Today for my final day in Great Smokey Mountains National Park I went searching for waterfalls. I found a couple. There were more in the area of the Juney Whank falls but after hiking a quarter mile up hill and then back down I was hot and tired of carrying all my camera gear so decided to let the others go.
Base of Juney Whank Falls
Juney Whank Falls
But after a rest I headed up to Mingo Falls which is technically outside the park and on Cherokee lands but still beautiful in spite of a very long steep set of stairs to get there. I only wish some people would teach their children to be quiet and listen to the beautiful sounds of nature. Mingo Falls is said to be one of the highest in Southern Appalachia.
Mingo Falls
After a final stop at the Oconaluftee visitor’s center to pick up some music to put into a slide show I went back to my room for a little rest. Then I headed to the Qualla Arts Center to view some Native American crafts. I liked the baskets but they were too big to take home. I had to skip the Cherokee museum this time as I have been told it takes all day to do it justice and I didn’t want to pay $12.00 to just breeze through.
After consulting Trip Advisor I had concluded that the only good restaurants in this area were in the casino so I decided to head over there and check it out. Oh, my, this place makes Seven Feathers look like amateur hour. I sat down thinking to make a donation to the tribe and immediately won $75.00. I yo-yoed for a while but ended the day with $40 more in my pocket than I started with and a nice meal to boot.
Just to round out my trip I decided to go back up to Mingus Mill this evening and try to get the picture I had to give up on when we were there the other day. Not only did I have the place to myself, I had the added bonus of better light on the mill and a slow enough shutter speed to get some nice flow in the flume.
Mingus Mill
And that, my friends, is the end of my Great Smokey Mountains Adventure. I saw most of the park accessible by road and got to know much of it’s history. I thought this might be enough to scratch my itch to see the Smokies but I don’t know, I may have to come back again to see it in the fall.
Check back around the end of August when I will be reporting my next adventure which will be in France.
s which were the only thing available at the hotel.
ast 50 miles of the Parkway. Even before reaching the Parkway the scenery became amazing and I encountered my first waterfall in the Pisgah National Forest. Looking Glass Falls can be accessed from a stairway by the side of the road. I made the mistake of not taking my super wide-angle lens down to the base of the falls. So, while I got the shot, I would have liked a little more of the surrounding rocks and forests. I would have gone back but there were a LOT of stairs and my heart was already thanking me for the workout.
The views along the Parkway were nothing short of breathtaking. Even on a cloudy day. Some azaleas and rhododendrons were in bloom along with numerous other wild flowers. Toward the higher elevations I encountered some fog which was enchanting until it turned to pea soup. But it didn’t last too long. There were plenty of long vistas to be had.
I had been worried that the 120 or so mile drive would get me into Gatlinburg before I could check in to my condo for the next three nights but there was nothing to worry about as there were plenty of things to stop and photograph and I didn’t even make it to my planned lunch stop before my stomach insisted on a detour. I found a little place called Country Vittles in Maggie Valley. A real family run business, Grandma showed me to my table, Mom brought out my food and took my money and granddaughter Pearl was the waitress and bus girl. The daily special was Chicken and dumplings and the vegetable of the day was pickled beets. To which I added fried okra for my second side, a delicacy I have not tasted since my last visit to North Carolina. Of course, a biscuit and cornbread were served with the meal though I had to shy away from a commodity labeled “whipped spread” which purported to be 48% vegetable oil but was vague on the other 52%.
Arriving at the Park after another half hour’s drive I stopped off at the Oconaluftee Visitor center and toured the life-sized farm museum on the grounds. I especially liked the Irises planted next to the log cabin. By this time, I was beginning to zone out and even had to take a short nap in a roadside pull off. Then I proceeded to Gatlinburg (can you say tourist trap extraordinaire?). The condo took some finding and the time share people had to give me a sales pitch before letting me go to my room. Next time Holiday Inn Express, I think.
