Our Stay at Hyatt Place Downtown Knoxville and Meeting Blogger Friend

 After having that marvelous view of Chimney Tops in Tennessee we ended our day at the Hyatt Place Knoxville, Downtown.

We had booked us 3 free nights for points.

So that felt great!

No rush, just relaxing after that full day of driving 6.5 hours with lots of traffic lights on Highway 441 North.

I also made up my mind for NOT going back that same route of 493 km or 306 miles.

The final stretch was fine, on the Interstate and that went a lot faster!

Hyatt Place Knoxville, Downtown as we saw it when coming back from our walk to Market Square.

That was just across from the hotel and a nice stroll.

Here we just left to walk to the Market Square, only one street further—in front of our hotel.

We both were admiring the beautiful autumn colors!

Immediately I spotted this giant Schnauzer—identical to Jaeger, the dog from dear friends.

Later Mary Louise said it was HIM—even to the detail of his right floppy ear!

Pieter took another picture the next day where you also see the information about the artist.

Created by TRAVIS EMMEN in STEEL WIRE and for $ 36,500

A true metalwork artist and you can find this piece in his portfolio: travisemmen

Pieter near such a golden tree with already a carpet down on the ground.

Still at Market Square.

Now looking from across the road onto Historic Market Square.

We both enjoyed an early supper at the friendly Tupelo Honey at 1 Market Sq and selected their excellent 

Chicken Tortilla Soup

shredded chicken, black beans, jalapeños, shredded cheddar cheese, cilantro and lime topped with tortilla strips.

That looked for both of us the healthiest in regard to our diet restrictions.

Pieter took this photo near the elevators at the Hyatt Place.

After he'd walked across to the Market Square for taking some more pictures...

With one day in–between without any driving, we now were ready to visit sweet blogger friend Carole from the blog Ramblingon ←click it. Just as we did on April 3, 2019 (see 2nd link below this post.

Also Katie Isabella ←click it.

Sweet Katie Isabella is seen in above photo in front of Pieter's feet and stretching out to my shoes.

Katie actually wrote about it: WHAT a JOY! ←click it.

It was almost seven weeks, since Carole lost her eldest son to a long and brave battle with cancer...

Just like in 2019, when we continued on to Ohio near Lake Erie for visiting another blog related friend Patricia and husband Roland, who'd lost their eldest daughter due to surgery complications.

You can read that in the link below, about walking through Knoxville. Needed a short break in–between the long journey of 3,198 km or 1,987 miles then.

Also this time it felt good to visit and I've gifted Carole one of my hand crocheted handkerchiefs for wiping away any tears.

It was a meaningful trip all together with fond memories!

Next day around 8:15 I drove back with my Pieter and we made a break in Atlanta for our usual shopping rounds at Costco, Trader Joe's and Whole Foods Market.

Home by 16:15 and meeting with our happy kitties that had been cared for by our cat–sitter.

Then off to choir practice—singing.

Related links:

After 34 Years Back to Cherokee, NC and Chimney Tops Overlook in Gatlinburg, TN | part I of this trip

Taking Husband Pieter back to Knoxville, TN in Mom & Dad's Footsteps | previous post by me

Walking Through Knoxville, Tennessee | previous post by me

{My Lace Crocheted Handkerchief #2} | previous post by me

{1890 Longest Pedestrian Bridge in the World + Men's Best Friend} | previous post with other dog statue

After 34 Years Back to Cherokee, NC and Chimney Tops Overlook in Gatlinburg, TN

 Long before the Internet or GPS, on July 16 of 1988 we both went to Cherokee, North Carolina and Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

Just to show my Pieter the breathtaking views I'd seen when taking Mom & Dad up there in 1987.

Campbell Soup forced us to move within a couple of months—so we took our CHANCE.

Picture taken from Pieter on July 16, 1988 near Gatlinburg, along highway 441...

BUT back then there was no location indicated on our photos or slides.

AND there were hardly any signs at the locations...

But, I did find this old postcard on the Internet with the mention of Chimney Tops Overlook near Gatlinburg, Tennessee!

Complete with the huge rocks we were standing on...

We at that time did NOT know about Chimney Tops and it was rather hazy when we visited as you see from our photos.

But now we knew where we were heading towards and on Sunday morning, October 30 around 9:15 AM we started our journey up north—hoping for nice autumn colors as well.

A Rest Stop at Sanders Knob, North Carolina.

It looked rather cloudy but in the end it would turn out to be a perfect day.

