: Saturday, September 25, 2010

Trip to Hermitage, Tennessee, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and Chattanooga, Tennessee.

We left at 6:30 A.M. on Saturday morning and were on our way to visit the Hermitage in Hermitage, Tennessee. 

We traveled through Lawrenceburg on Highway 43, through Spring Hill, Tennessee, stopping at Rippavilla Plantation and the Mule Museum to take pictures.

Rippavilla Plantation 

Rippavilla Plantation 

We stopped in Columbia, Tennessee, at McDonald's, where I ordered a cinnamon melt and a Diet Coke. 

After leaving Spring Hill, we entered onto Interstate I-65 north toward Nashville, Tennessee. We stopped in Franklin, Tennessee, to get gas and at Hardie's, where my husband ordered a breakfast sandwich. 

We arrived at 8:30 A.M., when the Museum opened. 

The tickets to visit the home, GMuseum, and Museum were free, but the wagon tour cost $10.

Andrew Jackson and his wife 

Andrew Jackson Carriage

Upon arriving at the Museum, we were ushered into a movie theater where the life of Andrew Jackson was shown. After the Show, we entered the hallway of Andrew Jackson's life, where I began taking pictures. We walked through, not taking time to read or listen to a tape. We walked over to the Jackson Mansion, stopping along the way to take pictures of the landscape and the historic markers. We walked through the gardens and the family cemetery where Andrew Jackson and his family were buried. Jackson and his wife had a large tombstone. Andrew Jackson's faithful slave was buried in a small grave near the family cemetery.

Standing in front of the tree

Andrew Jackson Tomb 

The Hermitage

We went to the restrooms.
My husband sat down to rest for a while, and I walked to the old spring where I took several pictures. I took photos of the wagon and the horses.
Our wagon ride was at 10:15 A.M.
The wagon ride carried us past a log cabin, which was Jackson's first home. After he built his new home, he gave the cabin to his slaves to live in.

A log Cabin was the first home of the Jacksons. 

The cabin was a two-story building, but it was later converted into a one-story building because slaves could not live in a two-story building. We went further onto the grounds to visit the slave homes and spring, and to see other historic markers. 

Waiting to take the wagon ride

the wagon ride

We met several people on the wagon ride: a couple from Ohio, several from Alabama, and several Alabama fans who ragged the Ohio Couple about their ballplayers. 

The Hermitage was preparing for an upcoming wedding in the building next to the spring.
Several buildings have been added to the Jackson plantation that were not part of the original plantation; they are used for school training, weddings, and other functions.

We walked to the Mansion, where we had to wait in line to go inside.

We were given a tour of the home along with several other people, which took about 20 to 30 minutes. 

We walked back to the gift shop, where I bought several postcards, and we finished the Museum.

There was a long line of people waiting to enter the Museum, and they were told that once inside, they would have to wait in line again to tour the Mansion. 

The tour took us three hours, but it did not seem that long.

We left the Mansion and took I-40 toward Knoxville, Tennessee, to Pigeon Forge. We have a room at The Inn at Christmas. Our check-in time is 4 P.M.

We were warmly greeted at The Inn at Christmas, then we took our luggage to room 213.
We decided to ride around town to see the sights, and one of my husband's friends said we should eat at Huck Finn's Restaurant.
So we stopped there for dinner, where I ordered the special: all-you-can-eat white beans, hush puppies, onion, potatoes, and slaw, with iced tea. My husband ordered the Catfish plate, and I ate a piece of the fish. It was perfect.  

 Huck Finn's Restaurant

We rode through Gatlinburg, then over the mountains. We stopped alongside the road so I could take pictures of the timeless mountains.
Darkness and fog had fallen on the mountaintop. It was getting hard to see where we were going,  so we headed back down the mountain.
We rode to Sevierville to Auto Zone to purchase a blinker bulb.
We rode back to The Christmas Inn for Santa's reading, but it was too late — 9:00 P.M. We did not get back until 10:00 P.M.

