Monday - October 13

 Happiness is arriving at our destination and that happened today at 3:30 and another long day behind us.    We left Whispering Hills at 8:40 and a few stops including lunch (McDonalds) in Rocky Top, TN.

We had brilliant sunshine all day and enjoyed some fall color driving in Tennessee.   Shortly after we left, we had a glitch again of merging 4 lanes down to 1 around Lexington.   What a mess.   WAZE rerouted us and we got off I-75 and went 8 miles out of the way but drove thru a residential area, pretty horse farms and beautiful large homes.   Heavy traffic around Knoxville and then 30 miles from Oconee, TN on winding roads with the Oconee (Lake/River) on our right and beautiful trees and high cliffs to the left.   A bit hairy but very picturesque.   This  is a huge recreational area and the water was beside us for a long time.

We plan to spend 2 nights here at the Blue Ridge/Toccoa River KOA where we spent April 15-16, 2021.   It is such a cute little town,

We drove downtown (2+ miles away) to the Whiskey and Water; Seafood and Bourbon restaurant.    Trip Advisor gave it high marks and it was excellent - Mark had the stuffed flounder and I had scallops!    We drove around town a bit and on back to KOA.

My delicious scallops 

Luke, the rappeler at Sitting Bear overlooking Linville Gorge

So much beauty

So last night on family zoom, Mark's brother Jim was telling us that before Lydia had her spinal fusion surgery last Friday, the anesthesiologist came in to talk along with another guy who was a nerve specialist.    His job is to monitor on a screen what the Dr. is doing and guide him if he's getting too close to nerves.   WOW.....where was this guy when I had my shoulder replacement that resulted in nerve damage to my right hand which is no better.   Obviously, too late for me, but going to talk to my hand specialist, Dr. Collins on the 30th.

Very interesting!    Makes ya wonder how often nerve damage occurs during surgery???

Lots of RV's on the road - most are going south, but several heading north???