Trip North - Smoky Mtns - Foothills Parkway

April 16, 2019

I was asking the Park Ranger in the office if the scenic loop road out of Gatlinburg was any good.  She said it wasn't open yet and suggested the Foothills Parkway at Townsend.  They had just opened the last section and not many people have heard of it yet. 

 It is connected by a series of 9 bridges, the longest which spans 800 feet and follows a curvilinear path around the mountain terrain.  It is comprised of 98 precast concrete sections lowered into place by a large, specially built gantry crane and tensioned together in a cantilevered construction. 

We get through the Park and on to the road to Townsend

 We get to the Parkway

 It is very green as the trees have all leafed out

 We come to our first curve that looks like there will be views coming up.

They're coming!

and they are spectacular

  This is part of that 800' bridge

 You look over the Smoky Mountains on this drive. 

Gary catching the view.  The Pink Jeep in the background was doing a photo shoot.  Pink Jeep tours is out of Sedona, AZ and is opening a division in the Smokys this week. 

 Here is a better view of the bridge.

 The Pink Jeep guy offered to take our picture.

 and we continue on

 This section of the Parkway is 32 miles we are just doing the newest section of about 16 miles.

 Here is a view of the road from below.

We decide to stop for dinner in Townsend before driving back to the Park.  Someone had recommended the Abbey - a Cafe/Craft Beer place in an old church - but it was closed today.  We headed here from the recommendation of a woman at the KOA store.

We even got live entertainment.  He was very good -
played fiddle, guitar and ukulele.

We both had the the 6 oz handcut sirloin steak and added the Rainbow Trout to make it a Surf and Turf.  Delish!

Another great day.