Sleeping in and Dad making brunch!
Velle liked laying under this table on the rug. She had trouble slipping and sliding on the hardwood floors downstairs.
Patriotic pancakes!
Crazy kiddos!
Yes...this photo makes me laugh now! We walked to the trolley stop that was a 10 minute walk from our cabin. "Use the trolley system," they said. We waited over 45 minutes in the heat, boarded, only for the driver to tell us, "You know, my last stop here will be at 5pm tonight." Great! That isn't gonna work! Off we came...losing a whole $2.50 in fare...and walked back to the cabin to take our own vehicle! Oi!
We found parking with no problem and headed to Ober Gatlinburg to ride the tram up the mountain...along with thousands of other vacationers!
Waiting and waiting for our turn...
to be packed into the tram with two windows and no air and people who were afraid of heights. "When we go past the tower we will swing and bounce..." Yep...it did!
The view was spectacular!
Teddy and Ashlynn rode the coaster...after waiting 1 hour and 45 minutes...we baked in the sun.
Then we headed over to the chair lift...Dad waited for us on solid ground.
Halfway up...Ashlynn and I each lost our chair partner as they hopped off to ride the Alpine Sleds back down...we continued up and up!
It was so quiet! And cooler!
"Did you see someone lost their flip-flop? And their hat? And all that garbage...what is wrong with people?"
We made it! So pretty!
"Do you think Dad would like this?" Umm, yes...the view he would enjoy! We will take pictures. The ride in the little ole chair...not so much!"
After a frozen lemonade...we headed back to the line to go back down the mountain...hot and tired...ready for a late supper (it was going on 8pm).
I felt like we were a herd of cattle...cram as many as you can on that tram for the trip down!
Riding down and looking at all the cabins on the mountainsides...
watching the tram operator just sit after he pushed the button to go down. Rough job?!
Noticing the pole next to him...why? And the 6 foot aluminum ladder over our head...why? "At this height...there is nothing you can do if something happens!" Ted was full of good humor...and a couple people got wide-eyed as we voiced these things out loud. It made me giggle...if you over think it...you can make yourself a panicky mess!
We walked back to the lot that was now getting empty...everyone headed out to eat and get ready for fireworks?! And...Ted noticed...our flat tire. Oi! They couldn't get the spare loose from under the vehicle...rusted tight. We haven't had it down since we bought the Yukon. As he kicked to jar it loose, he noticed the spare was as flat as our tire...so we called roadside assistance for a tow. Tow trucks...are not equipped to transport 5 people. Hmmm...busy place...there has to be a taxi or uber or something. NOT...on a busy July 4th evening! I emailed the people who owned the cabin for ideas. Ted walked into a restaurant. The kiddos walked to a store for water.
Thank goodness for the answered prayer of "Lord, we need help to figure this out! We don't know what to do!" Ted got a card for "Hitch-a-Ride" from the owner of the restaurant and told Ted to tell her where he got the card, "She'll take good care of you." She showed up within 10 minutes and took us to the cabin, "I'll only charge you $25 instead of $40 because you aren't up the mountain!"
The whole day was a test in patience and trust that God had a plan in all of it...we don't know what He protected us from or why the Yukon got a nail in the tire at that point...but God provided and we were all safe. Maybe...our kiddos just needed to experience that!?! And maybe we needed to be reminded to relax a little bit about how planned up we needed to be. I learned to carry my phone charger with me and a purse...at all times. When things like this happen...you need to have the ability to reach out...I had 20% charge left on my phone...thankfully, Ted had his and we were together.
Catch what you can meal, hot showers, and comfy beds...and a dog who made it for 9 hours in her cage just fine! Thank you, Lord!
