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This was a busy weekend. Right now, my body feels like it has walked a thousand miles, but I’m sure it’s closer to ten or fifteen. On Saturday, we ventured into the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. There is a short driving trail, with walking trails along the way. I led the expedition, and the first thing I did as we entered into the park was to go the wrong way on a one-way road. We were able to get ourselves turned around and headed to the beginning of the trail.

When we got into the park, we drove the winding path up into the mountain. We stopped for photographs along the way (I swear I will post them soon). Then we found our first walking trail &em; we headed to the Grotto Falls. I lost Chris along the way, as her asthma started acting up too much for her to go any farther. It was a good feeling to reach the top, knowing that I had hit the end of the trail and had some time to take some scenic photographs before turning around. When I returned to the parked cars with the others, we took a break for sandwiches and headed through the remainder of the driving trail.

On Sunday, we went to Dollywood. It was hot, humid, and tiring, but mostly enjoyable. Chris was able to convince me to go on a stupid spinning ride. That wasn’t a big deal, so then I got on the next ride with everyone else. This ride was the Mystery Mine. I saw it from the other ride, and it didn’t look too bad. When I started up the stairs I saw two vertical drops, one of them a sudden 0° to 90° drop, and started freaking out.

We got to the top of the line (none of the roller coasters appeared to start at ground level), and the anxiety was building up to the point I was feeling queasy just standing there. It didn’t help that I was already tired, hungry and thirsty. I got in the car and thought about the impending doom that awaited me. Right after you get strapped in and they release the car, there is a sudden drop. Then you’re brought through a dark tunnel.

There was a light at the end of the tunnel, then I saw it. There was a vertical section of track with a chain to pull us up. The car was situated into place and all of a sudden we were looking straight up into the sky. The ride paused there just long enough for me to once again think about the vertical drops that I knew were ahead of me. Then the car started moving, and then I realized that the track wasn’t straight up and down, it was actually angled a little further than 90° up, which meant gravity was not only pulling us back into our seats, but up out of our seats as well.

That was not a good feeling at all. The ride continued, including the vertical drops I had seen while waiting in line, as well as another vertical ascension with a slight upside down component. The ride ends with an upside down track that goes into another vertical drop and then your right side up, and then there is one last negative-G section before your brought back to where the madness started.

For the rest of the day, I managed to avoid most of the thrill rides, but Chris got me up on a water ride. It wasn’t so bad, after getting wet on the way to the upward section of track, until we got to the top of the ride and I saw the descent. The boat crept forward slowly, and then it started to pitch forward. Just as I thought the boat had finished its change of direction, it pitched forward again just enough to make my stomach feel like it was going to leave my body through my mouth. Then we hit the water below and it was all over. I ended up the most wet in the boat, when I started wanting to stay the most dry.

Overall, I had a good time at Dollywood, despite my dislike of rollercoasters. There is still plenty to do if you don’t want to ride, including watching the horrified look on the bird trainers’ faces as birds escape from the bird show. We plan on heading back to the park again tomorrow, but this time we’ll be going to the water park. That should be fun, and I should be able to avoid any thrill rides there.

Today, Chris and I ventured out on our own to Clingmans Dome. It is the highest point in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park, and the second highest point in the eastern United States. It was a great drive up the mountain through winding roads with scenic photography spots along the way. When we reached the top, I was determined to walk the half mile up the mountain. Chris’s asthma was getting to her again, but today I wanted to make sure she made it.

By pacing ourselves and taking frequent short breaks, we made it to the top. That’s when I saw the spiral concrete walkway bridge up to the viewing point. I was a little leary of walking up to the observation tower, but I figured that I just hiked all the way up here, I might as well go to the top. When we got up there, the view was refreshing. We could see for miles in all directions, and then some fog and clouds rolled in to cut our visibility down for a short time. We waited it out and got another clear view of the Smokeys before starting our descent.

Today was a great day, but I am still sore from all of the walking this weekend. I am hoping to get some relaxation done tomorrow at the water park. Then it is Emily’s and my time to make dinner. We’re still looking at pizza night, and then we’ll have to figure out dessert. Hopefully we find something tasty.