[kenrexford]

I have been on a count-down to my favorite regional, probably a shared experience with many others. I find that the extire period after Christmas winds down until mid-April is nothing but dead time waiting for Gatlinburg (especially as I live in the Great White North of Ohio).

I'm sure others have great G-Burg stories, so I'd be interested, and I will share one of mine. 1987. I had just graduated high school. I had quit bridge for about 3-4 years. My folks were playing in G-Burg, so I, my brother, and two friends went along for the hiking, swimming, etc. Great town for that.

Anyway, on the way down, it was pouring. We went to sleep. The next moring, there were 20+ inches of snow on the ground, and it never left. This, of course, killed all activities. Throwing snowballs at the tourists got old. We lost our spending cash on the little quarter games within a half hour. Now what?

I decided to check in on my folks before the evening game. A call went out for a sub, and I accepted, playing in the I/N game with Grant Baze' wife (cannot remember her name, but she was quite a looker, especially for a teen). We won the event, and the prize, a bottle of wine, was given to me. (The statute of limitations has run.)

My friends trhought this was great -- free alcohol if we won. So, my brother and I taught them to play in 1/2 hour, and we started up. The power went out during the session, but my brother and Ed came in third. (No wine, though!!!)

One critical hand for them. Brandon (my brother) opened 1NT, and Ed bid 2S, natural. This was doubled and passed to him. We forgot to tell Ed what a "double" means. He asked Brandon what to do, which got stern comments from the opponents. So, he bid 3S. This was again doubled, back to him. Damn! That did not work. Thinking about Backgammon, Ed came up with a solution. "I accept!" The table roared. He made 3SX, for a top. (The lesson? "Accept" a bad double, I suppose.)

Randy and I did not fare as well. But, the experience was so much fun that I could never again leave the game. Since that day, G-Burg has been huge for me.

35 non-Gatlinburg days left for me, and counting.

[joshs]

Great Story! So Wendy let you keep the wine, hmm.

[Sigi_BC84]

Seriously Ken, I'm going through the entire forum collecting your stories one day. Priceless :-).

--Sigi

[keylime]

Who's going down there this year?

[nickf]

kenrexford, on Mar 11 2006, 02:27 AM, said:

(The statute of limitations has run.)

Isn't it statue of limitations?

nickf
sydney

ps with apologies to larry david.

[jchiu]

I'll be going to Gatlinburg for the entire tournament.
For those who have been there before, do you have
any restaurant or "must-see" recommendations?

[keylime]

I'd like to go - gotta have the cash tho to do it. At least I have the time. :-)

[kenrexford]

Ripley's Aquarium of the Rockies is a must-see if you like that sort of thing.

Hillbilly Golf is a worthwhile experience.

If you like to hike, the trail to Chimney Tops is long, but well worth it. The lower (easy) section is also very fun.

My favorite bar stool is at Calhouns.

Best late night dancing (per the locals) is at the Brewery. No one dances late, though. Everyone who would dance is at home, in bed, already. (Wink)

I liked the Greenbriar Restaurant for menu and view.

You cannot go wrong for pancakes.

You cannot go wrong for cutesie shopping, either. Price becomes irrelevant.

You should go to OberGatlinburg to say that you went to OberGatlinburg, and then leave. The fun restaurant is not there any more. Nor is the good one at the end of the strip.

Drive the Gatlinburg By-Pass at least once.

Best luck for lodging has been Jackson Mountain Homes, if you want a good view, a nice hot tub, and proximity.

Don't worry about the traffic into town -- worry about leaving town more.

Take your own food for snacks and breakfast -- the grocery at Pigeon Forge is unreasonably expensive. Buy smokes on the way (in Tennessee), but NOT in Gatlinburg. If you take too few, you may accidentally quit for the week.

Take shorts and sweaters, coats and swimming trunks, boots and sandals. You may need anything.

[bid_em_up]

Who is Wendy? Grant Baze's wife at the time, was Shalene Natarro, i'm fairly certain (but not sure of the spelling of her last name). Pretty red/auburn brown haired lady, from Atlanta GA where they met. Grant left the Atlanta area in the mid-80's to move to CA and Shalene followed. They were married shortly thereafter, if memory serves me correctly, and then divorced sometime in the 90's.

And from the post, i assume you were in your late teens, early 20's, so was I at the time......she was too old for me also. LOL!!

[kenrexford]

That sounds like her!