Cade's Cove Bear sightings

On our drive around the Cade's Cove we saw or encountered 2 coyotes, 3 bears, several deer and turkeys. A small mamma and her cub came out of the woods and crossed the road right in front of us near the Cable Mill interpretive area. Further along the road, we saw a lone male (probably) crossing a field (last picture).

Impromptu Sculpture

On our way to Cade's Cove with Henry and Jane Smith, we stopped at the Townsend "WYE" to have a picnic lunch. Also the river bank we encountered an impromptu sculpture garden, created with stacked river stones. Enchanting!

Our contribution

Elk Hunt - Take only Pictures

Hatfield Knob Elk Viewing Tower, North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area: From LaFollette, TN, drive about 7 miles north on Hwy 25W. Turn left at the signs onto a gravel road. Continue on this old logging road 4.5 miles, following the signs to the Elk Viewing Tower. From the parking lot, walk another 1/4 mile to the viewing tower. These elk roam freely, not fenced on 120,000 acres of abandoned strip mine land. We saw about 35, 4 bulls and several calves and the rest cows or yearlings.

Haiku

Out of nothing comes

order, interpretation,

word picture - Haiku

Surplus of Beauty

Nature is wanton

sparing neither her wrath nor

surplus of beauty.

Instead of our usual walk through Melton Hill Dam Park, Bill and I walked down toward the river and then up the trail to the overlook. The whole route is about 2 miles. Bill walked ahead of me on the trail, wielding his walking stick like a sword, slaying the spider webs strung across the way. He provided a clear path for my feet and freed me for observation and reflections. It can be hard to see anything new when walking a familiar path. In a couple of weeks, the yellow partridge peas will be replaced by goldenrod, ironweed and joe-pye. Near the top of the ridge, ground cedar (Diphasiastrum digitatum) still grows abundantly as it may have for thousands of years. It is actually a member of the club moss family which is one of the most most ancient of vascular plants. 

Clearing a path

Partridge Pea

Ground Cedar with Fern

Star-gazing

Bill and I spent a glorious evening star-gazing and counting shooting-stars at the campground of Big South Fork National Recreation Area. We didn't see one-a-minute but we did see about 60 over a three hour span. I can't think of a better way to spend a Wednesday night. On the drive over we detoured for an overlook of the wild Obed River. After checking out of our campsite on Thursday we stopped at Leatherwood Ford to walk along the Big South Fork River. BSF is a tributary of the Cumberland and flows north like the Cumberland. The path was shady and not took steep so we found ourselves walking all the 2.0 miles to the Angel Falls rapids.  We had a great experience of unspoiled wilderness not far from home.

Angel Falls rapids

Peaceful trail

Big South Fork River

Always enjoy a campfire, but not cooking on it.

See the coal seam behind Bill.

East Rim Overlook

Made it 2 mi there and 2 mi back. As Bill said, making it back was not an option.

Obed River overlook

Garden Meditation

On March 2 I fell and broke my leg in the hip area. After surgery and rehab Bill and I made a wonderful trip to Las Cruces, NM to visit with Anna and Jake. Five days on the road going, six days there and five days on the road home.  Spring gardening had to be put on hold until May. I knew that gardening would be good therapy for body and mind. It has been good an,d while I'm not 100% and I still move slowly and have less stamina, I'm working, walking and getting better.

Garden Meditation

Focused on the task at hand

Lost in the moment.

May 24, 2015. Garden is about a month behind (except tomatoes), and doing well.
Thanks be for last night's rain. Lots of mulching still to be done.