We even started out with drizzle rain in the morning...

Once we'd crossed the state line from Georgia, going into North Carolina it was so beautiful.

I'd passed this old Water Mill and I turend quickly to come back for making a photo.

This was in Cherokee, North Carolina alongside the Oconaluftee River.

We spotted a restaurant, across from this water mill, so we drove there and after parking the car we walked a bit.

Lots of gift shops but no other restaurants on that side.

Now we view from the other side across the Oconaluftee River.

We had a good lunch and not even salty—at El Cajelito Mexican Restaurant on 1681 Acquoni Rd, Cherokee, NC 28719.

A much needed break for me as well!

We continued and saw the sign Elk viewing...

WOW what a very special BONUS was that!

The elk is the largest mammal in the Great Smoky Mountains!

They had become nearly extinct and got reintroduced.

Male elk or 'bulls' weigh around 600–700 pounds and the female or 'cows' weigh average 500 pounds.

Those trees had shed already lots of leaves during a week of rain, before we went there.

Yes, not far from the Oconaluftee River on Highway 441.

Then all of a sudden I was driving IN THE CLOUDS...

Made me feel sad as for having come that far in vain—with no view.

BUT that was only at the highest points!

Towards Gatlinburg Tennessee on the Newfound Gap Rd, I told Pieter, wow, this road almost makes me dizzy. 

Pieter replied that we'd made a full circle!

You can see that here above!

Chimney Tops Trail starts to the left...

This is LOOP–OVER base of Chimney Tops as seen on this old postcard.

You see that there is a small tunnel going underneath the LOOP-OVER!

Image got taken from the jagged peaks of the Chimney Tops—giving you this bird's–eye view of the Loop–Over on the spectacular Tennessee side of the Newfound Gap Highway — which crosses the center of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Around 16:00 o'cock I'd parked the car and we arrived with the most glorious light at Chimney Tops Overlook!

Pieter standing here in front of a tree with glorious autumn leaves... 🍂🍁

Turning to the other side—Chimney Tops is visible to the left!

Now you can find this huge information board—none was there in 1988...

Chimney Tops

Can you imagine smoke wafting from the chimney–like formations on this ridge? Nearly vertical holes in the tops of these jutting rocks make them look like natural chimney flues, and mountain people named them so—Chimney Tops. The Cherokees called the mountain Duniskwalguni, meaning 'forked antlers.'

The half–billion–year–old Chimney Tops, made of slates, schists, and phyllites, sit atop even older rock (Anakeesta Formtion) is softer than the sandstone, allowing rain, hail, and ice—over hundreds of millions of years—to fashion its chimney–shaped likeness.

Giving you an oversight of this beautiful Overlook...It was rather crowded on Sunday—guess due to the weather.

But at a higher altitude the trees are already bare...!

Again an old picture postcard showing the rock formation on the other side of the road...

Those big rocks on the right were no longer there!

So I captured that side of the road as well.

SO happy for having reached our goal for the day and with perfect autumn leaves still visible and sunshine! 🌞

Pieter captured me standing behind the car.

Couldn't get enough of the light + autumn leaves...

We still had to drive a short distance to our Hyatt Place in Downtown Knoxville, TN

Enjoy short Relive Video below:

That was still a long drive of 493.8 km or 306.8 mi and a total of 6.5 hours solo behind the wheel...

But now I could REST for one day!

Related links:

SO Proud of my NONAGENARIAN | previous post by me when we climbed Clingmans Dome—the highest point on April 03, 2019

Great Smoky Mountains National Park | Informative video

Driving from Tennessee through Mississippi and Alabama home to Georgia

Our final stretch home, from this 11–day journey by car to the West.

On Interstate 22 East Byhalia, Mississippi and look at the perfect weather!

We veer off towards Holly Springs and Tupelo, Mississippi

Rolling Truck Stop & Cafe near Flatwood and Carbon Hill, Alabama on Interstate 22

Chevron in Nauvoo, Alabama

Pieter napping in Cordova, Alabama

Interstate 20 East Birmingham – Fountain Heights

Center right is the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Birmingham and made me think of Uncle Bo Whaley who worked as an FBI agent for 20 years...

We pretty soon got to change our watches again, one hour later!

Around 16:30 I was in Atlanta, Georgia veering off of Interstate 20 onto Interstate 75 South...

We both needed a human pit stop and with that we always filled up our car.

This was at Shell Oil in Jackson, Georgia

Just have to rave about these healthy snacks from Costco.

