Saturday-Monday, April 16-18

Saturday – It was a beautiful cloudless day with low 70’s.     We left the campground around 10, stopped at Starbucks and arrived at the McGhee Tyson Airport for the Smoky Mountain Air Show……what a big day with tons of people, Michael and family with their friends, Philip, Annette and Luke with their friends and the Blue Angel family!  

 The Clydesdale horses were there and after checking them out, they announced the 4 air force jets would be circling overhead as a lady sang the national anthem.    WOW...it was 11:00 and official start of the air show.    The 4 jets circled round and round with a Navy Seal parachute flying within the circle holding the American flag!   Very proud, awesome moment!

Our kids had pictures taken with the Blues after the show and then back to the hotel to shower and change (we “borrowed”  one of Michael’s rooms)!

Had dinner and drinks in the courtyard of the Hilton – it was a perfect evening sitting near a fire under a pergola and just enjoyed all the visiting as the kids played nearby.    There were 16 of us!   Here are a few pics from today... 

 

Mark, Michael, Luke, Philip and Pat

Luke hanging out with big cousin, Brady

Little Angel looking up to Big Angel

The Blues and Michael, Brooke, Drew, Davis, Brady and Blair 

The Blues with Philip, Annette and Luke

Our mini Blue Angel all tuckered out after the big day!

Sunday – Wow…..gotta love this Tennessee weather!    We were up early and with a quick stop at McDonalds for breakfast, we were off to Farragut and 8:30 Mass at St. John Neumann Church  What a beautiful church which was dedicated in 2008 but designed and built to look like an older church.   

 St. John Neumann

Navy Seal parachute and flag landing after national anthem

 

We arrived at the Caney Creek RV Resort and got Daisy settled next to the Wests and Goodmons’ RV’s.  We rode with Bill and Charmaine and off to meet Bill and Nancy,  Vince and Sandy for a fabulous day of boating on Watts Bar Lake.  (61 square miles).   Bill and Nancy have a pontoon, we all brought goodies for lunch and the day could  not have been more perfect.    Well, 1 thing I did mention - it would’ve been the ”icing on the cake” if the Blues had done a flyover !!!    HA!

Said our good byes to Vince and Sandy around 4 – they were driving back to their home in Fairfield Glade.  

Vince and Sandy

 

 Rest of us drove to the Caney Creek Campground and sat outdoors with our wine and rehashed the air show, friends from the past and so much reminiscing from the mid 80’s when we all met thru boating.    And we made a plan to meet next April or May here at Caney Creek for a week’s vacation.   Hope we can all make this happen as this is just a beautiful campground with tons of trees and great view of Caney Creek.  We said good bye to Bill and Charmaine as they are leaving early tomorrow for their home in Linville, NC.   

Bill, Charmaine and "Ty"

  Mark and I walked around the park - nice walking path and then back to Daisy.  We are really tired nomads after 3 big days in the sun and today on the water but it’s a very “happy” tired!

The Blues flyover over Knoxville late yesterday afternoon en route to Pensacola
35 minute trip!

Monday – Beautiful day…..getting “high” on this weather and all the spectacular beauty of spring!     We said good bye to Bill and Nancy who are returning home to Fairfield Glade.  

Nancy and Bill

 We pulled out with Daisy and Toad and left Caney Creek at 9:30. 

Drove thru Tennessee, a tiny bit of Georgia and Alabama today.    Tonight we are settled at Sunset RV Park in Cottondale, AL (near Tuscaloosa).  
Walked to Cracker Barrel for supper.

One more little tidbit...

When we were traveling to Knoxville on Thursday, we went thru Chestnut Hill, TN and past the headquarters of the Bush Bean Company!    Would’ve been fun to stop at their visitor center and check out about some of our favorite beans, but....maybe another time! 

 Tomorrow we are off to Vicksburg, Mississippi!