DATES VISITED: March 30th-April 2nd

OTHER ATTENDEES: The Lundquists!!!

WEATHER: A spectacular mountain spring afternoon greeted our arrival, followed by beautifully cool mornings, a very windy Saturday and a lovely farewell Sunday a.m..

SUPPORT THE LOCALS: Go to Guayabito's in Maggie Valley. Not only is it an excellent Mexican restaurant, but the owners and employees are among the nicest, most welcoming people you will ever meet. We'll go back every year.

HISTORY: The Cherokees got a catastrophically raw deal, but turns out that when the Eastern Band agreed to the Qualla Boundary, that protective trust paved the way for a casino and tourism enterprise that seems to be reversing the flow of money back to the original Americans. I, for one, applaud their efforts.