Day 34 - Thursday, July 22 - Dollywood

After bkfst in room called Mrs. Nash (PB Lakes attendance office) again to get Ginny Donnelly’s phone number. Ginny was secretary at Lakes for 30 years – ages 50-80! Now 89, still volunteering at Lakes a few days per week.

She has home in Pigeon Forge where she lives with daughter and son-in-law. She and daughter visit Dollywood almost daily b/c of love for great gospel quartet, the Kingdom Heirs. She’s known them forever. For some reason, Ginny’s daughter was NOT going to Dollywood that day and Ginny was happy for us to pick her up.

Hard to believe after all these years that I really ended up visiting her in North Carolina.

Got back-road directions to Dollywood. Silver Anniversary year. Free parking (Ginny has annual pass), and 20% off admissions and all purchases (Ginny’s pass).

Again, no ceramic souvenir tiles for Renate’s son, Peter!

Of course we saw the Kingdom Heirs. With Dollywood since inception. www.kingdomheirs.com

Crazy bass. LOW G’s! Includes 3-piece band. The drummer, Dennis’ parents are now Ginny’s neighbor. He did personable, funny warm-up, often conversing with audience. Besides him, piano player, and bass, they use some pre-recorded instruments. My favorite song – “He’s not there”. Also “He is risen”.

Dollywood is on a hillside. Has water and roller-coaster rides as expected. (I photoed one behind trees!)

But more user-activity. I especially enjoyed Adventure Mountain. Fastened with safety harness to overhead Zipline, you walk ropes, cling to mountain sides, wooden planks over 15 foot + drops. I managed (on 2^nd try) to walk 20 feet of zig-zag aerial planks without holding anything. Scary stuff. Recently opened.

Other unusual “rides”: River Wars. People on boats have water cannon. Their friends and family around the pool do also! Need I say more?

Also the Lumberjack ride. People sitting on swing-like plank pull selves up and release rope to ease down.

After taking Ginny home, Renate and I stopped at big, touristy looking “Carino’s Italian”. It was good and prices okay. I had the special, blackened grouper. Renate’s unhappy stomach steered her to a choose a simple pasta dish.

Home by 8:00.