Yesterday The Walsh's came over to say hello and their children and Lee's had great fun in the pool.

Then Lee drove us to Westport, a small town near the river. Very warm and humid day, but a nice drive, the car is cool! We walked through the town towards the river.

The girls, Patty, Rebecca and Kate went for a 'quick look' in a clothes shop. Here are Mark and Lee patiently waiting to go to lunch!

We had lunch at a Mexican restaurant called Bartaco. It was by the water, but busy, so we ate inside.

The family stood by the river on the way back to the car.

Not long after we got home the car came to collect me to take me to the airport. The traffic was bad, and I had been meaning to take a picture of a plant/weed that is smothering all the trees over there. I tried to take a few, this one is the least blurred, I will look it up one day!

Arrived in York this afternoon, a trouble free flight and train ride, and Tina and Darren met me at York. Took me to the shop to get some supplies on the way home as off with Isobel tomorrow. My neck is quite swollen, but not bothering me too much providing I keep taking the pills. Tina cancelled a couple of hospital appointments for this week that came when I was away, I will try and get an appointment at the docs in the morning, but don't go holding your breath! Won't be in bed late, didn't sleep that much on the plane.

Just a short post today, I have to pack and get ready for the trip home. We went to Mamma Rosa's for a meal yesterday evening, which was l lovely last dinner together. I am going to add a couple of the top of the mountain photos that Rebecca sent to me yesterday.

It really was amazing to see the clouds lifting away. Then a couple of the dinner shots as I have a camera again now!

Next post back in Blighty!!

The family went out on errands, leaving me to my restful, lazy day! When they came back they came running in with an 'early Christmas present', a camera no less! Now charged up and the first pics of Mark who has kept me company and entertained this afternoon while the two of us were out by the pool.

Plus one of him landing in the water (Lee was checking something behind) and a shot of the pool.

Now I will put in a couple of shots of when we were up in the clouds that Patty sent me. These were when they were beginning to lift.

We are off out for dinner this evening and I may even where the dress!

I think I have worked out how to transfer photos the family have sent me, I will try a couple from the Aquarium and see how it goes!

Hey, can work things out occasionally! I am having a quiet day,  slept late and have been reading and relaxing. Enjoying the book that Patty recommended to me. I will try some more picture transferring a bit later.

Will make a brief entry but we haven't been in long and I feel shattered! This morning we all got packed up and then went into Gatlingburg for breakfast. Then back to the hotel to finish off the packing and then leave all the luggage there for a while and took the trolley down to the town again to visit the Aquarium. We had about an hour there and saw some great sharks and rays, and sea dragons which I particularly liked. We were fascinated by the African penguins, living in a warm climate, it showed them clambering over sand castles and between the holiday makers on the beach. One of them seemed to have two babies as well, I am sure they usually only lay one egg as if is difficult enough to bring them up in the ice and snow. We then walked back up into the town and caught a trolley for the last time back to the hotel. We had been told that bears are active in the area and hungry, so not to leave food in the cars or lying about. Patty and I really hoped we would at least see one, but sadly we didn't. The rest of the family were not so keen. The nearest we came was seeing a pile of bear poop on the way to Grotto Falls!
We drove to Pigeon Fort to find a place to have lunch, we passed so many that it was difficult to make a choice, we ended up at an Outback Steakhouse. I really don't learn, I ordered a salad as the servings are so big here and it was enormous! I obviously should have ordered the side salad which would probably be about the size of a salad serving in England. We then had a fun 'off road' experience with Mark directing us to a petrol station before we got to the airport. When we found it there were just tow pumps and it was self service (unusual over here) and they were like 70's pumps! Lee even had to leave his credit card inside while he filled up. that was a fun experience to end the trip.
The plane was on time and the journey good, we got this end on time and the traffic wasn't too bad which rounded things off nicely. It has been a brilliant trip despite itchy rashes, dodgy knees and ankles, breathlessness, and now I think I have a swollen gland in my neck which is pretty painful! But as I say, it was absolutely great, once in a lifetime for me I should think, and my decrepit state didn't spoil things too much for the family.

