Rainbow Falls is one of the most popular short hikes in the Smokys. It is so popular that the path of over a mile is paved. We were there one day with a few hundred close friends all of us walking a few feet apart but when you arrive at the falls it was crowded. So CJH and I went past the falls almost now alone on the trail and I saw the top of the falls through the colorful trees and liked the perspective.
No Idea but They are Pretty /
On a plantation in the Cane River Historical Park these brilliant red flowers with no leaves emerged from the grass and were popping out all over. I found this group in front of one of the ancient oaks lining the walk from the river to the porch of the main house. Anyone know what they are actually called?
View and Moose Rules #5 (four photos) /
On our last morning before heading for home we hiked 1.5 miles to this overlook that is now overgrown so that your view is limited to peaks (snicker) through the foliage. It was still breathtaking.
What do you mean I have to share this space with you! Just because I was not up to writing on Saturday - it was after all a national holiday, does not mean I forfeit my rightful column. Well, sharing the space seems that you are only trying to build some readership on my antler’s magnificence but I’ll allow it this one time. I don’t guess they will put any more critical holidays on a Saturday, poor planning on the part of the National Conference on Choosing Holidays.
It is not easy being a star. People want your picture and endorsement and autograph all the time and the movie isn’t released yet. When it is I think I get mansion number 1 and a fancy new car. I am going for a convertible 1948 yellow Lincoln Continental with yellow paint and a 12 cylinder engine. Stars should have lots of cylinders. I ordered one the other day online. Choosing who to lavish my star power on is also tricky cause they want you to like the product. So, I’m open to ice cream, donuts, coffee and pink lily marsh grasses first. Once I set the new standard for these it is on to even fancier things like, well, I’ll look up what is fancier than these cause there must be something.
I will close with a couple of photos from my staring role in the yet un-named movie. Though I think “Mr. Moose Goes to Washington” is a pretty good title.
Some of my crew rehearsing.
Here I am relaxing between takes.
Did I tell you the Driver had to give the house back? I knew that would not last. Here is my personal chef team fixing me an omelet - we lost them too. I will hire them back with Mansion #1.
Suspended Red /
Just a neat little leaf hanging from a branch over a small rill in the Great Smoky Mountains.
The Midnight Hole /
This was a great hike. We drove from our campsite at Cosby in the GSMNP along a winding, narrow road for 12 miles. Then turned right along this even more narrow dirt road to an area known as Big Creek at the very Eastern edge of the Smokys. I first shot this from about 20 feet off the trail but as I was doing so I became aware of the second small falls that you see on the right and most of the color was on the right. So, i made my way to mid-stream on some mossy rocks as far as I could go to get this better angle. The pool is pretty deep and, according to the name in the middle of summer it is a deep blue color. This was a really nice spot and only 1.5 miles from the the start of the hike. It was all up hill but not too steep after the first couple of tenths. I would love to return to this spot and see it in the summer as well but the day could not have been better, with temperatures in the low to mid 70’s and lots of color still on the trees here. And I didn’t fall in.
“The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation.” Psalm 145:9 NLT
Happy Halloween /
I drove up a dead end road through the forest 8 miles to an abandoned tunnel and this is what I see perched over the tunnel entrance. Hope your day is full of good surprises.
They were waiting for their dad to launch a drone to get a photo of them. Mom was freaking out about them being too close to the edge. They were 30 feet over the trail.
Editor’s note: Moose Rules will appear on Tuesday instead of today because the Moose no longer works on holidays. Some sort of “star” thing.
The Day Before Halloween /
What if the light at the end of the tunnel is not what you expected?
See Dave Jenkins for Many More! /
Dave Jenkins photographed scores of these barns and turned them into a neat book: Rock City Barns, a Passing Era. Dave is a professional photographer and you can find his blog at - www.alifeinphotography.blogspot.com where you will find thoughtful prose and very interesting photographs. You really should read his posts on Monday, Wednesday and Friday each week. Or if you wish you can go directly to the post about the barns here: http://alifeinphotography.blogspot.com/2020/06/the-book-that-changed-my-life.html
I had hoped to find one in my travels and get an image. This one is perched on the edge of the highway between Cherokee and Bryson City but it won’t be here too long. The kudzu and time are taking their toll. I actaullly found a second one in better shape a bit south of Seymoure, TN along the Chapman Highway. I stopped a few hundred feet away but simply could not safely cross the highway. So it will have to wait until Johnson Homecoming in February. I almost was able to meet Dave on this trip but we were just not quite able to get the timing right. Next time I will make a better plan.
Rainbow Rocks /
The color kept shifting but it was so neat to see this 10 or 12 foot long color prism dancing across the waterfall spray.
"Double, double boil and bubble; icy cold and splashy babble."" /
If Shakespeare lived in the Smokies.
Toot Toot /
Most of the crew here at the house went for a ride on this neat train that is based in Bryson City NC. They all had a great time and said it was a very pretty ride with the fall colors along a river for the majority of the trip and a view of Lake Fontana. I choose to go and shoot photos instead but only found a few things other than the train. Still a nice afternoon poking around the town.
