Gluttony in Gatlinburg

Getting to Gatlinburg was more complicated than it needed to be. Gaudy as it us, we painted the town red. I’m grateful for the guy who got us out. 

An Unnecessary Hitch

We arrived at Newfound Gap, the approximate halfway point through Great Smoky Mountain National Park on Sunday, April 27. We needed to get to a town to resupply and decided to take Kaleidoscope to the mecca of Gatlinburg. As we stood by the road at Newfound Gap, we dreamed of our next town meal.

We were waiting for the 10am shuttle to arrive and wisk us away to Gatlinburg. As we waited for the shuttle, we received a message from a friend already in town. They told us that the free shuttle only runs on certain days, Sunday, wasn’t one of them. Oh no! We were thrown for a loop for a minute. How were we getting to Gatlinburg? Now was the perfect opportunity to try our hand, or rather, thumb at hitchhiking. Ladybug went up to one of the knee height cement pole barriers by the road, stood up nice and tall on it then confidently stuck out her thumb. I joined her.

Feeling silly but desperate, we stood there. Kaleidoscope then started walking around the parking area asking for rides, I joined her. Ladybug had luck flagging down a ride but gave it to two of our male hiker friends since she felt females would have an easier time getting a ride. I thought she had gotten another hitch when a white van rolled up and Ladybug called us over. To my surprise, it turned out to be the shuttle we had planned to take from the get go! Our friend was misinformed and our attempts to hitch hike were unnecessary. I wonder when I’ll get an actual hitch on trail… 

Food City 

Ladybug, Kaleidoscope and I were dropped off at the outdoor center then walked down the road to Taco Trail. They have a free thru hiker burrito bowls! We were delighted to find Squid, a fellow thru hiker, at the restaurant. We sat down with him out on the outdoor patio, a place where our thru hiker stink wouldn’t be as much a bother.

After gorging ourselves on burrito bowls, the ladies and I went to hop on the free town trolley. I saw the trolley we needed just leaving the station as we were on our way towards it. I ran out into the road towards it, flagging it down. Luckily the Trolley driver opted to stop and open the door for us rather than run us over. We went to Food City to for more food to get us through the rest of the Smokies.

I was craving veggies on the trail so I picked up a large bag of spinach. It came in handy in my Knorr sides, Mac & Cheese and my first ever ramen bomb. A ramen bomb is when ramen and instant mash potatoes are made together. I forgot to add the ramen spice pack to the mixture though so not sure if it counted as a true bomb…but it was a cuisine experience nonetheless. 

Gourmandize

Overindulgence is Gatlinburg’s specialty. I had my sights set on cider. The last time I’ve been to this tourist trap I went to the Tennessee Stud Cidery. I got summer time in a bottle, the peach ginger hard cider. I couldn’t wait to have another taste. I dragged the ladies there, we had free samples. I seriously considered taking a bottle of my favorite cider on the trail with me but it being in a glass bottle and with having no way to keep it cool, I thought better of the idea.

Sugarland Distillery came next. Ladybug, a true southern and myself, a transplant one, couldn’t let our northerner friend, Kaleidoscope go without ever tasting moonshine. We joined a moonshine tasting. We were ushered to a round table with other guests and given tiny cominion cups which were then filled with all manner of moonshine flavors and proofs. The man in the middle gave an engaging performance and got us all involved in the sampling.

We went to Smith & Son resturant for much needed substance. I got 5 sides as my dinner, one side too many it turned out. Not being able to finish that last side didn’t stop me from getting dessert. Walking back towards our hotel, I spied a Ben & Jerry’s. My sweet tooth got the better of me. I ate a good sized ice cream cone and proceeded to have a stomach ache. Worth it! 

Thanks be to James

Monday morning came which sadly meant leaving our paradise of food and drink. As we left the Bear Creek Inn, where we stayed, we ogled at evidence of actual bears. A truck bed had been ravaged. A tub lid had been pried in half and food crumbs and wrappers were strewn across the parking lot.

As we continued to look back on our way up the road, a man packing his own truck called out to us. He asked if we were hikers and needed a ride. We found out his name was James and he seemed a nice sort of fellow. Being 3 against one, if anything was to happen, we decided to take him up on his offer for a ride.

We ended up getting breakfast with James at the Pancake Pantry, which he raved about. It lived up to the hype. We had the most scrumptious pancakes and pleasant conversation with James before he drove us all the way back to Newfound Gap. With full stomachs, we got back on the trail right where we left off.