25 miles via I-40 and TN 66. Cumulative distance: 1,350 miles.
GTW Hop 10: Knoxville TN to Pigeon Forge TN
As economy rooms go, the one we had at the EconoLodge in Knoxville, next to the RV repair shop, wasn’t bad. It was spacious with fairly comfortable beds and a decent shower. It was quiet and offered both free breakfast and (this is unique in my experience) free dinner. True, the dinner was inedible, but at least it was offered. And, considering that the hotel had a large number of canine guests, it was surprisingly quiet.
But if I had to spend another day there and watch more ID crime shows or play more hearts on the computer, I think I would have slit my wrists. Fortunately I did not have to make that decision as the repair shop released Patience at noon. The body work was not done (they said I would have to leave it for at least five days to get the body work done – not bloody likely), but the slides are all working again and the spare is back where it belongs.
Total cost: $275.
So we hitched up and took the short jaunt down to Pigeon Forge. Jett held her breath the whole way, expecting one of the new tires to blow. I think we are both a little shell-shocked, but Jett more so than me. In any case, nothing bad happened: a ding-free day! And no trouble leveling when we unhitched either. All the slides deployed without a problem.
Life is good again.
Except for the weather. The high temperature today: 52. Cold and wet. And very soggy. The campground site was essentially under water, but only an inch or so. Ducks came to play in our puddles while we were setting up. I’m not kidding.
Welcoming ducks
The sun will come out tomorrow. And we will do Dollywood.