Pains au Chocolat

Product of France

No artificial colors

No artificial flavors

No high fructose corn syrup

NO GMO

European bakery items are by far not as sweet as American and this is so important for me with diabetes type 2 and CKD stage 4.

Felt great during the entire trip and we both didn't change weight.

Often the high sugar level goes hand in hand with high sodium; a no–no for both of us, also for Pieter since his heart attack and open–heart surgery on September 3, 2010.

On July 16, I started driving with the mileage on 13,633 

Home by 19:17 and the total mileage was now 18,602

My total mileage 4,969 mi or 7,996.83 km

Fuel Economy for our Infiniti QX50 was 28.9 MPG 

28.9 U.S. Mile Per Gallon =

12.29 Kilometers per Liter

Total trip and 8 dots for where we spent the night(s).

We passed through 16 states:

1. Georgia
2. Tennessee
3. Kentucky
4. Illinois
5. Missouri
6. Iowa
7. Nebraska
8. South Dakota
9. Wyoming
10. Colorado
11. New Mexico
12. Texas
13. Oklahoma
14. Arkansas
15. Mississippi
16. Alabama

Our car had its oil change and rotating of wheels done a couple of days later.

Having the appointment with Infiniti, we opted for a stay at Hyatt Regency Suites in Marietta and enjoy a swim... 

But our good luck with perfect weather seemed to be OVER with, as it RAINED!

This was next morning from our room, Atlanta skyline in the distance.

To the left is our loyal Infiniti QX50 parked, after the check up.

LOVED driving this car, perfect in the mountains and not a single issue with it. 

Hope you enjoyed traveling along and maybe learned something for not putting off things, before you will regret it.

Shared memories with your spouse are always double joy!

Enjoy one final 2 minute Relive video:

From Hyatt Place Oklahoma City/Bricktown to Hyatt Place Memphis/Germantown

 Rolling on via Interstate–40 East, now homebound!

We left our Hyatt Place Oklahoma City/Bricktown and via a short stretch on Interstate 25 South, shortly on US Highway 285 and after 60 km or 37 miles already on Interstate 40 East towards Hyatt Place Memphis/Germantown in Tennessee.

After 323.5 km or 188 mi we needed to gas up and were ready for our own pit stop.

We did so at this Phillips 66 gas station and Kountry Xpress on 1107 Georgia Ridge Dr. in Mulberry, Arkansas.

We both were quite surprised to find some REAL GOOD Indian food for lunch around 12:58!

An hour later, I did spot this Walmart Supercenter in Clarksville, Arkansas where Pieter got out for some fresh mandarins and healthy yogurt.

After our good lunch; a light supper would do!

On Interstate 40 East in Conway, Arkansas it was rather hot... 104°F or 40°C

And that even close to the mighty Mississippi River...

And we're nearing Little Rock, Arkansas where former President Clinton hailed from.

On Interstate 40 East in North Little Rock, Arkansas

North Little Rock...

At 15:30 we split off here towards Memphis, Tennessee

At 17:22 in West Memphis, Arkansas crossing the mighty Mississippi River into Memphis, Tennessee

Yes, the Mississippi River is the state border.

Tennessee/Arkansas border via I–55 Mississippi River bridge ←short video showing the reversed crossing into Arkansas but gives an impression of the mighty Mississippi River!

Our end for the day is in Memphis/Germantown.

That way we are close to the Interstate for next day's departure and already east of the city.

Gassing up for next day, very close to our Hyatt Place

Hyatt Place 9161 Winchester Rd, Memphis, Tennessee

Again a King Size Bed awaits us...

BUT I first liked to go for a walk in fresh air and stretch my legs!

So enjoyed my walk!

Perfect weather for walking around...

At 18:29 still 36°C or 96.8°F

Hyatt Place Memphis/Germantown shuttlebus

Home...

My iPhone showed this information about this modern hotel in Germantown.

Located 20 minutes from downtown Memphis, our casually–chic hotel in Germantown, Tennessee is ideal for the multi–tasking business traveler, family vacation or sports group playing in a tournament. We are just minutes from popular attractions, like the Mike Rose Soccer Complex and Graceland, and within close proximity to many companies, including FedEx World Headquarters. At our hotel you will find an outdoor swimming pool that is open from spring to after Labor Day, a 24–hour fitness center, and flexible event space for small gatherings. 

Stay tuned for more...

Enjoy this 2 minute Relive video: