Well, we needed to escape Maine for awhile, so we went to visit with some friends in Tennessee. We had met Dan and Rena while working in Montana last summer, and we are sure we will be lifelong friends. They were preparing to go from Tennessee to Wyoming for the summer, so we decided to send them off properly. We visited, laughed, ate great food, and just enjoyed seeing one another again. Dan and Rena were conveniently located in Newport, TN so we took advantage of the proximity to Great Smoky Mountain National park to squeeze in a visit. The first day that we tried, it was rainy, foggy, and cold. So we toured a big portion of the park by car. We saw a black bear but it was too fast for the camera.
The next day we went back to the park while leaving Dan and Rena to pack for Wyoming. Glen and I drove up to the top of the road to Clingman's Dome. It is the highest point on the Appalachian Trail (just slightly higher than Mt. Washington). So while it was sunny, it was also about 40 and really windy. We had to climb about a half mile from the parking lot up to the top. They have constructed a cool ramp that curves up to an observation tower. The view was amazing. The snow on the ramp was slippery. The wind was cold. We didn't stay around too long.
We did witness a moment of pure joy as a through-hiker came up the Appalachian trail and looked at the dome. A smile lit up his face in a way that just can't be described. He had made it from Georgia to this point--the highest elevation on his way to Maine. It was priceless.
After coming down off the mountain it was a bit warmer, and we decided to hike to a waterfall. It is called Laurel falls. I wish we had been there in June when the Mountain Laurel was blooming, as much of the hike was through trail surrounded by this plant. It looked to me like giant rhododendrons. The waterfall was pretty, and we were happy to exercise those legs a bit more. The dogwood trees were blooming, too.
We returned to the campground where Glen cooked up some great stew in the Dutch oven, and Dan cooked his famous cornbread. A meal fit for royalty.
We said goodbye on Wednesday and headed north to Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. We wanted to drive the Skyline drive and hike a bit. Ninety-five miles of the Appalachian Trail is there, and it crossed the road at twenty-eight points. So, it was relatively easy to get some hiking in. We got a room at Skylands. It is perched right on the ridge and looks out to the west. Amazing view. We ate dinner there and then went back to the taproom to hear some live music. Great evening.
Up early Thursday to hike. We hiked the Stonyman trail to the second-highest point in the park. It starts on part of the AT, and then branches off. Great view. You could also take another trail up with your horse if you desired. We were the only people on the trail that morning, as it was still in the 30's. I wore my down vest and winter hat and gloves. So much for escaping Maine weather!
We decided one cold hike was enough, and scrapped our plan to do a bit more of the Appalachian trail. We were driving out, and saw a mother bear with two cubs. Mom and one cub on one side of a rock wall. The other cub fell off the wall towards the road. He was squealing and Momma bear was trying to figure out how to get him with a car there. We took a quick photo and moved on down the road so she could come get her baby. We headed north to help shorten the drive on Friday. We ended up finishing our day in Newburgh, NY. Home by 2:00 p.m. Friday.
We had a great time, and will probably go back to visit Shenandoah another time when the leaves are out and we can do more hiking without freezing. That's it for now. If you are one of my facebook buddies, there are more photos there. Until next time.....Terry
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