We finally made it to North Carolina and Bryson City. The Americans tend to have rather grandiose ideas about the size of their cities, and Bryson City is not as big as it sounds to be. About 2,000 people live there, so it's a fair-sized town, and very fine too, but not a city as we would measure it.

Our rented cabin is about two and a half miles from Bryson City and high up on a ridge overlooking some thirty-five miles of the Smokies. From our porch looking south, we can see right down almost to north Georgia. And to the west lies Tennessee, just a few miles away. The view from the cabin is simply stunning. It's an ever-changing panorama, depending on the time of day. From the early morning wisps of "smoke" to the late evening haze, there's a constantly moving kaleidiscope of colour and mood that's truly hypnotic. I could never tire of watching the mountains, and I must have taken several dozen photos over the week as if to prove it.

The cabin has a porch with a roof overhang, and has two rocking chairs and a porch swing. Sitting out there in the late evening heat, watching the sun sink behind the mountains and waiting for the fireflies to blink on, while sipping an iced beer - and listening to fine bluegrass music - has to be one of the most enjoyable things I have ever done.

On Tuesday 5th August, Jane and I were married at the administration building in Bryson City. The magistrate who performed the cermony was part Cherokee, and rather amusingly called Mr Breedlove. Afterwards he gave Frankie, our son, a few pieces of ancient Cherokee pottery as a keepsake and in memory of the event.

Jane's sister and boyfriend, Katherine and David, were there as witnesses. Frankie was also allowed to sign as a witness, which we thought was a nice touch. Immediately after, Jane and I went back to the log cabin, I carried her over the threshold (yes I did!), and then we jumped into the jacuzzi, or hot tub, as they call it here, lay back and drank cool champagne in the hot afternoon heat and admired that spectactular mountain view.

Now that's the way to celebrate a wedding!

John Coutts

John Coutts