Inn at Christmas 

Inn at Christmas 

My husband's back was hurting from all the driving, so we went downstairs to the swimming pool, where he changed into his swimsuit. I had already put mine on and had slipped my cover-up over it. 

The hot tub was full, so my husband went outside. I slipped in and stayed for about 10 minutes. 

I went outside where my husband was sitting, watching the kids slide down the waterslide. 

I jumped into the swimming pool and swam across to the other side several times. The water was nice; it was neither too cold nor too hot. We went back inside, my husband slipped into the hot tub, and I got in the regular pool. 

We changed clothes in the restrooms and went back upstairs.

I download my pictures and upload them to the Internet. My husband was tired, so he went to sleep. I went to bed at about 12 P.M. 

Day 2: Sunday, September 26, 2010

The next morning, we dressed and went down to the first floor, where breakfast was being served. My husband ate scrambled eggs, ham, sausage, gravy, and biscuits. I ate waffles with heated syrup and orange juice.
It was raining outside, so we went to Walmart to purchase a couple of raincoats or ponchos to wear at  Dollywood when it opens at 10 A.M.

My husband picked out a blue raincoat, and I picked a yellow raincoat. 

yellow raincoat

blue raincoat

My husband parked the car in Dollywood's parking lot. We then rode the trolley over to Dollywoo, where we were let out at the gift shop.
Everyone went through the gates at 9:30 A.M., but nothing opened up until 10 A.M.

We rode the simulator of one of Dollywood's creations.
Our next stop was to watch the Kingdom Heirs perform.
We had front-row seats.
One band member asked us several questions. He said Where are you from?

Kingdom Heirs 

Is this your first time seeing the Show? In addition, he asks many other questions.

We raised our hands for the first time to see the Show, and he asked where we were from, and we replied," Alabama". 

He had asked earlier who the Alabama fans were. 

This was our second time at Dollywood, and we had never seen the Kingdom Heirs perform. 

He said we are always there, and why had you not seen our Show? 

Somehow, we had always missed their Show.

He picked at us for a few minutes and then went on to pick at another guest. After the Show, we walked around until the time for the next Show, which was SHA-KON-HEY —an outstanding show. 

 SHA-KON-HEY

I took several pictures while the Show was going on. The blue smoke, the actors singing, flying, and bouncing off the walls. They were in the treetops, flying over the audience and dancing on the stage. It was an excellent performance. After the Show, we stopped at Apple Jacks Restaurant for lunch, where I ordered a bread chili bowl with Coke.
My husband ordered a sandwich. I couldn't finish my chili bowl, so I gave it to my husband. While he finished eating, I walked over to Dolly's family reunion show, where my husband later joined me.
We walked around the park, looking at areas we had not seen.
After we rode the train,n we walked to the back of the park to see the new optical course. We stopped along the way back to take pictures of the tombstones with funny sayings.

It was getting late, and we were both tired from walking and wet from the drizzle, so we decided to call it a day.
On our way out, we stopped at the Spotlight Bakery to get a piece of Carrot Cake. 

Dollywood Coffin 

Dollywood Coffin 

We ate dinner at Long JohnSilver's., I ordered lobster tails with iced tea, and my husband ordered a meal.
We also shared a slice of carrot cake.
Back at the Inn, I took a hot shower, dressed for the night, and uploaded my pictures to the computer. When I finished, I crawled into my warm bed and fell asleep. 

Day 3: Monday, September 27, 2010

The next morning, we slept later than usual because we were both tired from all the traveling and walking from the day before.

We ate breakfast, but I did not get a waffle because the dining room was full of older people. They had brought in a couple of buses of older people for some kind of convention. 

After breakfast, we went back to the room and finished watching the movie Death Becomes Her. 

We checked out of the hotel and rode to Chattanooga. We stopped at Wendy's for lunch, then went to the River and Saltwater Aquarium, where we spent several hours.
It was a home-school day at the aquarium. 

Tennessee Aquarium

Tennessee Aquarium

Tennessee Aquarium

We rode to the Bridge Street Mall in Huntsville to make a purchase at Victoria's Secret.
I had a coupon for eight pairs of panties for $25.00, but I got five for $25.

