2020 ZR-1 Road Trip - Gatlinburg, Orlando and the Texas BBQ

[QB93Z]

Lyndi and I are on the road again to See The USA in a ZR-1.

This trip was planned to be a quick cruise to visit the Texas ZR-1 BBQ in April. Then I found out there was going to be a submarine crew reunion in Gatlinburg early in March so our quick trip turned into a 33-day road trip.

And then a very rare tornado in Central Maryland ripped the roof off one of our rental units. No one was hurt but the tornado did a lot of damage in Carroll County. We started immediately racing to get the $37,000 worth of repairs done before our departure date. We put in a complete new kitchen, half the floors and ceilings in the apartment with electrical and plumbing upgrades. I finished the work on Friday and we left on Sunday morning.

Day 1 was spent on I-81 South to Tennessee.

https://i407.photobucket.com/albums/pp152/QB93Z/00%20-%202020%20Reunion%20and%20Texas%20ZR-1%20BBQ/Home%20to%20Orlando.jpg (https://s407.photobucket.com/user/QB93Z/media/00%20-%202020%20Reunion%20and%20Texas%20ZR-1%20BBQ/Home%20to%20Orlando.jpg.html)


We spotted this travel van that gave us some ideas of places we need to add to our Bucket List:

https://i407.photobucket.com/albums/pp152/QB93Z/00%20-%202020%20Reunion%20and%20Texas%20ZR-1%20BBQ/DSC_0109%20resize%204%20inch.jpg (https://s407.photobucket.com/user/QB93Z/media/00%20-%202020%20Reunion%20and%20Texas%20ZR-1%20BBQ/DSC_0109%20resize%204%20inch.jpg.html)

This 60's era WV pickup is interesting but needs a lot of work:

https://i407.photobucket.com/albums/pp152/QB93Z/00%20-%202020%20Reunion%20and%20Texas%20ZR-1%20BBQ/DSC_0101%20resize4.jpg (https://s407.photobucket.com/user/QB93Z/media/00%20-%202020%20Reunion%20and%20Texas%20ZR-1%20BBQ/DSC_0101%20resize4.jpg.html)

https://i407.photobucket.com/albums/pp152/QB93Z/00%20-%202020%20Reunion%20and%20Texas%20ZR-1%20BBQ/DSC_0102%20resize4.jpg (https://s407.photobucket.com/user/QB93Z/media/00%20-%202020%20Reunion%20and%20Texas%20ZR-1%20BBQ/DSC_0102%20resize4.jpg.html)


In Gatlinburg we are staying at the Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort:

https://i407.photobucket.com/albums/pp152/QB93Z/00%20-%202020%20Reunion%20and%20Texas%20ZR-1%20BBQ/DSC_0152%20resize4.jpg (https://s407.photobucket.com/user/QB93Z/media/00%20-%202020%20Reunion%20and%20Texas%20ZR-1%20BBQ/DSC_0152%20resize4.jpg.html)

Jim

[QB93Z]

Well, I now need to figure out how to get Photo Bucket to resize the photos that I am using.

I have resized the images and reloaded them. How do they look on your screen?

Jim

[Dynomite]

Very large filling screen.....but OK....
You still using Photo Bucket?
Have a great trip :thumbsup:

[davidijaxson]

Look forward to meeting you at the Texas BBQ.

[QB93Z]

Very large filling screen.....but OK....
You still using Photo Bucket?
Have a great trip :thumbsup:

Yes, I am still using Photobucket. I abandoned it for a while but never found a host service that I wanted to use. For a while the images in all my posts were big red X's. I saw an article about Photobucket that said PB's new owners were committed to being the forever safe place to store photos. So, I i decided to try them again. I haven't sent any money yet but it is working again.

But PB handles image size differently than before. To get the pictures to display the right size, I had to resize each one in a photo editor program.

Jim

[efnfast]

Safe travels Jim, and as always, thanks for taking us along.
I've never posted a picture and can't imagine the trouble you are going through for our benefit.

[MarkSS]

Have fun!

[Gunny]

You guys take the best trips ... just outstanding.