A very busy and hot day, well exhausting for me but not everyone else! We had breakfast in the hotel and the headed off to the mountain to do the walk/trail to Grotto Falls. Supposed to be 1.4 miles each way, but I have my doubts about that. It was pretty much all uphill, stony, uneven and massive tree roots to negotiate! I had a really bad breathless spell not long into it but we took it steady and I called a rest when I needed it and we all made it to the top. I will have photos I hope, at some point, probably won't be sending them until I get home though and even then not until I am back from Cayton Bay with Isobel. It was beautiful, and now I have recovered it was worth it too! The we hit the arts and crafts trail, it is groups of local artists and craftsmen who have shops spread out along an 8 mile trail. Some great, locally made stuff, different to the usual holiday memories. I think Rebecca took a couple of shots of shops for me. From there we went to mini golf, which Kate had been itching to do. It was an 18 hole course and a lot of fun, Rebecca was queen of the putters! When we got back I was really tired and not that hungry so said I wouldn't go out again. This was over-ridden and I did go out to dinner - so much for being the oldest, as I just get ignored!! Anyway, as it happens they were right, we went to Dick's Last Resort, a place the like of which I am never likely to go to again. The staff tell you they will be rude and you should be the same, we all got bibs round our necks and a hat with something different written by the staff for each of us! The food was pretty good, and it really was a lot of fun. I did catch the trolley back to the hotel before the family, they went for ice cream, but I had done more than enough exercise for one day. Have much more to put in the case going home that I had to come!

Today has been both brilliant and bad! I will get to the bad bit later, although you may guess what it has to do with as you read on. This morning we headed into the town for breakfast at Crockett's Breakfast Camp, they sure have a large variety of breakfast here with pancakes and waffles high on the menu. We then headed up into the Smokey Mountains and drove round one of the National Park routes, we were going to do a reasonably short trek to a waterfall but could find nowhere to park, obviously a very popular destination. We stopped at a little art and craft place and managed to get a map of the touring routes of the mountain. After checking it out Lee said he would drive up up to Clingman's Dome which is 6643 ft high. A breathtaking drive up really good, if rather bendy roads, with pretty sheer drops. The views on the way up were fantastic but when we reached the top we, and the mountains were shrouded in the clouds. Then the sun started to come through and the clouds began to lift and the view appear, the most magical thing I have ever seen. At this point I will apologize for no pictures of the event, will explain in a bit.
After that fabulous trip we set of for Foxfire Mountain where we were booked in for a two hour zip line experience. We started on a short practice run then they got longer and higher, we did seven zips in all. Kate did really well, a gutsy little girl, and we all had fun. Now comes the bad bit of the day. My trousers have very deep pockets so I decided to take my camera (Now you will guess the rest) I didn't even take it out until the last two lines, took a could of pictures of the others setting off. On the last line I put the camera, I thought, in my pocket, but sadly had obviously tucked it inside the leg support strap! Patty saw it fall! The guides were lovely and went off to try and find it, but they were unsuccessful. Such a pity that I have got the pictures of the mountain top, I had even taken a video of the clouds lifting! Ah well, it is done now. The family will send me pictures but I won't be able to transfer them until I am home.
This evening we caught the trolley into town and went to Pedlers Steak House where we have a very nice meal.

Dollywood day today! We set off early and had breakfast at IHOP famous for it's pancakes. Then off we went for an exciting day out. Checking the map when we arrived.

We spent the first couple of hours finding the roller coasters and rides, I didn't go on the roller coasters as I am not keen on them, but the children had great fun. They were pretty big rides.

I did go on the water rides and we all got thoroughly wet! We went to see Dolly's Tennessee Mountain Home, a faithful replica of the two roomed shack where her and her 10 brothers and sisters lived with their parents.

We passed some vintage cars on the way to the Dollywood Museum.

The museum was great, took lots of pics, I will choose two or three.

That first one was a really clever  hologram of Dolly welcoming you to the museum. We also went on the tour bus, which was pretty fantastic, she travels with just a friend from her school days and her driver. We also went to a show which was mainly members of her family and a screen of Dolly which was well lined up with what was going on with the live musicians.From there we went to the Dixie Stampede, A dinner show with brilliant horse riders and fun entertainment. A long and tiring day, but great.

