Smokies

After a late morning in Pigeon Forge and trip to a pancake house :), we drove through the Smokey Mountains National Park to Bryson City in North Carolina. We had to take separate cars and I stopped to take a few photos. The first part was dry and sunny.

The Smokies.

However there were some colder, more icy parts.

Icicles. 

Deep snow!

More snow

There were parts where I was questioning the wisdom of this part of the trip. Where the sun hadn't reached, the roads were quite icy. I also got stuck behind a car going 5 mile a hour. I understand the need for safety. But you also need some momentum. I was very glad when the car pulled off! (I was nearly going backwards - and sideways! - at one point.)
But in the sun, the roads were clear and the views great.

Clear skies.

We reached the cabin safely. It was a different one to last time we were here, with an open plan. (Which was extremely fortunate the next morning!) We spent a few hours in the hot tub with a couple of bottles of wine, putting the world to rights and gossiping! So much fun (and I really want a hot tub!).
We also had a fire place! We cooked and watched films. Neither of us wanted to deal with the road to the cabin consisted of a 45 degree road with 180 degree hair pin bends and blind corners in the dark.

Open fire.