Today we woke on the eleventh floor of the Knoxville Holiday Inn to this view of the 1982 World Fair Site. 

I do not think I've found a new career. While not afraid of heights, I'm certain my legs would not stand up to this. I'll stick to playing guitar, taking pictures, writing blogs, and other useless nonsense.
I did play the (nearly empty) amphitheater, however. It felt good to get the guitar out. 
After playing a few classical selections we packed up in search of some coffee. Rock and Rhonda helped us out with two mugs of coffee and some good conversation. 

I think Rock was the friendliest face in Knoxville. The staff at the hotel were friendly in the way of paid employees. Pedestrians greeted me with that NYC eye contact avoidance. Rhonda warmed to us after some conversation about our trip. Rock was genuinely open and friendly from the moment he saw us. About that southern hospitality - he was from New York! I told him we were going to Fall River Falls and he gave us bad directions. I was disheartened. Then we corrected our GPS and went to Fall Creek Falls.
At 256 feet this is the tallest waterfall east of the Mississippi.
Really nice vistas, and the park has lots of activities including a nature center and swimming. And lizards!
We left late for lunch and early for dinner until we realized it was a different time zone. Stomachs ruled and the first place we saw was Skip's. Almost the same vein as Gertie's, lots of fried foods and a single aisle grocery. Surprising veggie sticks (mixed veggies in hush-puppy batter!) and a passable fried chicken salad. The chicken was great, the salad was wanting - but I expect a lot for a small restaurant catering to southern fried tastes. Beautiful in its simplicity. The hush-puppies were great!
I asked how he got in the business, he said it was all he had ever done. Small kitchens lead to efficient work flows, and the man didn't sit the entire time we were there. He was to busy answering the phone and the fryer timers and tending to his children.
An honest man making an honest living doing what he loves. What else matters?
We left Spencer for Nashville, arriving to tired to do anything but sleep.

P.S. Click the links for info and the pics for higher resolutions. And share this blog if you think it worthy. Thank you, and goodnight.

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