Day Two, Ouch!

So today was an early day.  Since we didn't make it back out to the grocery store last night, we treated ourselves to breakfast at the Pancake House.  Which, as one would guess, served pancakes.  So not know what to expect as far as traffic in Pigeon Forge in the morning, we woke up MUCH too early.  And as my luck goes, there was a terrible storm that rolled through last night so I already didn't get much sleep.  

In case you are wondering, there is NO morning traffic in Pigeon Forge.  Seems that most shops don't open until 10:00 and most people sleep in.  So my worry about making it in and out of breakfast on time for our 10:30 check in at the stables was all for not.  We had an hour and a half to kill with only a trickle of shops open.  Oops.  I think we all would have benefited from an extra hour of sleep.  Lesson learned. Another lesson learned, breakfast cost almost as much as dinner the night before - we will not be doing that tomorrow.  :) 

 So we spent a little time shopping in the "General Store" at the stables.  Karl, Tati and I came away with new hats.  Bryana ended up with a cap gun.  We told her how the loud noises might startle the horses so we didn't have to hear the caps until we made it back to the cabin. 

 This is my new hat.  The one Karl is wearing is a loaner from my friend Vicky.  He liked mine better so we got him a similar one, but in black. 

Cianah and her friend Marie before the ride. 

Oh Mr. Gray, don't buck Karl off!!!! 

OK, in all actuality....Mr. Gray was the slowest horse of all.  Karl and Mr. Gray kept their space from the other horses.  :) 


We rode for close to 2 hours with a small break in the middle for "lunch" - not impressed.  Good thing we were still very full from our breakfast! 

 Let me tell you, 2 hours on a horse, let's just say I am sitting on pillows as I type!!  My bum hurts!!!






We were done with our ride by by 1:30, since it was such an early morning we could have probably called it quits and all went home to sleep.  Instead I decided that if we go to the Moonshine Distillery this afternoon, we can all sleep in tomorrow.  And so we did.

I must say Gatlinburg is much more quaint than Pigeon Forge. Still quite the tourist trap, but so pretty!!

Karl sampling his 1st taste of Moonshine!!

White lightning is brutal!!!

The apple pie moonshine was much easier to take.  We are bringing a mason jar of that home. 

We then stopped in from some ice cream and then headed up the Skylift!

We rode the ski lift type chairs to the top and were met with this gorgeous view!!

After a bit more shopping in the gift shops where my oldest child ended up wearing a raccoon tail attached to her pants for the rest of the day, we hit the grocery store and then headed back to the cabin.

                                                       Tatiana and Bryana hit the hot tub. 

 I settled in with my nook on my balcony and watched the sun set over the mountains. 












Karl and Bree played a little pool.

All in all it was a good day.  Tomorrow will be much less eventful.  I am ready to have slow day! 

 If you want to see all of the pictures from today:  

http://hobdypixphotography.smugmug.com/Personal/TN-Vacation/Day-2-Horseback-Riding-and/17663352_9Z2Kvq#1346946498_wNk5Q6L