We stopped at Zaxby's in Athens, where I ordered three chicken fingers with a salad.
My husband ordered hot wings, chicken fingers, and fries. 

It was very late when we arrived home.
I uploaded a few pictures and went to bed.
Another great adventure!
What will my next adventure be?
Will I go to Orlando or the mountains?

2002 November 7-12 Trip to Washington DC with my Grandson Jake

2002 ~ November 7-12 Washington, DC

I rode a bus to Washington, DC, on the weekend of Veterans' Day with a group of gifted kids from the Lauderdale County school system. 
All the kids, parents, and grandparents had to meet at the Board of Education in Florence, Alabama, at 4:30 P.M., when we loaded onto a tour bus.  

Day 1: Thursday, November 7, 2002  

We left Florence, Alabama, on Highway 72, heading to Huntsville, Alabama. 60 miles

565- Huntsville, we took I-565 East 2.4 miles to 72 East for 37.7 miles, 

35 South merges onto Veterans Drive for 2.1 miles toward Fort Payne, 

35 South turns right onto Al-35 South for 23.4 miles.

59 North – merge onto I-59 via the ramp on the left toward Chattanooga for 41.9 miles

24 East –merge onto I-24 toward Chattanooga for 17.4 miles.

75 North- merge onto I-75 North via exit 185 B on the left toward Knoxville, Tennessee. 

40 East- take I-40 east toward Knoxville, TN.

81 North – merge onto I-81 North via exit 421 on the left toward Bristol, crossing into Virginia.

66 East- merge onto I-66 East via exit 300 toward Fort Royal, Washington, crossing into Virginia. 

We traveled all night on the bus, and most of the kids slept. We swapped drivers sometime during the night because drivers cannot drive nonstop for twelve hours.

Day 2: Friday, November 8, 2002

We arrived early the following day, and our first stop was the Arlington National Cemetery. 
We watched the changing of the guards.
Arlington National Cemetery

Changing of the guards at Arlington Cemetery 

We saw all the graves of the unknown soldiers, the eternal flame of President Kennedy, his wife Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and his brother Robert Kennedy.
We saw the memorial for the seven crew members who lost their lives when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded.
On January 28, 1986, Challenger disintegrated just 73 seconds after blasting off, killing  Francis "Dick" Scobee, Ronald McNair, Mike Smith, Ellison Onizuka, Judy Resnik, Greg Jarvis, and Connecticut teacher Christa McAuliffe. 

Francis "Dick" Scobee, Ronald McNair, Mike Smith, Ellison Onizuka, Judy Resnik, Greg Jarvis, and Connecticut teacher Christa McAuliffe

Also inside Arlington National Cemetery is the Arlington House, formerly the Custis-Lee Mansion. It was the former home of one of the most famous Southern generals, Robert E. Lee.
Arlington House, The Custis Lee Mansion

Arlington National Cemetery is on a 500-acre site on the East side of the Potomac River. 

We saw the Pentagon on the West side of the Potomac River.
Pentagon

Pentagon, on the West side of the Potomac River

Arlington National Cemetery 

 Smithsonian National Castle  

We visited the Washington National Cathedral Church at 3101 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, DC. This Gothic Cathedral features dramatic architecture, soaring vaults, magnificent stained-glass sculptures, carvings, gargoyles, peaceful gardens, and daily worship. 
The Cathedral is the sixth largest in the world, offering magnificent views of DC, Maryland, and Virginia. It is 57 acres long. 
Washington National Cathedral

Washington's National Cathedral  

Jake is in front of the Washington National Cathedral 

We went to the National Zoological Park located at 3001 Connecticut Avenue NW. It has 1000 exotic animals, including the Panda Bear. 
Smithsonian National Zoological Park

When we arrived, the zoo was closing fast, but I did get to see the two new Panda Bears before they closed.

