Our quaint little motel was soon a hotbed of activity. A group of church teenagers from Elizabethton, Tennessee, checked in. Actually, we didn’t see much of them, other than the small group that was playing guitar and singing when we got back around ten.
The breakfast room was a little crowded by the time we left, but there was plenty of coffee and bear-imprinted waffle batter to go around.
Our next excursion was planned especially with Luke and AnnaGrace in mind. Dollywood. But to get there, the two youngsters got to experience a ride of a different kind. Trolley. We got an all-day pass from a parking lot about two minutes from the motel. AnnaGrace in particular was ecstatic that there would be “no hours in the car today.” Woohoo!
The boys and Josh started off the Dollywood experience with a roller coaster. But this was no ordinary coaster ride. It was the Tennessee Tornado, and Luke’s first one that went upside down. He was terrified. But he loved it and even rode a second time.
My first foray into a coaster since my back and neck surgeries came on one that seemed tame enough. Looked to be similar to the old Six Flags Runaway Mine Train. And all was well until … it wasn’t.
At one point the track went pitch black and suddenly the car lurched forward into a dip. Yep. I felt that one beginning at mid-back (last surgery site) and working its way up into my neck and down into my messed up lower back. Ouch. The rest of the ride I was able to engage my core, so it didn’t happen again. But I did agree to some Tylenol and a ban on further roller coaster excursions.
About 11:30 or so we came across a place that makes cinnamon bread fresh. Yep. None of us could pass that up. We got two loaves and devoured them both between the seven of us. That was truly a win.
The train ride seemed tame enough. Until … Jesse James’ gang tried to hijack the train, ringing it to an abrupt stop. But the coal guy leapt from the train and expertly locked the door on their escape, so they had to disappear by another route. The train was saved through the quick thinking of the crew in locking the gate, and the patience of the passengers to sit still and wait.
We joined in on the carrousel ride with AnnaGrace and Christi. The boys went on to greater things - the massive wooden roller coaster covering the side of a mountain. The two girls then did a car ride, and Chris took pictures. I sat in the shade, then inside in the AC and let it happen.
At lunch we met a fascinating little lady named Mary. She was a big fan of Dolly Parton and has been coming to Dollywood for years. Sounded like she would be the one to know if we ever came back.
Burgers and turkey wraps later, Josh and Caleb took off to experience some wild insane ride. The rest of us headed to a theater to watch a stunt dog show in the AC. No contest for this guy. Woof! Woof! The guys made it to the theater in time for the show, too, so we were all together once again.
Next on the agenda was the water section of the park. Chris nixed my participation in the first one. Too much like a roller coaster. She approved the other one, though. Of course. It was one of those runaway raft things where there is no way to avoid a good soaking. We had the three kids with us, and we all got plenty wet. AnnaGrace thought it was a real hoot that we were drenched. Of course, so was she.
From there Josh and the kids sped off to catch a return ride on a coaster. Me, Chris and Christi went grocery shopping. Well, sort of. We went back for more cinnamon bread. Christi added a big tub of popcorn to her list. Great supper fare, right?
Josh and the kids squoze one more coaster ride in, then we watched the big drone/fireworks finale show. Best I’ve ever seen. Back to the motel to collapse in bed. This old guy is just not used to walking 7 plus miles in one day.
Romans 10:13 says, For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Father, thank you for a fun day for the kiddos. Be with us on our trek north this morning. Amen.
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