The Battle of Blackbearry Ridge

As noted before, the war on kudzu at Blackbearry Ridge has been in full force for nearly two (2) years.  This weekend at Blackbearry Ridge was the scene of a major battle that has shifted the outcome to our favor.  We were unaware that kudzu cells had spread their evil vines into the base of Blackbearry Ridge.  While the battle lines had clearly been draw on the ground and a front establish, the kudzu had become airborne.

This weekend at the Battle of Blackbearry Ridge, we attacked the kudzu aerial assault and inflected major damage on the enemy.  With a chain saw and heavy artillery (the jeep) two (2) trees that had been harboring the kudzu and providing a base for their aerial attacks were taken down with precision strikes.  After taking down the trees the kudzu was brought down to the ground level where it was quickly neutralized with a lethal agent to kudzu but environmentally friendly to animals and the allied forces.

We have clearly stopped the advance this weekend but we are not allowing ourselves to become complaisant but instead vow to continue the attack and bring the battle to the kudzu root.  Our largest problem is the neighboring property which appears to be kudzu sympathizers.  This had forced us to make numerous covert strikes on the property to weaken the kudzu stronghold.  No collateral damage has been witnessed by these covert missions, but after witnessing the battle firsthand and forced to retreat, the kudzu leader has retreated his forces but all signs indicate the fight for the kudzu's claim to Blackbearry Ridge will continue.

A cable was attached to the second kudzu base.

While the cable is attached to the base, forces move in to make precision cuts and  weaken the base.

The kudzu air force is brought to the ground.

The pile of kudzu wreckage combine with the trees.

Allied ground forces quickly move in to destroy any remaining kudzu.

The ground assault continues as the kudzu is destroyed.

The heavy artillery is called to the ridge in case of another attack. 

The kudzu leader surveys the damage and ponders his next move.

In retreat, the kudzu leader crosses the new battle lines that were formed.

Happy 3rd Annivesary

How quickly time goes by as today Renee and Greg  celebrate their third anniversary today.  No grand children yet but we do have a grand dog.

This was taken at their apartment  in Evansville on June 16, 2012

Vanilla? I Hate Vanilla!

After taking last weekend off and heading up to Indiana to see Renee and Greg, we were back this past weekend at Blackbearry Ridge.  Not any work was done on the inside besides some more spring cleaning but we did attack the weeds and approaching kudzu outside.  Yes our neighbors have allowed kudzu in their front yard so, Brent wanders over and sprays the kudzu to keep it from entering our yard.  So far we have been very successful but we did spot some in a dead tree by our parking area.  This next weekend that tree will be taken down and the war on kudzu will continue.

Jennifer and Jessica worked during the day on Saturday, so we all headed back down in the evening to walk the streets and get some supper.  After a debate, we decided to eat a Johnny Rockets which has opened on the parkway within the last six months.  The hamburgers were great and we will definitively go back.

Because of all the changes happening to down town Gatlinburg, Brent has become has started taking some pictures of the buildings in case they are suddenly removed.  The title of this post as meaning only to a few in our family but the pictures below will explain.

Just entering the park outside of Cherokee, NC we spotted a domesticated female elk (notice the collar) in the field outside of Oconoluftee.

The sun was setting as we passed through the park.  This is  picture was taken after passing by Newfound Gap and heading down towards Sugarland.

Eating at Johnny Rockets.

When Rebecca was young, the World of Illusion had a Genie in a bottle display in the window on the sidewalk.  There was a video image of girl dressed as a Genie that was projected into a large glass bottle.  There also was a speaker and microphone which allowed the actress to talk with people at the large window.  Rebecca after viewing the Genie began to cry after the Genie asked her "To get me out of here."  The Genie display is gone, but we still think about that every time we pass the building.

Now for the rest of the story.  This is the scene of the crime where Brent yelled at an unsuspecting server, "Vanilla?  I hate Vanilla!"  At least 30 years ago and before children, while staying in Gatlinburg, Brent, JoLynn, Kathy and Len decided to head to town around 9:00 pm for ice cream.  Brent was in the mood for butter pecan so we headed to Baskin Robbins.  As soon as we drove up and parked, the lights turned off and they closed.  So we tried a few other establishments only to find the stores had closed.  Then Karmelkorn was spotted and we stopped and parked out front.  After being informed that the only flavor available was vanilla, Brent uttered the famous slogan.  We think about that every time we walk by and laugh and utter the phase, "Vanilla?....." which has now been adopted by the next generation.

Bear in Downtown Gatlinburg and Chalet

We arrived Friday afternoon in Gatlinburg with a dozen park ranger and police cars parked around the base of Ski Mountain Road near the entrance to the Park.  Some of the rangers had rifles while others were patrolling the side of the road.  Jennifer informed us later that afternoon that a bear had been in downtown Gatlinburg in an alley near her  place of work "The Tin Roof".

UPDATE:  We learned later in the week that a 44 year old woman had been assaulted and stabbed on the Gatlinburg Trail within thirty minutes of our passing the area.  That explains the presence of all the law enforcement vehicles and personnel.

On Saturday evening, JoLynn, Brent and Jennifer (she had worked from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm), went down to Gatlinburg to stroll the town and see Jessica at "Ranger Bobs".  We did see a few bears in the shops but none wandering the streets.

As mentioned last week there are lots of changes taking place in Gatlinburg.  The Midtown Lodge across from Ripley's has been in Gatlinburg for years and has an small observation tower, which to me, has been an icon. I can remember before the Space Needle, that you could insert a dime into the turn style, and then climb the spiral staircase up to the observation deck, which was just higher than Ripleys and The Rebel Corner.

The Midtown Lodge and Traders Village has been under demolition since the first of the year, but seeing the observation tower laying on the ground was a shock.  Hopefully it will be salvaged and displayed somewhere prominent on the parkway.

Later, in the evening after arriving back at the Chalet, we discovered a bear climbing a post inside the house.  It appears this little bear cub followed us home from Ranger Bobs.

This bear cub was spotted inside the Chalet.

He has not moved.

He appears to be friendly but we will not feed him.

The Midtown Lodge in Gatlinburg, TN closed on January 1, 2012.

The observation tower  of the Midtown Lodge in Gatlinburg, TN on the ground.

Progress is great and needed but we hope this observation tower icon is salvaged and re installed on the parkway in Gatlinburg.

The remains of the Midtown Lodge.   The Gatlinburg Inn and Sky Lift  are in the background.

Another view of the demolition of the former Midtown Lodge.

Across from the Midtown Lodge in the 1970's to early 80's.  On the night of July 14, 1992, the entire city block burned to the ground, due to faulty wiring in a light fixture. The Ripley's Believe It or Not! museum was consumed by the fire, along with an arcade, haunted house, and souvenir shop. The blaze was fortunately stopped before it could consume the adjacent 32-story Gatlinburg Space Needle. The block, known to locals as "Rebel Corner", was completely rebuilt and reopened to visitors in 1995. 

A view of the Rebel Corner from the Midtown Lodge observation deck.  You can see the structure for the space needle and a view up Airport Road.  The Rebel Corner was destroyed by the 1992 fire.

The Rebel Corner prior to the Space Needle(  late 1960's early 1970's).  The Midtown Lodge would have been to the left (out of frame) across the parkway from the Rebel Corner.  The car to the left is turning onto Airport Road.

Honey-Do-List

This weekend consisted mainly of a "Honey-Do-List" of cleaning, reorganizing and finishing a few items on our construction check list.  All the iron balusters upstairs have been cemented and the green tape removed.  Brent will get out the chain saw next weekend and take down a few dead trees.  We still need to install the permanent stair handrail, install the balusters on the side of the stairs, install pull down stairs to the attic and sheet rock the hall upstairs and downstairs before the stairwell is considered complete.

The weather was great this weekend as the high struggled to get out of the sixties and we were tempted to start a fire.

All the balusters are in place and the tape removed.  Also, a new electrical receptacle with a wall mounted night light was installed in the post.

Changes continue in Gatlinburg.  This is where the "Burning Bush" Restaurant once stood.  It was located at the corner of  Ski Mountain Road and the Parkway, the last commercial building before heading into the Great Smoky Mountains Park.

A view of the Burning Bush Restaurant that is now a parking lot.  Do you remember the  glass enclosure with all the birds?