Nashville East KOA Campground
Nashville, Tennessee
Tuesday, April 21, 2009, 7:45 Central Daylight Time

A mix of sun and clouds, temperature 56F

The picture is a beautiful dogwood tree in full bloom on the Tennessee end of the road that crosses Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This was at a lower elevation, so some of the other trees have started to leaf.

After leaving the park, we decided to press on West. But to do so, we had to pass through Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, both tourist traps of the first order. We never saw so many fast food stands, "amusement parks," and motels in so small a space. Dolly Parton is apparently very big around here. Truly tacky, or as Dolly says, "it takes a lot of money to look this cheap!"

We are now camped just east of Nashville, near a kind of country music Mecca--Opryland. Spare me.