Posts Tagged ‘Travels’

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Our World: King’s Bluff Trail

February 18, 2013
Betsy on the King's Bluff Loop Trail in the Ozark National Forest of Arkansas. February 11, 2013.

Betsy on the King’s Bluff Loop Trail in the Ozark National Forest of Arkansas. February 11, 2013.

(Note:  All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them.)

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.

A beautiful blue February Sky. February 11, 2013.

A beautiful blue February Sky. February 11, 2013.

This past Monday Betsy and I hiked the King’s Bluff Loop Trail in the Ozark National Forest in Arkansas.  We had been there several years before, but it was good to go back, especially on a pretty February day under a beautiful blue sky.

King's Bluff Falls, Ozark National Forest, Arkansas. February 11, 2013.

King’s Bluff Falls, Ozark National Forest, Arkansas. February 11, 2013.

The trail led to King’s Bluff Falls which actually had a fairly good water flow.  It was only a trickle the last time we were there.

A pedestal at the Pedestal Rock Scenic Area of Arkansas. February 13, 2011.

A pedestal at the Pedestal Rock Scenic Area of Arkansas. February 11, 2013.

After leaving the waterfall the trail looped around to rock outcroppings that over some spectacular views of rock pedestals formed by erosion over millions of years.  Many of the pedestals have varied-colored lichen growing on the rock faces.

The hike was a wonderful way to enjoy the marvelous beauty of God’s creation.

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Posted in Our World | 17 Comments »

Down Memory Lane: Tennessee Waterfalls in December

February 8, 2013

2009 -- Dec. Waterfalls TN

(Note:  All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them once or twice.)

December is a pretty good month for visiting waterfalls in Tennessee.  The weather is usually cool for hiking, although sometimes the water levels are low.

We visited some waterfalls near Flag Pole, Tennessee, in December, 2009.  Most of the waterfalls were fairly small, but we enjoyed visiting them just the same.

In the collage above Big Branch Cascade is on the upper left, while  Hogskin Branch Falls is on the upper right.  Upper Big Branch Falls is on the left in the bottom row, with Devil Fork Falls in the center.  Big Branch Falls is on the lower right.

To see larger versions of these pictures and others, click HERE.

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Posted in Waterfalls | 13 Comments »

Alabama’s Little River

February 6, 2013
Little River Canyon National Preserve, Fort Payne, Alabama. February 14, 2010.

Little River Canyon National Preserve, Fort Payne, Alabama. February 14, 2010.

(Note:  All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them once or twice.)

One of the places Betsy and I have visited several times is Little River National Canyon Preserve near Fort Payne, Alabama.  The canyon is sometimes called “The Grand Canyon of the East”.  There is a scenic drive along the rim with several overlooks from which the river can be seen far below.

Little River, Fort Payne, Alabama. February 14, 2010.

Little River, Fort Payne, Alabama. February 14, 2010.

These pictures were taken in February, 2010, when the river was fairly high and the water was a beautiful color.  We thoroughly enjoyed watching the water rush over and around the rocks in the stream bed.

Little River, Fort Payne, Alabama. February 14, 2010.

Little River, Fort Payne, Alabama. February 14, 2010.

Both kayaking and rock climbing are permitted in the canyon, but Betsy and I decided to content ourselves with photography.

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Posted in Travels | 17 Comments »

The First Daffodil of Spring

January 30, 2013
Daffodil in bloom at the Biltmore Estate, Asheville, North Carolina. January 28, 2013.

Daffodil in bloom at the Biltmore Estate, Asheville, North Carolina. January 28, 2013.

(Note:  All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them once or twice.)

Monday Betsy and I went to Asheville, North Carolina, to the Biltmore Estate.  We went primarily to visit the Conservatory — something we do a couple of times each year — and to do some walking around the estate.

As we were walking through one of the gardens back to the car, we spotted this daffodil in bloom under a tree.  Some of our daffodils are up, but they are a long way from blooming.  It was a surprise to find this one in bloom.

Orchid in the Conservatory at Biltmore, Asheville, North Carolina. January 28, 2013.

Orchid in the Conservatory at Biltmore, Asheville, North Carolina. January 28, 2013.

As I mentioned, Betsy and I went to enjoy the flowers in the Conservatory.  We spent quite a bit of time in the Orchid Room, enjoying beautiful blossoms like the one above.

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Skywatch Friday: Bali Skies

January 25, 2013

Bali Skies

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This is my post for Skywatch Friday, a meme for sharing views of the sky from all over the world.  To see more, or to join and share your own photos of the sky, click HERE.

All of the images are from my archives, scanned from slides.  Back in 1987 I was able to spend several days on Bali.  Bali was just about everything you could imagine  for a south sea island paradise.  The skies, and the sunsets especially, were spectacular.  These photos were taken at Kuta Beach Resort.

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Skywatch Friday: Ocean Isle Sunrise

January 18, 2013
Dawn brought some beautiful color to the sky off Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina. December 14, 2012.

Dawn brought some beautiful color to the sky off Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina. December 14, 2012.

(Note:  All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them once or twice.)

This is my post for Skywatch Friday, a meme for sharing views of the sky from all over the world.  To see more, or to join and share your own photos of the sky, click HERE.

