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There are many beautiful scenic spots to enjoy in the Smokies, especially if you can be there before the tourist season begins in earnest. One place we enjoy visiting is The Sinks, which is along Little River Road in the park. I got this picture in March, when we went to Cades Cove to celebrate my birthday. March 9, 2023.
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My Beautiful Bride and I love the Smoky Mountains, although we don’t like the busy times (or places) when there are so many tourists around. So we go to the park in the winter or visit some of the places that aren’t on everyone’s list of things to see.
I got this picture of the Middle Prong of Little River on a January visit to the park a few years ago. That’s Lower Spruce Flat Falls coming down the mountain on the other side of the river.
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This past September Betsy and I, along with Betsy’s son Mark and his girlfriend Robin, visited the Gatlinburg Skybridge for he first time. The Skybridge, which opened earlier in the year, is the longest (680 feet) pedestrian suspension bridge in North America.
The Skybridge is located at the top of the Skylift in Gatlinburg. Robin and Mark rode up the mountain in the chair in front of us.
The Skybridge is even more impressive when viewed from the top of the mountain.
There were quite a few people on the Skybridge, but we were still able to enjoy the views of the Smokies above Gatlinburg.
We never get tired of seeing the Smoky Mountains.
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Both Betsy and I have mentioned the extreme drought we had in this part of Tennessee during the latter part of 2016. We haven’t completely recovered in spite of rains over the past few weeks, but the situation has certainly improved.
We weren’t sure what to expect when we visited the Smokies in mid-January of this year. But we were happy to see water flowing in Middle Prong Little River in the Tremont area of the park, as can be seen in the photo above. That’s Lower Spruce Flat Falls in the background.
We could even enjoy flowing water from the balcony of our room at Rocky Waters Inn in Gatlinburg.
The next day we went to the Greenbrier section of the park and hiked along Middle Prong Little Pigeon River. It, too, was beautiful.
Although we very much enjoy hiking, sometimes we just have to sit and enjoy the beauty that surrounds us.
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In mid-August Betsy and I took a day to visit with our friends Judy and Charlie at their campsite in the Cades Cove Campground. We always enjoy a visit to Cades Cove (or any other part of the Smokies as far as that is concerned!).
Camping at Cades Cove is an annual event for Judy and Charlie, and we try to visit with them each year. They are experienced campers and always make us feel welcome when we visit with them.
After our visit, Betsy and I drove to the beginning of the Cades Cove Loop Road. We didn’t have enough time to drive through the cove, but we could stop and get some pictures.
My Beautiful Bride is always happy whenever we are in the Smokies.
As we were heading home we stopped at the Townsend Visitor Center for one last look at our beautiful Tennessee sky and Mountains.
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It’s been down-right hot hear on the Cumberland Plateau for the past couple of weeks, and promised relief just never shows up. So I thought perhaps I could feel more comfortable by revisiting an excursion my Beautiful Bride and I took to the Smokies in January, 2013.
We were on our way to visit Cades Cove, but we stopped along the West Prong of Little River on the way so we could visit Meadow Branch Cascade.
As you can tell from the picture above, it was decidedly cooler than it is now. While I scrambled down the bank of the river to get pictures, Betsy kept an eye on me from the safety of the road.
I thought the point where the base of the cascade met the river was a pretty sight.
The West Prong Little River is definitely little before it meets the cascade, but it flowed clear and cold on the day of our visit.
We like visiting the Smokies because we always see something new. We never expected to see a dolphin smiling at us as he stuck is snout out of the rushing water.
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Betsy and I visited the Smoky Mountains in May, 2001. I had never spent much time in the Smokies, but I had an excellent guide since Betsy had visited them when she lived in Tennessee earlier. We very much enjoyed the beautiful green of the mountains and the flowing clear waters of the streams.
In the collage above, you see Betsy on the deck of the Wonderland Lodge, where we stayed, on the upper left. A view of Newfound Gap, near the Tennessee/North Carolina border is on the upper right.
A nice man took the picture of Betsy and me along Mill Creek in Cades Cove. In the lower center is a photo of the John Oliver cabin, also in Cades Cove. I got the picture of Betsy along Mill Creek which is on the lower right of the collage.
To see larger versions of these pictures and others, click HERE.
Middle Prong Little River, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee. August 27, 2012.
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Betsy and I like driving and hiking along Middle Prong of the Little River in the Smokies. This river is in the Tremont section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which means it is less crowded than more popular sections of the park.
We usually go when there is plenty of water flowing over and around the boulders in the river bed, but a couple of years ago we went on a beautiful August day when the water levels were very low.
At first I was disappointed that the water of the river was barely moving, but then I noticed the light and reflections. Sunlight streaming through the trees seemed to turn portions of the river into gold.
Middle Prong Little River, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee. August 27, 2012.
A little later we came upon a pool of water that was turned a yellow/green by the leaves of the trees overhead.
Middle Prong Little River, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee. August 27, 2012.
As I continued to pay attention to the reflections in the water, I found I could capture the trees overhead and the sky by photographing the water. The result is different from most of the photographs I’ve taken, but I like the color of both the green leaves and the blue sky as painted by the river.
Middle Prong LIttle River, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee. January 20, 2014.
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This is my post for the Our World meme. This meme is a second generation of My World Tuesday created by Klaus Peter and is hosted by five wonderful ladies. To learn more about our world or to join and share your part of the world, click HERE.
On January 20, Betsy and I drove and hiked along Middle Prong Little River in the Smokies. It was a beautiful sunny day, and there was a good water flow along the river. The water was so clear that we could easily see the stream bed.
Middle Prong LIttle River, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee. January 20, 2014.
We often stopped and walked along the river to enjoy the sight (and sound) of the water rushing over and around boulders in the stream.
Middle Prong LIttle River, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee. January 20, 2014.
As we worked our way up stream, the river just seemed to get more and more beautiful.
My Beautiful Bride along Middle Prong LIttle River, Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee. January 20, 2014.
But I know well that not all of the pretty views that day were of the river.
Betsy getting a picture of Middle Prong Little River, Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee. January 20, 2014.
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Last week Betsy and I went to the Smokies to do some hiking and get some pictures. Unfortunately we didn’t get in much hiking, but we did get in a lot of photography. We drove and walked along Middle Prong of Pigeon River, since I wanted to try out my new lens and filter.
But in addition to trying out my new equipment, I couldn’t resist getting some pictures of Betsy at work. She didn’t have a new camera or lens, but she worked hard at getting good pictures herself. The picture above shows her getting a picture of some rapids in the river.
Betsy photographing Stillhouse Hollow Falls. January 20, 2014.
There were a couple of small waterfalls on the side of the road across from the river. Here Betsy is getting a picture of Stillhouse Hollow Falls.
Betsy along Tremont Road, Smoky Mountains, Tennessee. January 20, 2014.
I was lucky to get one or two pictures of Betsy without that camera in her face. Just look at that smile.
Senior Moments 