This is a portion of the lower Crabtree Falls just off the Blue Ridge Parkway on Route 56 East. The trail to the top is 1.8 miles and the reward of both the view and the upper falls are well worth the climb. Crabtree is also a dangerous place if you ignore the signs, over 20 people have died here falling off the slippery rocks. Cindy and I stopped here for a brief walk just after the area recieved over 5 inches of rain.
Great White Egret /
Saw this fellow while I was waiting for pelicans to appear in the bay. They didn’t. But this Great White posed and I took my first bird photo with manual focusing. Not sure if it was more sharp than the auto but I was more sure that what I wanted was sharp and not just some random branch.
Stark /
It was a foggy, misty morning as we traversed the Cades Cove loop road. This tree that appeared out of the mist as we neared caught my eye, and the camera came out.
Refreshing Joy /
“Your love has given me much joy and comfort, my brother, for your kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God’s people.” Philemon 1:7 NLT
Seige /
At this point on the Vicksburg, MS, battlefield in 1863 the Confederate forces held off an attack on the lines by the Union and when the Union troops withdrew with significant casualties Grant allowed a siege to begin a week into the battle on May 25th and it lasted until Vicksburg surrendered on July 4th, the day after Lee withdrew from Gettysburg in defeat. These are the twin events that the successful defense of the Union turned on - two long and bloody years of war had passed and two more to go but the outcome was decided on these two fronts.
"I'm a man of means by no means, king of the road"... /
The side of this business in Hot Springs AK has advertised different things. You can barely see the faint outline of the painted over Coke sign under the 10 cent cigar. Who does not want a ten cent cigar? At at the top you see the inspiration for today’s title “Rooms”
Roger Miller’s song, “King of the Road“ released in 1964 continues to rattle around in my head for reasons that baffle me. I never even had the album. But ask me if I know about “Dang Me” or “England Swings” or “You Can’t roller Skate in a Bufffalo Herd” and sadly, or fondly, I remember.
Here is Roger singing KotR, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qk_hPTN50UE.
and a live version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKF-712iz9w
or a combo including: “…Buffalo Herd” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6WjfuxfIiw
Enjoy.
Ramsey Cascades GSMNP (three variants) /
One of my favorite areas of the park is near Tremont. There are several waterfall, nice hiking trails and an easy 2 miles or so of road hikes. And this stunning cascade only about a 15 minute walk from the parking area. It attracts many photographers who perch on the single bench along the road or set up tripods near by. I chose to clamber down from the road about 25 feet to get a different perspective. Not sure what I achieved but I still like the photo. The whole cascade extends a bit more off the edge to the left and quite a bit more on the top. Still the colorful leaves that coat the rocks add a nice dimension to the scene.
I have three different photos here: first one is a compact scene to give a bit of emphasis to the cascade in context, second one is a vertical focused on the water & leafy rocks and the third is a more full view from my uncomfortable spot of the edge of the cliff. Do you have a preference? Why? Comments are open.
Do Not Be Deceived By Appearances! /
No matter how it appears this flag is steel because of the men and women who upheld its values and their willingness to do whatever it takes to keep it strong. Thank you to the veterans of America’s military services: Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, Air Force and the new Space Force. Except for the latter I have known and still know fine men and women in all of those branches and appreciate deeply what they mean to this flag —- and what this flag means to them.
Little Pigeon River /
It is early morning on the river near Boyd’s Creek just north of Sevierville, TN. The campground was OK but packed in and a bit noisy where we were but what a great view. We stayed here waiting for our next place in the GSMPN.
Desoto Falls /
Sometimes the angle is just not there, but then you find an old half concrete pipe in the side of the hill that sticks out abut 2 feet from the side and about 30 feet over the drop area and, there it is. Desoto Falls at Desoto Falls state park is actually a bit distant from the main park. Campground was nice and busy and the rain was off and on both days we were here but we still enjoyed this Alabama State Park in the Northeast corner of the state.
Rise Early /
“Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:29 NLT
Moose Rules #6 (3 photos) /
The movie is not yet out but the offers keep coming in. I am thinking of endorsing this remarkable invention, a pie you can carry in your hoof. Is that not spectacular. As lead spokesmoose, I will get a lifetime supply of these ingenious creations. I don’t think they know how much a moose of my stature can eat!
I also had to pose for numerous photos with my fans. This pretty lass gave me a great big hug when I was here for another possible product to endorse. The Driver has a review coming on Thursday for this place and I will be sure to add some better perspective to his account.
Another job, since I have not yet chosen who will be privileged to be my agent, is reading scripts. I cannot tell you the number of roles I am considering.
I have not yet been told when my movie is coming out but I will let you all know so you might get in line for some of my personal appearances. I plan to show up at them in my new, 1948, yellow Lincoln convertible. It unexpectedly has not yet been delivered.
I am including a photo from The Driver cause he gets cranky if I don’t and I just don’t need any negative vibe around my ascending film star status right now. But why did he pick a different perspective of Mount Denali and all I can see is Ms. McKinley. Another poor choice by the Driver.
Great new invention, just imagine what my Mooseyness will add to this package.
Yet another fan photo. Watch for some more info on Thursday.
Safe Place /
On the southern end of the Natchez Trace you can take a short drive to the town of Rocky Springs, MS. Don’t plan on finding a place for lunch, or gas or actually anything unless you are there the last Sunday of a month in the morning because there is still a church. And a safe. All that is left of this once large (1000 plus people) and thriving town are a few bits of foundation, a cistern or two and two old safes with no doors. Changes in the trace, travel, roads and both war and disease gradually eroded the town until the 1930’s when the depression caused the last people to leave. The nearly 200 year-old church is the only structure there and it was hard to reach in the rain. A fence closed off most of it and a muddy hill was also effective in keeping me away. So this shot is all I got and the safe. It was a lonely place, in the rain, no one around and just felt eerie.
Just the Top /
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?
