Columbia Gorgeous location for a chain! I had no idea. I did some quick research just now and discovered that the original restaurant was in Tampa, started in 1905. Now there are four other Columbia restaurants, including this St. Augustine location which started in 1983. Also there are two additional smaller Columbia cafes, one of which is in the Tampa Airport!
2020-2022 Yes. It has been fascinating to witness the evolving attitudes here in America over these two plus years. I can't wait until I am able to get back abroad to see how other countries are faring these days.
Winter Perseverance! Certainly looks like your winter perseverance yielded good experiences and a variety of interesting sights. Too bad your GPS died, but glad using your own navigation sense and the signs worked out. Seems using a good old paper map is a lost skill these days, LOL).
In state travel Yes it turned out well. Travelling somewhere new, near or far, always is an illuminating experience. I actually looked around my car for a map, but all I could find was one from North Carolina. I did not win the preparation award that day.
The only thing to fear is fear itself. I recently read who said "The only thing to fear is fear itself" or something similar and vowed to remember who it was. But alas, t'was during bedtime reading so it has been washed away in my dreams no doubt. Did you find out why the hotel was so empty? From your blog I can sense a few clues or maybes.
Charlottesville FDR said the quote back in 1933 as he strove to guide America out of the Great Depression. I think the reason the hotel was so empty, never asked, was because back in October 2020 there weren't many people on the road. And when they were they were traveling they tended to go to natural places like the Great Smokies instead of cities like Charlottesville.
General Nathaniel Greene How great is that Tommy?...standing before a statue of an esteemed ancestor and saluting him as you do. Truly inspiring you could do that.
The Cherokee Having been brought up with Westerns on Black & White TV, the Red Indian Nations of North America fascinated me. My favourite was Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce which I believe was part of the Cherokee Nation. The Cherokee often featured in the Westerns and I always hoped they'd one day win. Thanks for introducing that it there is a town or village named Cherokee. Did memories of Chief Joseph per chance feature there?
Cherokee Cowboys and Indians was still big on the elementary playground when I was growing up. My dad loved all those old westerns too. Although, I am pretty sure that Chief Joseph was from way out in the far western states.
Cherokee I grew up in Ohio. My mother was from South Carolina so every summer we went to visit. In the 60's and 70's Cherokee wasn't much more than a gas station, pancake restaurant and a large gift shop with a black bear in a cage outside. That winding road out of Cherokee was wicked. It was two lanes for years.... winding 28 miles downhill. I was always car sick and would throw up at the bottom of the mountain. Mom always stopped at the fresh spring fountain at the road side stop. Ah, memories of childhood. MJ
Cherokee Yeah, the GPS said scenic route so I took it. It was definitely more challenging than I had anticipated. Especially, when a local in a hurry would speed up right up to my fender. Most of the time though I had the road to myself. Didn't see the black bear in the cage though. ;)
In want of a sunny day I bet! Funnily enough, when I visited Corcavado in Rio it was the same thing, shrouded in clouds. Makes for a good bit of atmoshere though.
Gatlinburg I've been going to Gatlinburg since the 1960's and it has changed a great deal since that time. It used to be a sleepy little village with a couple of hotels, pancake houses and putt putt golf courses. People went to admire the river and have a quiet weekend. All of that has changed. COVID has changed all travel and it will never go back.
Changes For a first time visitor, Gatlinburg definitely felt like that. A sleepy village in the mountains that just exploded in terms of visitors and associated attractions. Things change. Life changes. Travel changes. Hopefully, sometimes even for the better. The way that things are today will not be the way they are tomorrow. Nothing is ever static.
seventeen-years-old car I had my previous car for 17 years...never missed a beat except rear shocks went and then duco smashed sitting under a gum tree during an Americas trip confirmed her doom. May Baron von Zoom take you to many more destinations. sounds like the perfect beast for your sojourn in the Smoky Mountains, Tommy.
Old cars For sure. I plan on keeping the Baron on the road until the wheels fall off or maybe gets smashed under a gum tree. Although, I didn't trust it enough to drive down to Florida and back in February 2021. Gave it a break and rented a car for that one.
I am 41 years old. I am currently living in New York and enjoying my life as a semi-retired teacher. Although I spend a most of my time in domestic tranquility it is my aim to take one major solo trip each year. My three most recent journeys are a pilgrimage through the Holy Land, a crazy month in Cambodia, and a return to India. Life is one gloriously unpredictable mess. My travels have taken me to many different places and I hope to experience and venture out to many more.
I have filled in many of the gaps between my 2000 graduation up until today. Well apart from the five years living in... full info
D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley
Columbia Restaurant
For a chain restaurant this one still has good food. We love the black bean soup.