Looking at the map, it appears that you will be taking 441 from Gatlinburg until you hit I-85 into Atlanta and therefore going through Rabun County, GA (Dillard, Clayton, etc.). A couple of recommendations (i.e. great views/photo ops) for you -- just after you pass Rabun Gap, watch for a turn off to the right to the Black Rock Mtn State Park. Spectacular vista for a $5.00 parking fee. Save the parking pass and use it to visit Tallulah Gorge State Park - again, incredible views, interesting museum (don't miss the 20 min. film). If you hit Clayton at noon, take a right into the downtown area and check out Universal Joint for great burgers/brew.

Any idea what day you will be passing through? I need to drive up & check on our mountain house but with multiple rehearsals & 3 performances scheduled over the next 7-8 days I likely won't be able to meet you there, but you never know - it might work out.

Will you be in Atlanta for several days? If so, PM or email me for suggestions of places to see.

[secondchance]

I had no idea you were one of the unlucky hit with tornado.
Glad to hear you got it squared away and merrily on your way to Gatlinburg and Orlando.
Happy trails!

[garyhugo]

Thanks for taking us along again on a great road trip. Hope to see you at MR8 and the 30th Gathering. May all your miles be safe and full of smiles.

[QB93Z]

Hi Gunny,

You sound busy and Lyndi and I are going straight from Gatlinburg to Orlando on Sunday. We will see you in May for the Mountain Run.

Jim

[QB93Z]

On day 2 we just relaxed in our lodge and then met up with some of the USS Von Steuben sailors.

Day 3:

We got up early and drove west of Knoxville to Oak Ridge to take a tour of the World War II era facilities from the Manhattan Project. The Tennessee facilities were an important Top Secret facility to enrich uranium to be used in the first atomic bombs. The 3-hour bus and walking tour is run by the Department of Energy and is a new feature to the Manhattan Project National Historical Park.

The tour begins and ends at the brand new American Museum of Since and Energy in Oak Ridge.

https://i407.photobucket.com/albums/pp152/QB93Z/00%20-%202020%20Reunion%20and%20Texas%20ZR-1%20BBQ/Museum%20resize3-5.jpg (https://s407.photobucket.com/user/QB93Z/media/00%20-%202020%20Reunion%20and%20Texas%20ZR-1%20BBQ/Museum%20resize3-5.jpg.html)


The tour in narrated by a very knowledgeable nuclear engineer, a retired employee of the Oak Ridge facilities. The tour visits the gas diffusion plant, the cyclotron separation facility and the graphic pile reactor.

All of the exhibits are in excellent condition and contain displays and artifacts that explain the equipment and processes that pioneered nuclear physics in 1943 to 1945. The current Oak Ridge facilities are the repository for all weapons grade uranium in the US arsenal. There is also information about the current stockpile of nuclear weapons.

https://i407.photobucket.com/albums/pp152/QB93Z/00%20-%202020%20Reunion%20and%20Texas%20ZR-1%20BBQ/inst%20resize3-5.jpg (https://s407.photobucket.com/user/QB93Z/media/00%20-%202020%20Reunion%20and%20Texas%20ZR-1%20BBQ/inst%20resize3-5.jpg.html)


This plaque describes the nuclear warheads that were on the missiles that we carried on the nuclear submarine, the USS Von Steuben SSBN-632:

https://i407.photobucket.com/albums/pp152/QB93Z/00%20-%202020%20Reunion%20and%20Texas%20ZR-1%20BBQ/JIm%20and%20sign%202%20resize3-5.jpg (https://s407.photobucket.com/user/QB93Z/media/00%20-%202020%20Reunion%20and%20Texas%20ZR-1%20BBQ/JIm%20and%20sign%202%20resize3-5.jpg.html)

Jim

[efnfast]

Skipper of a nuclear sub. Pretty impressive Jim ( I got nothing like that in my tool bag). Thanks for your service to my country.

[Paul Workman]

Thanks 4 taking us along on another chapter of the "Adventures of Jim n Mindy"!

Thank you for your service, Jim. My bro was also a "sewer pipe sailor" (what we 'skimmers' referred to submariners* as :p) and served aboard the SSBN Archerfish 678 (for you land lubbers, it was a fast attack (code name for an armed 'sneak and peek')) nuclear sub.

*some inter-NAVY "sibling rivalry". Mike, my bro, would quip back with, "There's only two types of ships in the Navy: submarines and TARGETS!"

[QB93Z]

........ Mike, my bro, would quip back with, "There's only two types of ships in the Navy: submarines and TARGETS!"

