A Day Off in Big Creek

This was our last day in Newport, Tennessee and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park region.  We took the day off and visited Big Creek.  No, wait, it was a work day too.  We first stopped in Hartford, Tennessee to pick up our mail and to ship two copies of Big Creek, one to  Ranger Tim and one to friend Stacey Kelly.  I think I forgot to sign them before I sealed the envelopes. Next, we drove to the Big Creek Country Store, just outside the Big Creek entrance to the park.

Big Creek Country Store

Kelly was not in the store so the woman at the register called her to ask if she wanted more copies of Big Creek.  Yes, she only had two left and wanted ten more.  She also had an envelope with money for the first ten copies in the office.  Big Creek is displayed prominently at the cash register.

I told Andy I was going back out to the car to get my camera to take a picture of the store for the blog.  The woman said I needed a picture of myself with the book too.  I chose to have that taken inside; it is such a cute little store.

Dinata Holding Book in Big Creek Country Store

We drove up the Big Creek road without encountering any oncoming cars.  The potholes had grown a bit since June. The maintenance department was holding their safety meeting in the group campsite.  When Spence saw me with my camera, he struck a pose.

 

Robert Spence

The place was full of park maintenance vehicles and then we saw a Ranger truck pull in.  It was Heath.  Spence said Heath smelled the pizza the maintenance people were eating all the way from Gatlinburg.

We visiting the campground hosts Clyde and Deborah.  They were gracious to finish out our month of June in Big Creek while we went to visit grandchildren.  The four of us had a great several hours of swapping campground stories.  Spence stopped in at the end of the day and followed us home.  He helped us load the car onto the tow dolly. I took this picture of him just as the sun was setting behind the trees. He was laughing and joking with Andy.

Spence in the Sunset