Day 3: Saturday, November 9, 2002

We walked along the White House gates and stood in line for over an hour to get tickets to enter the Capitol Building. 
US Capitol Tours

Tickets are free and are on a first-come, first-served basis. 
Distribution began at nine, and we arrived at about 7:30 A.M. 

The US Capitol Building with our school group 

Ticket to see the Washington Capitol

We came back later that day for a 45-minute guided tour.
Inside the Capitol building were statues that represented every state of the Union. 
General Joseph Wheeler from Pond Springs, Alabama, was the statue that represented Alabama.

There were paintings on the walls and ceiling. 

The constitution of our country was on display in the Capitol building. 

The Washington National Capitol building is located at 3101 Wisconsin Avenue NW, DC.

The white House is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, DC. 

To visit the White House with a party of ten or more, a request must be made through a member of Congress at least 6 months in advance. 

We went to the Ronald Reagan building for lunch. 

Ronald Reagan Building

We used the restroom in the US Botanical Gardens.
The United States Botanic Gardens
We visited the Smithsonian History Museum.

The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum is on 6th Street and Independence Avenue SW. 
Inside the National Air and Space Museum are many icons, such as the original Wright Flyer, the Spirit of St. Louis, SpaceShipOne, the Apollo II Command Module, and a touchable Luna rock. 

Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

We saw the Jefferson Memorial, a 19-foot statue of our third president. 
Jefferson Memorial

We saw the FDR Memorial, which has four outdoor "galley rooms" featuring ten bronze sculptures depicting the life and times of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and his beloved dog, "Fala."

National Park Service

We saw the Korean War Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the World War II Memorial, and the Washington Monument, all in West Potomac Park.

Ticket Washington Monument

Day 4: Sunday, November 10, 2002

We went to Mount Vernon (Washington's home in Virginia), 16 miles South of DC.
George Washington's Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon 

Ticket to visit Mt Vernon

We ate lunch at Fashion Center at Pentagon City, home to 100 shops.
Fashion Center at Pentagon City

We also visited the House where Lincoln, our sixteenth president, died. 

We shopped in some gift shops on the same street where Lincoln died. 

We rode the elevator up to the Lincoln Memorial, but I had a sick stomach, so I had to rush back down to find a restroom.
Lincoln Memorial District of Columbia
We saw FDR's memorial and his wife, Eleanor Roosevelt.

 FDR Memorial

We saw the Gettysburg address, where Lincoln was sitting; he was the size of a two-story building. 

Gettysburg Address

We could see across the Potomac River to the White House. 

We ate lunch at McDonald's. 
We saw Fort Knox, where they make money. 

We saw where the terrorists had destroyed the building in DC, and it is being restored. 

The Pentagon was repaired after 911

We saw dinosaur bones in the Smithsonian National History Museum. 

That weekend, they were having a memorial and were reading the names written on the Vietnam Wall. 

My stomach stayed torn up the entire weekend, and I think I used every room in DC. 

We ate breakfast every morning at our hotel. 

Four were in a room, and the parent or grandparent had to sleep with the child. 

We ate lunch and dinner at several different places in Washington, DC.

Day 5: Monday, November 11, 2002

We started our trip back, and my stomach hurt when we got on the bus. 
I was having hot flashes, and I felt the urge to throw up.
I told my grandson to get me a Walmart bag to barf in.
He brought me one, but it had a hole in the bottom. Needless to say, my barf went in one side of the bag and out the other, spilling all over the bus floor.

It smelled awful, so the bus driver found a place to stop, and everyone got out so he could clean the bus.
Everyone went inside the store where we stopped, and I went to the restroom, barfed, and pooped again.

Someone gave me some medicine for motion sickness and a sick stomach. 

I slept until we stopped at a mall in Knoxville, Tennessee, for supper.

My stomach had settled down, so I went shopping at the Disney store, where I bought my granddaughter a Lelo stuffed animal. 

I also bought the movie Snow Dogs, which everyone on the bus watched on the way home.
I went back to sleep and slept the rest of the way home.
A fun trip, but no one will forget the time I barfed on the bus on our return trip home.