Cadillac Tracks - I was a boffo smash in my debut performance at Fabulous Jill’s movie There were some disappointments, no trailer for me, no fancy chair with my name on it and no Papa Rattzi. I guess they did not know how to find us because we were in a secret location. But what a day. I was in most of the scenes, I did not miss a line and I looked very hungry right on cue - one of my most outstanding qualities. I will write some more later but right now my PR firm says I need to keep this short until we can work out a more equitable financial agreement. I am holding out for $4.
Serenity /
“Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1 NLT
Moose Rules Four /
What a week. Today I am in some town where I am probably starring in a movie or at least I will have a major part. So I spent the week working on seeing well with dark glasses, learning what a Papa Rattzi is and how to avoid them, perfecting my profile and looking completely disinterested. Also I practiced pretending to be serveral things because I don’t think Jill will make a western. So I am working on my timing for opera, comedy, drama and Disney. I hope it is Disney cause I look good in cartoon colors. I won’t have an immediate report on my spectacular success until Monday cause we stars don’t get up before 2 and the Driver insists this blog be ready by 6AM. Imagine. Well shortly that’ll change.
I can’t recall exactly what else happened this week. It may have involved hill, trees, water and food.
Just Before Dawn /
We went out at 5:15 to watch the Orionids a meteor shower that peaks near this time. Everyone saw several - I saw two, very brief ones. They get their name because they “appear” to come from Orion’s belt.
Cadillac Tracks - Are you ready for my big news? One of my many personal great friends is Jill. Or as she is known to me, Fabulous Jill. She is kind and wise and sophisticated and so you can see why we are such great friends for those are among my outstanding qualities too. What I did not know is that she is, Like Thomas, a Major Movie Maker (3M in the biz). And she is shooting her movie tomorrow. I talked the Driver into going because Fabulous Jill is, I am sure, going to give me an important role in the movie. Maybe Chief Gripper. My first step to stardom and I will be able to further impress Thomas with my IMBD number. What a day Saturday will be - soon to be a major national holiday.
Tom's Falls /
This beautiful little spot is just outside Bryson City, NC. We hiked a bit on two trails and viewed three waterfalls. I liked this one with the back lighting and the arch of the tree adding a bit of a frame.
Cadillac Tracks - I am having a hard time waiting for Saturday. My acting career is going to take off. All the details tomorrow. Now where do I want my second mansion?
Cool Running /
One of the many beautiful streams in the GSMNP. This one is strewn with leaves in the late Fall. Color higher up the mountain and we will head there Thursday.
Cadillac Tracks - we are in an actual house. We gave the trailer to some man who must collect them cause he had a lot behind a fence. I think the driver actually might have done something well cause this house is a great upgrade and he made a fabulous trade. Hope we are done with the mobile toaster. I have very big news on my new career. Stay tuned!!!.
The End, The Beginning /
This is the state capital in Montgomery, Alabama where the Selma to Montgomery civil rights march ended. A remarkable time that changed the status quo.
Little River Canyon /
In Northeast Alabama, a surprisingly mountainous area to me who had never been here before. Quite a nice place. We were here for the Little River Canyon National Preserve in a valley high in the hills with this water fall marking the start of the canyon. It is an 11 mile drive along one edge with a few places to pull over for views or very shot walks. Kayaks are popular for the trip through the valley but we saw none the day we were here.
Reflected Sunset /
From the bypass around Gatlinburg as the sun sets behind us mostly hidden by the mountains the clouds reflected this beautiful light on the mountain.
“May the mountains yield prosperity for all, and may the hills be fruitful.” Psalm 72:3 NLT
Moose Rules #3 /
We camped first in a mountain cattle ranch, kind of neat and they had a cowboy hat and rope that I practiced with in case Thomas, the Major Movie Man, needs me to look stealthy and cool along an old fence, wrangle a cow, ride a horse (one of my outstanding talents) or leap onto a runaway stage coach. Mostly what I see cowboys do in the old westerns. Sometimes they shoot people but that will not be in my contract.
Then we came to the Smoky Mountains which while they are very moosey we saw only elk and they were mostly elkettes. I might build my mansion (Actor Stars get at least three!) there because I would not only be a star but also the King of Antlered Beasts as elk are clearly not as magnificent when it comes to antlerism. The best thing that happened in the GSMNP was we met up with Rusty and Janet. I guess they were surprised that the Driver found them as they were clearly wanting to hide off in the woods. Yet even so, Janet was thrilled to see me and we chatted for hours and ate chocolates while the rest of them roamed the mountain with their picture boxes - human people are perplexing. Janet made me a lovely lunch and let me eat all of the black walnuts I wanted. Super. We did find some lovely ice cream but only on one day out of three - not a good ratio. (Point 8 to one is acceptable, point 4 to one is the preferred standard.)
One more confusing thing. I think the cookers were broken in the traveling boxes cause Rusty and the Driver had to build a fire OUTSIDE and it took hours, caused much smoke and provided entertainment for scores of people all to blacken six tubey things they then ate. Did they not see the 400 restaurants we passed riding around all day saying, “Oh, that tree is pretty.” How on earth can you take HP seriously. Well, we are off again to another place that I most likely will not approve of, but here we go.