I didn't manage to get on line yesterday, but seem to have solved that problem, at least for a while, so will write about the journey and our first evening, then maybe do another post about to day if I have the time and energy, it has been a long busy day. We set off yesterday morning to La Guardia airport (not sure that is the correct spelling, so apologies if not!) We were there in good time and had lunch then boarded our plane. We were transported to it in a bus.

We collected a hire car at Knoxville when we arrived and it was a great journey, with interesting towns and lovely scenery, especially when the smokey mountains came into view. The hotel is up high in Gatlingburg and is tall and round so that all rooms have great views.

Our rooms are on the 14th floor, one from the top. The view when we arrived there was stunning.

The lifts are amazing!

Also the view from the balcony.

We caught the trolley down into the town and had dinner there at The Smokey Mountain Brewery. We had a walk around the town, very colourful  and so many places to eat!

I liked this building, it looks like you can get a ride to the top in a lift, maybe we will try that. When it was dark we went on the Sky Lift, but the photos weren't great!

Lee heard that the white water rafting and zip lining had been cancelled as they have had a drought. Lee is going to try and at least find somewhere else for zip lining.

I managed to sleep fairly well and then went in for a swim this morning. I was tempted to stay in the pool with my face in the water all day, as I didn't itch while I was in there! Patty went to s spin class and had bought me some itch spray to try on her way home. When I first used it the rash throbbed a bit, but then the itching settled right down I may look like I have the plague, but not so aware of it now! Went out with Lee in his second vintage sports car. It was great!

After lunch we headed off for quite a long drive to the Hudson Walkway. A fairly new development using what was a railway bridge I believe. Very hot again today, but I decided against the scarf and Rebecca hunted out a big sunhat for me. Great views from the bridge. But we stood by the map first.

Then the views after a bit of a walk.

We walked back and then had a drive a bit across country to visit an ice cream parlour that Patty's cousins have opened this summer. It was in a town called Peekskill.

Had a short walk to the river there, a beautiful place.

Another good day, everybody getting ready this evening for our Dollywood adventure.

A beautiful day today, think I said that I had a swim then had a restful morning. We had lunch and then Pat (Patty's mum) came over to join us on a trip into the city. Lee drove us in and we got the car parked up, then made our way to the High Line, a fairly new raised walkway crossing some of the city. It was very busy today and very hot but it is a nice flat walk. This picture of the family with Pat on the walk.

The cranes as we passed were large and made an interesting skyline.

The children are all getting so grown up now, a lovely family.

You may wonder why I had the scarf round my neck on a hot day, albeit a light one, but I have had a rash appearing on my neck for a while now and was trying to protect it from the sun. This was not successful, but more about that later! From there we got into cabs and headed off to Central Park, Here are Pat and I at Columbus Circle just after we arrived.

We walked around some of the park, but the play areas and large rocks to climb were irrisistable to Kate and Mark! Here they are looking down at me after they had found a water area to play in.

All three of them and Lee decided to climb a very large rocky area and very pleased with themselves when they reached the summit!

We passed a very cute little fairground which looked even more cute with the skyscrapers behind.

When Patty used to work in the city she was in the one that looks like a wedding cake and could see the park. From there another cab ride to the restaurant where we were having a meal. Mark has become interested in a cooking program on tv, and wants to learn to cook. This place is owned by Guy Fieri, who presents the show, so Mark was very keen to go there. It is Guy's American Diner, good food and plenty of it. After that we began our walk beck to the car park. Saw this gorgeous Mounted Police horse as we made our way.

We had to wait a bit for the car, and when we were in we were in horrendous traffic for about 45 minutes. Lee did brilliantly, the drivers in New York are very aggressive! Gave me a chance to take the city at night though!

A really lovely afternoon and evening and my legs and breathlessness were not a problem. The only downside for me was that the rash is spreading and was incredibly itchy, so it was all I could do to refrain from scratching. Patty has given me some cream to try, it helped a bit, but still pretty itchy.