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PIGEON FORGE
Somebody told me the name came from the forging of two rivers - Little Pigeon was one (I think) but I honestly can't remember the other. Ms. Andi learned a lot about the area - in fact, they actually went out hiking one day and they even saw a bear - can't remember if she said it was in captivity or not. Ms. Andi could probably answer all our questions regarding the area. I know that her daycampers will enjoy hearing about the trip and Ms. Kim's kindergarten students will enjoy hearing about the aquarium and seeing all the pictures she and the others took.
Anyway, it was decided that we'd go back to Pigeon Forge on Saturday - for three reasons - the Tanger Outlet Shopping Mall, the amusement rides and at the time the Dixie Stampede (but then we cancelled the tickets for that - think that was because most of the gang decided they'd rather spend what money they had left at the outlet mall.)
Anyway, it was a beautiful outdoor mall with parking places (free) at a premium. Don't know how many stores there were, but it was something and we all felt like we got one bargain or another. If you go that way, plan to spend a little time at the Outlet Mall. Leaving Laurel, Kim and Shelly behind, the rest of us headed to the amusement rides. I'd never seen these rides (think they have them at Branson) and to think that the kids would actually ride on them was unthinkable. There were miles of amusement-type rides, shops and tourist stops in Pigeon Forge. Oh, forgot, every place we look in Gatlinburg and Pigeon were Pancake Houses. We think we just chose the wrong one in Gatlinburg - should have gone a few steps further from the convention center for better pancakes!
This is called the SlingShot. If you haven't seen one, it is unbelievable. It shoots the riders straight up into the air - I didn't catch any of the slingshot pics at the top of the ride - if you can see the large springs behind Tori and Lindsey, the red top of the bars will raise to the top of the stand - the springs are then tight. The riders are moved backward so they are facing the sky before the springs are released. They are catapulted into the air and the bucket seats make turns in the air depending on where the weight is whether it goes forward or backwards. The riders go up into the air and then down and then back up but not with the same force as the first time. Tori had her eyes closed because of the fun, but I'm sure she closed them back again. All three girls rode this ride and loved it. Lois had ridden it the night before with Lindsey but she had the nerve to ride it again. The fun part - that gray box on the red stand is a camera, so you have a video of the entire ride and the riders' reactions to the ride!
Hey - they made it back down!!!!
Lois and Katelin take their turn - Lois was brave enough to do it again after riding it the night before!
None the worse for wear!!!
Madi was in hog heaven this trip. When we had gone to Disney World two years ago, she was heartbroken because she wasn't tall enough to ride all the "exciting" rides and she'd grown enough that she could ride almost all of the things. She wanted to ride this Skyscraper but she almost wasn't big enough - she loved it but they had to stop the ride and readjust her straps, etc. because she kept sliding forward in the seat and felt she was going to fall - I'm sure that wasn't possible but she felt better after they readjusted the belts. Lindsey also put her hand across her to make her feel safer. They both loved it!
Readjusting Madi's harness.
Not all these shots were of Madi and Lindsey. Tori and Kimberly S. (Lindsey's mom) rode it also. Couldn't tell who had the most fun - Tori or Kim!!!
Madi decided she wanted to ride the Slingshot after being brave enough to ride the Skyscraper. These kids are amazing and do things that we adults are too afraid to do - well, older adults, anyway!
Here we go! Is that a look of indecision?
Again, I didn't get the shot at the apex.
What fun we had - taking advantage of the little bit of shade. The weather was beautiful after the morning rain - it was hot but not nearly as hot as Arkansas when we got back home, nor as humid.
See - "PaPa" was there with his handy-dandy movie camera taking videos for the history of the gym and family - and we're always happy to be where our kids are.
I always have them take one picture of me - so they will know down the road that I was there also - Ha! You have to be the camera person to understand that.
Tori - who decided afterwards that she thought she might wait until she was quite a bit older before she would drive.
Madi wasn't tall enough to drive, so Ms. Kim arrived from shopping just in time to come to the rescue.
Kaitlin is a little more confident - she's had more experience with these cars. Guess we needed Kendra here - she's the race car driver among all our kids.
Here they come, around the first turn.
We went across the street to another go-cart place but decided that it was way too fast for even Kim and Lois - they allowed 40 miles per hour! But the funniest thing - we look up and here are some guys in tuxedos at the ticket booth buying tickets and over to the side is this girl in a wedding dress and her bridesmaid in a teal dress with matching teal cast - guess they had been there before!!
We ended up eating here before heading back for a couple more hours at Gatlinburg. Our waiter was exceptionally nice - especially with ten females and John. He thought John should be smiling more being with all of us - but then, he hadn't spent the whole week with us!!!!!!!
Are we hot and tired and hungry??? The house in the background and to the left is an upside down house. These were taken before we were called inside for our table.
These two are rarely tired!
A little sunburned maybe.
Well, the upside down house is behind us - caught "PaPa" off guard - it's that slow camera!!!
Is that our name they just called for party of eleven?
Well, sorry - I had to take pictures of something for Pigeon Forge since I forgot to take any of the Outlet Mall and actually had to drive by Dollywood on Sunday on way home to even get the picture of the outside sign.