I have talked quite a bit about our little trip to Gatlinburg in December with good friends, Judy and Charlie. Today I will share some more pictures from this trip. We truly had a wonderful time together. The four of us share a love of nature and traveling. This little getaway gave us some time just to be together and enjoy each other for awhile.
Judy and I either are emailing each other ALOT ---or texting each other. We came into Gatlinburg on one end of town and Judy and Charlie came in from the other direction. We were texting each other at that time. This sign is what I saw once we got to town!!!!! Most people have visited Gatlinburg --if you live in this general area. My parents even brought me here MANY MOONS ago --when the 'Burg was a small mountain town. Today, that area has grown like crazy --and many, many tourists visit here during the summer, fall, and on holidays.
Hope you enjoy the photos. Be sure to click on them for enlargements.
This picture was taken in downtown Gatlinburg --as we headed toward our motel (Rocky Waters).
Here is the restaurant where the four of us ate dinner that night... This is the Park Grille --and we recommend it.. I especially recommend the grilled salmon... YUM.
This is a great photo of our special friends, Judy and Charlie. This was taken at the restaurant. Judy and Charlie are such an inspiration to George and me.. These two love to camp and hike. They are such great hikers that they hike up to Mt. Le Conte EVERY year. They also have hiked ALL the way down into the Grand Canyon. I just wish I had a half of their energy!!!!
Recently, while visiting their son and family in Phoenix, they got to go back to the Grand Canyon in addition to several other national parks. These two collect national park stamps like we collect waterfalls.
Here is a picture of the four friends ---which George took with his tripod.. Can you see how tiny Judy is??? Her hubby laughs and says that if she gets shorter, he'll have to get a child's seat for her in the car!!!!! ha ha
And finally, George took this picture of two very special friends. Neither Judy nor I have any sisters... SO--we are like sisters... We can fight like sisters (and we do)---but we also can love like sisters... Hope you have a special friend in your life like I do...
Judy and I both have tons of friends ---thanks be to God... But--it's great to have that one person whom you can say ANYTHING to, that you may not say to others... Even though we can disagree, there's a special respect there which is not always the case in relationships.
Thanks, Judy and Charlie, for a great great trip and for your friendship!!!!!
Hugs,
Betsy
71 comments:
That little town sure is picturesque! Is it just my imagination, or it is COLD??
Or maybe my brain's just fried from the heat of midsummer downunder ...
Thanks for sharing your photos of a special friendship and time together. Such friendships are precious.
Hi Betsy, you are indeed blessed to have such a close friendship with Judy.
Good friends, fun times in Gatlinburg are priceless.
Hugs,
Pam
I haven't been through Gatlinburg in many, many years, so your photos allow me to see how it is now. (which is nothing like I remember it)
Judy is a tiny little thing!
It looks a lovely mountain town. How good is that having a get away with bestest friends. You all look so at ease with each other too. Friends are like flowers they brighten your day.
wow, that little town is really magical!
good friendships are hard to find and worth the effort.
great post!
hugs
My favorite is the sweet picture of you and Judy!
A fun trip with a couple of good friends and your sweetie. Nope, life doesn't get much better than that does it? You always seem to have a good time no matter what you do Betsy. That's one of the things I love about you the most. Big hugs!
xo Catherine
Looks like a lovely place. It is so hard to find true friends, you and George are blessed.
How fun that you have similar friends to vacation with. We have only done that once, but it was a lot of fun!
Hi Betsy, I've just been to George's falls, now I'm here. You are very lucky to have found a friend who is like a sister, even if she looks younger because she is shorter, haha! About the photos i love the quality of the 3rd photo, love that light!
It was wonderful seeing you with your very special friends, thank you Betsy. Great to get to go on vacation with them. I was in Gatlinburg several years ago with Gregg and thought it was a neat town.
Friends are jewels! How nice that you could all spend time together in such a gorgeous place.
Best,
Bonnie
What would we do without friends. I enjoyed seeing your pictures, Betsy. Sounds like you had a wonderful time.
Awwww,what special memories. Friends are worth their weight in gold,and more.
Looks like a very enjoyable trip!!
Looks like a special trip with special friends. Knowing you're not too tall, my first thought was her height when I saw the four of you. My short wife has always said she isn't short as her feet reach clear to the ground.
Special friendships are such a blessing! So glad for the four of you to be able to enjoy each other and the hobbies that you share. That doesn't happen too often. Seems like in many relationships there's one who doesn't want to do what the other three would like to do, lol!!
What a lovely town! Have a great day!
gatlinburg is really a quaint and beautiful place to visit and even better with true friends. i have a best friend in GA that has been my friend for 53 years and we can and do say anything to each other. i would love to spend a few days in a place like this with her.
When life throws you that little blessing, it's wonderful.
Since I only have lived on the east and west coasts, I have never been to the interior. Lots to see, I imagine. How wonderful to have such a great friend like Judy. Blessings!
Best friends are a blessing and I am lucky enough to have both a best friend AND a sister! (o:
what an awesome foursome! and duo!
Hi Betsy, Gatlinburg will always bring back special memories for us so seeing these pics has given me huge smiles about our trips. Then huge smiles because the four of you look so perfect together. I can certainly see you could spend days just talking about each others trips, hikes, travels. How wonderful. Do avid hikers have a "look"? The four of you look great and just fit together perfectly, even lovely tiny Judy. Blessings.
Great pictures Betsy, and this looks like a wonderful place to visit and be with friends....Wow, you do have some active friends there...I sure wish I had learned to hike and was in shape to do so....Friends make life interesting and good...Glad you all had a fabulous time.
hugs...
The picture of downtown Gatlinburg looks like a ski resort! Is it? Gorgeous pictures and your friends look like great people!
Looks like you really enjoyed yourselves. Nothing like great friends friend.
Hi Betsy,I have a twin sister,and we are also best friends.Don't know what I would do without her. My husband and I took a trip to the mountains in november,I love the smokys,and enjoyed your pics. Blessings Jane
What a darling picture of the two of you. You both married redwoods.
I have only good memories about Gatlinburg. Nice to see some familiar sights.
Betsy, before I read the last paragraph, I was thinking you had found your soul sister...love seeing you two together!
What a pretty town and what a delightful story about four friends. Yes, although one has many friends, it's a real blessing to have that someone special. Have a great day, Betsy. (((Hugs))) Jo
Friends like that are a blessing. Always love to see Gatlinburg pics. Makes me miss it even more.Planning on going late summer/early fall after the wedding.
We also love eating at the Park Grill!!
Lovely photos Betsy of ya'll having a good time. I like the ambiance of the restaurant at night. Friendship like that doesn't come around often so hang onto it. I miss having a friend like that.
I LOVE the picture of you and Judy, and the four of you!! Downtown looks just like our downtown, especially the way the mountains are. Except for that one cool red building on the left with the nifty roof configuration, I love that and would like to see what's in it. Yum to the salmon, you're making me want some.
Betsy, this is such a beautiful tribute to your very special friendship...brought a few tears...Have a beautiful day!!!!
Good friends are the best there is! What a great time the four of you must have had! Wonderful! Thanks for sharing the fun, Betsy!
Sylvia
Looks like a great town to visit. Ken and I will have to get out there one day.
Judy is a tiny little thing! : )
It is good to have that one special friend. Mine is Bernice. We've been friends our whole lives. Our parents knew each other.
I'm glad you had a great time Betsy! Looks like everyone had a great time visiting together too!
Hugs,
Angela
Precious pictures of treasured time with friends.
Friends are indeed some of God's greatest gifts. I enjoyed meeting some of yours through this post.
That town looks so charming and very inviting. Wonderful that you had the chance to spend some time with good friends
The town looks magical.....
The pictures of you two are truly heartwarming!
I love these photos Betsy....you can see the love and admiration in your smiles. Friends are so wonderful...we should collect them like we collect waterfalls. But then again, there is a LOT of waterfalls to see!
You are sure right...friends do make the world go round!
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
It's one of the most beautiful areas of Tennessee! So different than it was the first time I saw it at the age of five. At six, I went to the first grade in school in Seveirville. Two brothers-in-law have condos there, so we go back occassionaly. We try to time it when the traffic is not so heavy these days. Beautiful pictures, Betsy and it's great that you have friends like Charlie and Judy!
Bob and I visited Gatlinburg one time. I would love to return one day for another visit. It is such a pretty town. Great picture of the four of you!
You are indeed blessed to have a great friendship. It is a very rare. I've never been to Gatlinburg. Shame on me, it's such a beautiful place!
It is wonderful to have a special friend, and especially to have friends that can enjoy a trip with you and George as couples.
The town looks very festive!
What a great friendship you have. That's so sweet. Child's seat! That's funny! Diane
Looks like you enjoyed your friends and Gatlinburg is a beautiful place to visit at Christmas with all their decorations and lights.
We got your rain and storms today,whew!! Luckily here at my house we had no damage but lots of other folks around were not so lucky.It thundered so you know we'll have snow within 10 days.
Blessings
Marilyn
So nice to have friend like them...love seeing Gatlinburg again...many years since I saw it
Hi Betsy, What a fun-looking trip that was. I have been to Gatlinburg once and that was last Summer. It was totally crowded but we had a great time. We took the shuttle from the visitor's center so no parking trouble. I like the place and will return but in a time other than Summer. Have a great day tomorrow - it may snow.
It has been so long since I have been in Gatlinburg that I don't even recognize anything in the street photo. There is nothing better than having a close friend to share experiences and life in general. I love that shot of you and Judy.
You are blessed indeed.
I have never been to Gatlinburg--can't quite convince Mike to go (he's been there and disliked the crowds and commercialism).
I would still like to see it.
Lovely photos--the love shines through.
Great friends plus a great trip who could want for anything more? Salmon for dinner a good choice but more importantly was it wild salmon? Yum yum. :)
A friendship to be treasured indeed!
Lovely shots.
Hi Betsy! In response to your question: yes my name is Tami - I chose My Kid's Mom as the name on my blog because I truly believe that my children are the most important thing I have ever or ever will contribute to this world!
Best friends... can't beat that.
Friends are indeed a treasure one can never buy, but only enjoy the wealth they have to offer.
You have described a very special friend indeed. Friends like this are rare, and they are real treasures.
I love this place. I want to go there. If I ever make it, I'll say Betsy sent me.
thank heavens for friends. they are family without the bloodline :)
i hope my hubby and i could explore when we get to retire.
National Park stamps and your stamp of approval? I think I love them!
Wonderful tribute and great post. My best friend in all the world died when she and I were 47...I will miss her forever.
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
...lovely post, Betsy! What a wonderful tribute to your best girl friend!! :-) Where are you going next? :-)
How long and where did you meet Judy? I am so glad that you have a go to gal like that. And Gatlinburg is such a wonderful place - we used to go every November and have Thanksgiving there. Sandie
Hi Betsy, I'm posting here because I can't get the new "reply" button to work - it will be nice if they get it working. In answer to your question - I will soon have my Masters in Computer Science. You can read all the details here (http://www.emptynestinil.blogspot.com/2011/09/background.html) if you'd like.
I love your pictures, Betsy, of you and Judy and of the four of you! It is one of life's greatest pleasures to have a good friend. Sounds like you all have a lot in common, too, with the traveling and hiking. Fun!
Have a good weekend!
I would know that Gatlinburg street anywhere! :)
That grille always looked inviting to us but we never managed to go in.
It sounds like all of you had a very special time together.
I too envy them their hiking ability. I wish I had done that years ago and conditioned myself. The Smokies are a wonderful place for hiking.
I was just thinking when I opened your blog that you picked the perfect title. You are always so joyful and it shows in the pics George takes. You're a wonderful inspiration to show us how to live my Dear Betsy.
aawwww....how fun! love the photos!
I've been to Gatlinburg a few times. Actually our destination was the Smokys. My husband and I took Spring Break trips there with our kids 3 years in a row. But we've been there a few other times as well.
I believe we enter on the side of town near Rocky Waters.
glad you had such a wonderful time with your friends.
This is a precious, sweet post. I am soooo glad I went back and played "catch-up" so I could read it. Friends enjoying each other's company in a fun place - - - one of the best Christmas presents ever!
There is nothing like a great friend/sister! Lucky you having such a sweet friend! The two of you look wonderful together! The men are precious too! Love the shots you shared! Hugs Anne
Post a Comment