AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL

What a scenic drive...through the Shenandoah Valley and along the Blue Ridge Mountains.  It's been years since we drove into southern Virginia and I think that was in the summer.  The fall foliage is absolutely beautiful.  And the rolling hills and mountains are a pleasant change from the path we took last fall.

Every leaf color on one tree!
 

After three one-nighters, we arrived in the Nashville area yesterday afternoon.  It was a cool 49 degrees, cloudy and damp.  After setting up, we drove to the Gaylord Opryland Resort for dinner.  This hotel is amazing:  over 2800 rooms, a banquet room that seats 4000 for dinner and 7000 theater-style.  It is the largest hotel without a casino in the world.  The hotel is divided into three areas:  Cascades - the original, Magnolia, and Delta - the last and largest addition.   Pictures do not do justice to the beautiful atrium.



The Delta - decorated for Christmas
 

Cascades
 

We walked around for about 2 hrs before deciding on Mexican for dinner...and I'm pretty sure that I was walking with a broken toe.  Yesterday morning, I walked into the base of Calvin's scratching post.  In my defense, it sits in an inconvenient spot, however, if I move it, he uses the sofa...not good!  So, I taped it and off we went.  This morning, it's purple and swollen...broken??

Today is Sunday - race day - so while Keith watches the Martinsville Nascar race, I'm ice-ing and elevating my foot because our plan is to spend tomorrow touring Nashville.