Clingman's Dome, Whitewater Falls

 A final day of color in the Great Smokies, followed by a trip back to Brevard, stopping for a glimpse of Whitewater Falls, the highest cascade in the East.  What a memorable trip for us all!  And Don and I had the pleasure of the Bryson's company on two occasions, always great fun. 

So hard to decide which pictures to include, and to omit, but here are my favorites. 

Our wonderful chalet in Gatlinburg, pretty perfect for our stay.  Neal and Don

I have never been in an environment of complete color before.  

One of the more breathtaking vistas in the morning.  This is the view of the Chimneys.

The steady climb up the trail to the top of Clingman's Dome
Perhaps two out of three people we say were from India.  I asked a group of Indian men,
"Is there a direct flight from Mumbai to this parking lot?"  and they roared with laughter. 
"No" one said, "We have drones to deliver us here!".

Just below the top, a crossing of the Appalachian Trail. 

The viewing platform on top. 

Worth the very tiring hike. 

 

Mt. Leconte in the distance  (6'593 feet)

I think Don was surprised to see me on top (I did consider turning back several times, seeing how dark it was getting on top, but a young man (Indian) said it wasn't supposed to rain until the afternoon. 
Don said he'd never let me forget it if I hadn't made it. 

More gorgeous vistas on the way back

Two views from the top bedroom of the chalet. 

Heading out of the Smokies, we came upon some Elk!

And the very special moment at Whitewater Falls.  
The view from the top of the trail

110 steps down to a lower viewing platform and a complete view.

Grabbing a quick photo from the car of Toxaway Falls

At the Bryson's.  This is a Metformin pill.  Susan made me a pill box full to keep in my pocket to have with me always, and I am required to take one before dinner.  I forgot, the entire trip.  So here is proof that on my last meal of the trip, I remembered!

Thank you, Don, for being such a great host, for securing me a bass trombone to practice with (my big band concert was a huge success), thank you for all the driving.  Thank you, Sally and Neal, for all the wonderful lunch supplies, for driving us through Cades Cove, and for being the great companions you are.  And thank you, Tim and Sylvia, for your great dinners and conversations, and the Rosso de Montalcino!     

my favorites. 

  

Cades Cove

 Our first adventure out with Sally and Neal was to the iconic Cades Cove, a settlement from the very early 1800's, with many of the buildings from that period kept as a historic monument.  But what a time to visit, with the color at it's peak.  Afterword, Neal took us on a side trip he was familiar with, up a side road along a spectacular river.  All breathtaking. 

The drive to Cades Cove was the first indication of how spectacular the color was. 
There were moments on the road when we were completely surrounded by color.
That's Neal ahead. 

Our first stop for photographs

This is the John Oliver cabin, the oldest log cabin in the Cove.

Talk about location!

The cove is a large flatland completely surrounded by mountains. Sightings of bear, elk and deer are
are common.  Over 80 historic buildings are present at the site. 

The Cable Mill from about 1970

It was a gift to visit this beautiful place. 

Neal knew of a great photo opportunity on a byway back to Gatlinburg.
These next five photos are thanks to him. 

And finally, the color from our chalet.

Next blog: Clingman's Dome

Don, Brevard, and Pisgah Forest Color

 What an experience!  I suggested to Don that I had not been to NC in the fall in probably 50 years, and could we maybe do a road trip across the Blue Ridge Parkway to see the Great Smoky Mountains?  This was all planned before the devastation Hurricane Hellene created, especially in Asheville.  But the Smokies were not affected, and Don and I, along with Sally and Neal Patton, booked a cabin in Gatlinburg, Tenn. 

It was hugely successful as far as color was concerned.  We somehow hit the very highpoint of color in the Smokies.  It was particularly rewarding for Sally and Neal, who had tried for years to get to the mountains at the height of the color, and missed it over and over.  

This blog will be in three parts: My time in Brevard,  the drive to the Smokies, and visiting the famous Cade's Cove, and then finally the hike to Clingman's Dome, the second highest peak in the Easter US, and all the color along the way.  One of the most spectacular trips of my life. 

We did have some good color in Massachusetts.  This is from a hike in the 
Tidmarsh Audubon Nature Preserve in Plymouth. 

When I arrived at Don's house in Brevard, the pets took to me right away (I wonder why?).
This is Snowball napping with me.

And this is the famous Peedee "stare", an uncompromising evaluation of "how soon you are going to pet me?"

Up the next morning to see how far we could get into Pisgah Forest.
This is Looking Glass Falls, one of the most photographed falls in America.
I have never seen this kind of color here. 

We took a dirt road back down, but found it closed 10 miles down and had
to turn around and retrace our route, but it was all so beautiful. 

Looking Glass Rock in the distance. 

Looking Glass Rock again

This is as beautiful color as I have seen in Brevard.

Don rehearsing with a woodwind quintet

I got to sit in with the Brevard College Wind ensemble, and also
the Blue Ridge Symphonic Brass, a group Don helped organize.  
A friend of Don loaned me a bass trombone to use while in Brevard, 
and it turned out to be a terrific instrument, probably built in the 60's
by Conn.  What a great sound!
We ended my time in Brevard with a great visit to Sylvia and Tim Bryson, as always,
a great treat.