Smoky Mountain Opry

Woke up about 7:30 am on Wednesday, March 30. Brushed my teeth and went to the office. They don’t open until 9 am. Went to McDonald’s just down the street for breakfast. When I got back, the maintenance man brought over a heavy duty jack, jacked the front of my camper out of the dirt (it was in a good 2 to 3 inches), put the wheel on properly, and helped me push it back near the electric box. I set up the camper and spent the rest of the morning playing on my computer. The campground has attraction brochures. When I went to take a shower, I brought the ones for Smoky Mountain Opry and the Comedy Barn back to the camper. They had a special if you buy tickets to both at the same time. So I did.

Did the laundry, put Shreveport and New Orleans photos on Facebook. Went in search of a grocery store. Found a nice bakery and got cinnamon rolls for breakfast tomorrow. Had to buy buns at Kroger – yuck to the gun nuts.

Cooked up that thick Smithfield bologna with green onions and some red Chimayo chile powder – Nummmm!!!! It shouldn’t even be called bologna. It’s too good. Trudie agreed – I talked to her and Carol on the phone.

Then I got dressed up as much as I could in camping gear, but did add the lovely shawl I bought in Santa Fe for a little festive touch, and went to the Smoky Mountain Opry. An overly enthusiastic usher hopped in a photo with me – we took 3 – I am sure for sale later.

The M.C. said that the two men who own the Comedy Barn also started the Opry – and meant for it to be family entertainment for all ages. That explains the discounts for buying both venues.

The show started out slow with mediocre music covered up by a laser light show. At one point, they actually sent two guys with guitars down in flying halters from the rafters. Then it got better. They had music impersonations by Charlie Bob Smith that included a great duet by Louis Armstrong and Kermit T. Frog – both sung by Smith, acrobats to music, a tribute to music thru the decades with a Singin’ in the Rain number with real rain in a channel, the Beatles with Hey Jude, Broadway tunes like Lion King, tributes to Simon & Garfunkel, Nat King Cole, and Tina Turner, and then a bunch of gospel and patriotic stuff. Overall I ended up liking the show. For one of the gospel songs, they let some very well-trained doves fly over the audience. It was a surprise and impressive.