my digs (no more driving today, yay). I should have known when I walked in and saw no other diners that it was not going to go well. I almost walked out when the guy handed me a styrofoam cup for my iced tea (No, Jeanne, we are not in Oregon anymore). But I was tired and hungry so I went ahead with the most mediocre BBQ I’ve ever eaten (How do you ruin barbeque?). Oh, well, I still have that coupon for Bubba Gump Shrimp that the time share sales lady gave me for tomorrow night. I still haven’t figured out where it is though I should have walked right by it on the way to Bones BBQ. My recollection of my one and only previous Bubba Gump Shrimp experience was underwhelmed and overpriced. But hey, I’m here for the scenery.
earnest. But we piled into 8 taxis for the transit to our destination. First stop was a brief look at the 21st century art museum, a round structure with pant legs and sneakers gracing its support columns. There was also an interesting elevator on a hydraulic lift. However, we were really just killing time until the Noh museum opened. Here we got a look at some masks and robes. All very elaborate, as well as a model of a typical Noh theater. We will be h
aving a full-blown lecture and demonstration of Noh later on, so I won’t go into details just now.
the park at a pace more leisurely than befitted the weather. Once while waiting for people to use the restroom I decided to get creative with the cherry blossoms and umbrellas. When we came to a decision point about whether to grab a taxi back to the hotel or stroll on to the fish market I decided what I wanted most was not to be miserable anymore, so I had to take a pass on the market.
Buddhist Temple I had spotted on the map, not too far from the hotel. So, I walked the few blocks in the right direction it turned out and found not only the temple but this scenic graveyard. I hesitated to go in because I didn’t really know the protocol and by this time the clouds were gathering again and I was regretting the three glasses of tea I had at lunch. So, I started hurrying back to the hotel. Just as the thunder roared, a downpour started, and I thought I was going to pee my pants there in front of me appeared a lone porta-john. I ducked in and took care of business and by the time I came out the downpour had tapered off. We’ve been talking about unemployed angels at church lately, I guess one must have been watching out for me.
y blow account of what we did but to concentrate on the theme of the day which was without question Cherry Blossoms.
What I found interesting was how obsessed these people are with the flowering of trees. We all enjoy the spring blossoms at home, but these people have Cherry Blossom viewing parties. And, it being Sunday, yesterday, the viewing was in full swing, despite the best blossoms having past peak. Apparently, the snowy effect of the falling blossoms is also appreciated. Our 
guides were quite concerned about finding us trees to view in their full glory.
rebuilt palace.
e were lining up in mass to go in. These police officers were directing people where to go.
There we saw plenty of blossoming trees as well as people setting up for their viewing parties under the blossoming trees. We also had a chance to see the traditionally landscaped gardens.
nately, I couldn’t get any cherry blossoms into the picture, so it will have to be seen at another time. It
shington (D.C.) mall on forth of July waiting for the fireworks to begin.
Here is a picture of St. Kevin’s Church which was the main place of worship prior to the building of the Cathedral in the 12th century. And here is another view from closer in. The cemetery does not seem to be as old as the monastic buildings as many of the graves date from the 19th century and some further out are even from t
he 20th. One of the challenges today was the flat white sky.
The round tower was a bell tower and landmark to help visitors find the place. Occasionally when marauding Vikings struck it was also used to protect supplies but not, as was earlier thought, the people of the community.
circle representing the sun to the Christian cross.
Another fun and full day. We headed out to Bru Na Boinne this morning. This is a megalithic burial complex which includes New Grange, Knowth and Dowth. The tombs here date to 3300 BC. Our group went to Knowth where there was one large mound surrounde
d with numerous smaller ones. This picture shows two of the smaller ones. Around the large tomb are kerbstones with megalithic art inscribed on them. Each one is different and no one knows what they mean o
r whether they are, in fact, just art. Here are a couple of examples.
Next up we went out to visit the Connemara Ponies who really just wanted to be fed but let us pet them anyway.
y the bodhran, a sort of Irish drum. Here are my friends Jackie and Susan showing off their new skills.
et a friendly pig. One of our group chose to kiss it on the nose. Yuck.
rut his stuff. Hard to believe we have only one more day in Ireland but it should be another good one.