I had that saying with a picture of periscope cross-hairs on a US aircraft carrier in my office at the Pentagon.

Jim

[dandt67]

Have a safe and fun trip. Thanks for sharing your adventures.

[-=Jeff=-]

Westgate is a nice place, I stayed there several years ago

[QB93Z]

Day 4: We spent the day relaxing at the resort and then visiting with the crew members of the USS Von Steuben.

Here we are with the view of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park:

https://i407.photobucket.com/albums/pp152/QB93Z/00%20-%202020%20Reunion%20and%20Texas%20ZR-1%20BBQ/IMG_5283%20002.jpeg (https://s407.photobucket.com/user/QB93Z/media/00%20-%202020%20Reunion%20and%20Texas%20ZR-1%20BBQ/IMG_5283%20002.jpeg.html)

Jim

[QB93Z]

Day 5:

On Thursday, we relaxed at the in-door water park at the resort and then attended the USS Von Steuben Reunion Banquet. It was a nice event and it was nice to swap "sea stories".

https://i407.photobucket.com/albums/pp152/QB93Z/00%20-%202020%20Reunion%20and%20Texas%20ZR-1%20BBQ/DSC_0013%20resized%203-5.jpg (https://s407.photobucket.com/user/QB93Z/media/00%20-%202020%20Reunion%20and%20Texas%20ZR-1%20BBQ/DSC_0013%20resized%203-5.jpg.html)

People at our table won 9 of the raffle items and also won the 50-50 raffle. Now everyone wants to sit at the Captain's Table.

I feel very privileged to have met and talked to some of the crew members who were "Plank Owners" of our submarine. They were assigned to the first crew of the sub during new construction back in 1964.

https://i407.photobucket.com/albums/pp152/QB93Z/00%20-%202020%20Reunion%20and%20Texas%20ZR-1%20BBQ/DSC_0018%20resize%203-5.jpg (https://s407.photobucket.com/user/QB93Z/media/00%20-%202020%20Reunion%20and%20Texas%20ZR-1%20BBQ/DSC_0018%20resize%203-5.jpg.html)

Jim

[QB93Z]

Lyndi and I have decided to terminate our road trip and return home. We believe that we have not been exposed to the virus but can't be sure what the situation will be in the future. Thanks for all your nice comments and your support.

Jim and Lyndi

[Ccmano]

Good choice. Better to err on the side of caution, especially for us “old” folks.
Safe travels!
H
:cheers:

[efnfast]

Can't say I blame you Jim. A few precautions will go a long way in keeping this thing in check.
Hopefully it's over by BG time.

[ZR-1 Franz]

Hello from Switzerland,

When I read some days ago that you are on the road again I thought it will be
nice to see all the fine pictures and read your comments. On the other side I thought,
is this the right time to do this? I was worried about it.
So I think it is a wise decision to drive home. Have a safe trip.

Best wishes from Switzerland,

Franz

[Vette Guy]

Jim, thanks for sharing your adventure, and we will miss you in TX, but glad you and Lyndi are heading home until things improve.

I stopped for gas a few nights ago, and some guy comes up to my truck.... suspicious, and I’m the only one at this little gas station... I put it in drive and am ready to go when the guy says he’s the owner and will pump my gas. Doesn’t want anyone touching the pump handles if they don’t need to.... I get it, and was grateful.


Sent from my iPhone using ZR-1 Net Registry (http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=90383)

[QB93Z]

Home safely. I-81 had a lot of traffic. The truckers are not "hunkering down" as far as I can tell.

We stopped mostly at the large truck stops. They all had special sanitizing in effect and we felt safe.

Jim

[BigJohn]

Home safely. I-81 had a lot of traffic. The truckers are not "hunkering down" as far as I can tell.

We stopped mostly at the large truck stops. They all had special sanitizing in effect and we felt safe.

Jim

Truckers have deliver toilet paper for Those who don’t have any.

:p

[-=Jeff=-]

Truckers have deliver toilet paper for Those who don’t have any.

:p

Bandit TP delivery

[BlackSheepz]

Very sorry to see that you decided to cancel your trip but it was probably the right decision.
I know I will eagerly await your next installment, whether later this year or next year.
Thanks again for sharing these with us and stay healthy!