kayaking a waterfall

The next day we drove the Cherahala Skyway, and visited an old growth forest.  While we were at Bald River Falls, we saw the most amazing thing: Two guys were hauling their tandem kayak up the rocky ledges of the waterfall by ropes.

 

Amazing !

 

This is by far the prettiest falls we have seen.

 

Later, Marilyn

 



Cades Cove, Tennessee

We went across the Smokey Mountains and down almost to Gatlinburg, to a rather large valley known as Cades Cove.  It was discovered and settled in the early 1800's .... maximum population at that time approx. 700, scattered over several miles of the most beautiful setting:  blue ridge mountains, ringing a broad, gently rolling green valley.  Many of the buildings have been preserved: log homes, barns, churches, grist mill, etc.  It can be visited by a single lane road winding around the edge of the valley... takes about 2 hours, depending on how many stops you make.  A real utopian place.  Now it is a park, no one lives even near there, since it is a part of the Smokey Mountain Nat'l. Park.

 

In Memory of Bugsy

Sadly, one of our tail wagging traveling companions has passed away. Bugsy, affectionately called "Mr. Bugs", aka "The Godfather".

 

He was 14 plus years, the happiest doggie I've ever known.  He has left a huge empty space in our motorhome and in our lives.

 

 

 

And here he is in a younger version

 

 



  

Miss BooBoo has already taken over as "bosslady".  After all, she has been in training for a while now. This image has been in my sideview mirror for several years now.

 



 

 

Later, Marilyn



More of heaven on earth

Vera's latest finished piece of stained glass:

Eleven of the hosts here at our campground went to a "country breakfast" at a nearby historic bed and breakfast.  An old farmhouse on a hill above a wonderful valley:

We have 5 days in a row off so we are going on a 4 day road trip.... to Tennessee:  Cades Cove is the major destination (west of Gatlinburg, in the Smokies).  Also some hiking along the Cherahala Skyway (Joyce Kilmer old growth forest).  Leaving in the morning ..... report later.
Marilyn

Mountainside report

We've been working mostly 4 days (4 hour shifts) per week, with 3 days to run, play and explore:
We've been on several hikes, and Charlie has gone on a river kayaking trip.  I've been watercoloring a lot .... and Vera has taken up a new hobby.... stained glass!  She is currently taking a class at the local community college, and has made a couple of really nice pieces.
This is her 'studio':

 

which reminds me to mention our deck .... which we are very proud of

The dog ramp was the original reason for the whole thing.... but then it grew.... and grew. but it surely makes our lives easier.  There is the longer "permanent" ramp, which gets Bugsy up to the bottom of the door level.  Then there is the shorter 'moveable' ramp (seen at the right corner of the deck), which we pull over, open the door and set it to go up/down the last two big steps inside the motorhome.
Actually, most of the time we still lift Bugsy up the last two, but that is still much easier.

The interesting thing about the whole thing is that it "theoretically" comes apart in sections so that we can take it with us to the next long term location. But it is unknown if the step section will actually fit in the back of the car ...... also, the unknown weight is .... well, unknown!  :-)

I am including another picture of the valley at the bottom of "our" mountain.  Note the everpresent rising mist .... think temperate rainforest.

I promise some hiking pictures next.
Later, Marilyn

Living in the forest and loving it

We have an ideal life here.... just very thankful to be able to do this.  Mountains, lakes, forests, friends ......

This is the scene on our way to town, after coming down off "our" mountain:

I love the tunnels up on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Here's a view of opposite ends:

It would be interesting to see the tunneling process .. that's a lot of rock above the hole.

Anybody coming for a visit?

Later, Marilyn

lo-o-o-ove these mountains

Just to be here IN the mountains is wonderful; and driving the small winding roads just flat makes me smile !  Every direction I look, there are 'blue ridges' ..... small or large. After living my whole life in the flatter parts of Texas (especially the west Texas plains in Lubbock), I can't believe I didn't get here sooner.

We are all fine, and are settling into our campground work routine. The schedule varies a little, but is basically 3 days on and 3 days off (with 4 hour shifts that vary each day). There is usually a 8-noon, then a noon-4, then a 4-8 shift.  The work, either the gate house or the store is very easy ...... and then, ..... we go play !   Lots of outdoor things to do around here,  and then of course (for Vera especially), there's shopping.  We've only done one short hike, but walking up and down these hills in the campground is really doing wonders for my leg muscles.

This is a view at Pisgah Inn restaurant on the Blue Ridge Parkway, taken when we first got here in mid March ..... so, obviously the mountains had not turned green yet.
It has been so fun watching everything turn green .... almost as much fun as watching fall colors arrive.

Look inviting ???  come on over to visit us.

Later, Marilyn