The weather wasn’t the all that great when we were at the beach last month, but we were treated to a gorgeous sunrise on our last morning at Ocean Isle Beach.

The sun making an appearance off Ocean Isle Beach. December 14, 2012.

The sun making an appearance off Ocean Isle Beach. December 14, 2012.

There were low clouds on the horizon out to sea, but the sky above was clear and beautiful.  We were able to watch as the sky brightened and the sun made its appearance.

A path of light leading to our room. December 14, 2012.

A path of light leading to our room. December 14, 2012.

As the sun moved above the horizon, it sent a path of light straight toward us.  While that made it hard to leave, it certainly gave us something to look forward to when we go back.

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Linville Falls

January 16, 2013

Upper Linville Falls, Linville Gorge, North Carolina. November 8, 2012.

(Note:  All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them once or twice.)

In early November Betsy and I went to Asheville, North Carollina, to visit Mount Mitchell and enjoy some of the beautiful scenery along the Blue Ridge Parkway.  But Mount Mitchell State Park was closed because of snow, and a big part of the Parkway was closed due to construction.  So we had to go with Plan B.  Plan B included a morning visit to Grandfather Mountain and a late afternoon visit to Linville Falls.

We had visited Linville Falls back in 2004, but this time we had a little more fun getting there because of the road closures.  We reached a Forest Service trailhead to the falls in the late afternoon.

The trail first led us to Upper Linville Falls (above).  The upper falls is a small double falls above the main falls.  Although the falls are small, the setting is very pretty.

Linville Falls, Linville Gorge, North Carolina. November 8, 2012.

We couldn’t see the main falls from the upper falls, so we decided to hike to an overlook about half a mile away which offered a distant view of the main falls.  I had to use my long lens to get the above photo.  There is a small, twisting gorge (‘The Chimney’) between the upper and main falls.  You can see the water flowing from the bottom of the chimney before reaching the main falls.

It was getting late, so we didn’t make it to the Chimney View overlook, nor did we have time to hike to the base of the main falls.  I guess we’ll just have to go back.

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Our World: Ocean Isle Beach

January 14, 2013
OceanIsleBeach12121106

The beach at Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina, as seen from the balcony of our room. December 11, 2012.

(Note:  All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them.)

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.

In December my Beautiful Bride and I made a quick trip to Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina.  Ocean Isle is one of our favorite places to be, and it is near Calabash, North Carolina, which has some of the best seafood found on the east coast.

Sky and water off Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina. December 11, 2012.

Sky and water off Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina. December 11, 2012.

The weather in December isn’t always the greatest, but in December we often have the beach to ourselves.

It was overcast the afternoon we arrived in Ocean Isle, but the afternoon light, the clouds and the water made a beautiful picture.

Sunbeams breaking through the clouds at Ocean Isle Beach. December 11, 2012.

Sunbeams breaking through the clouds at Ocean Isle Beach. December 11, 2012.

I was fortunate enough to capture some sunbeams breaking through the clouds in the late afternoon.

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Skywatch Friday: Tennessee Skies

January 11, 2013

Autumn color on the Cherohala Skyway. October 25, 2009.

(Note:  All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them once or twice.)

This is my post for Skywatch Friday, a meme for sharing views of the sky from all over the world.  To see more, or to join and share your own photos of the sky, click HERE.

Moon in a blue sky over the Cherohala Skyway. October 25, 2009.

I went to my archives for these pictures of a beautiful Tennessee sky.  We were on the Cherohala Skyway on a gorgeous October day.  The autumn colors and the sky were both brilliant.  The moon in that blue sky was an added bonus.

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Posted in SkyWatch Friday | 21 Comments »

Our World: Mile High Swinging Bridge

January 7, 2013

The mile-high swinging bridge on Grandfather Mountain, North Carollina. November 8, 2012.

 

(Note:  All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them.)

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.

Betsy and I had to go to Plan B on our November trip to Asheville, North Carolina.  Plan B included a trip to Grandfather Mountain and the Mile High Swinging Bridge.  The name ‘Mile High Swinging Bridge’ is somewhat misleading.  Although the elevation of the bridge is 5,278 feet (a mile) above sea level, the bridge spans an 80 foot deep chasm on Linville Peak of the mountain.

The Mile High Swinging Bridge as seen from the parking lot on Linville Peak. November 8, 2012.

Both Betsy and I had been to Grandfather Mountain before we met.  Back then the bridge (a suspension bridge built in 1952) really did swing.  The wooden planks and side rails weren’t anchored, and would readily swing during high winds.  In 1999 the bridge was rebuilt and galvanized steel was used for the the planks and side rails.  Furthermore, anchor cables for the planks were added.  Now the bridge doesn’t swing very much, but it does ‘sing’ during high winds.

And the winds were definitely high when we were at the bridge.  The official temperature was 35°, but the wind was so strong it was hard to stand up straight.  I don’t know what the wind chill temperature was, but my fingers were so cold it was hard to take pictures.

Betsy after crossing the Mile High Swinging Bridge on Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina. November 8, 2012.

Even my Beautiful Bride thought it was cold.

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Posted in Our World | 19 Comments »

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