Exploring the Smoky Mountains

After leaving the Blue Ridge Parkway, we cruised on west.  The plans were to go down the Great Smoky Mountain Expressway and then head in for a bit of beautiful mountain driving on the way to Tellico Plains.

There were many beautiful overlooks...even Persia enjoyed looking around.

Can you see yourself in a cabin looking down on this view? 

There were cute shops to explore too.  This was my favorite...

Nice, yes?

Along one point we crossed a high bridge and looked down to see a thick mist across the water...

Of course we turned around to check it out,  The water was so cold!  I knew it had to be coming from a deep dam.  A man who was fishing confirmed my thought.  But more about that tomorrow.

The mists had so many different looks...

Sun light on the mist...

...and a rainbow on the mist!

There were even shadows.  How cool is that?

Himself had fun skipping flat stone's from the boat ramp.

Farther down the road was this old - but still in use - dam (not the one that made the mists).

Getting close to sunset we stopped to enjoy this mountain stream.

Looking for shiny stones for Little Bird,

Pretty.

Love how this stone has the tree root grown around it.

There were a lot of stones to look through.  I found a few perfectly flat ovals that will make fantastic necklace pendants.

It had been a lovely day but night was coming up quick...

Rolling Down the Blue Ridge Parkway

After 3 activity filled days with our friends, it was time to get on the road back to TN.  And there's no better road to go on than the Blue Ridge Parkway!

I love all the pull outs and how each one has a sign or two.

(OK folks... this is how you do a selfie when you don't have a smart phone!)

There were not many people driving that afternoon.

"Bad Fork" overlook - 3350' elevation.

Hominy Valley overlook - elevation 3980.

Buck Spring Gap - elevation 4980.

Buck Spring Gap from the other side of the road.

Rhododendron.

Isn't the bud interesting?

Funnel Top overlook - elevation 4925.

Missed the sign on this one.  It is a huge 'bald', probably granite.

Cruising along enjoying the scenery.

I explored several outcrops like this one.  Beautiful stone!

A wild blueberry bush.  It's just getting started and the blueberries here are at peak!

One of many tunnels along the route.

Pretty, aren't they?

This is our favorite photo op.  We've taken a photo of every auto we have driven on the Parkway.

After we left the Blue Ridge Parkway, our driving adventure continued...

Travel Theme: Gleaming (Vicksburg National Military Park)

On a gleaming sunny day in May, Himself and I visited Vicksburg National Military Park in Mississippi.  There are approximately 1300 monuments here... incredible pieces of sculpture and architecture.

This is the Minnesota Monument; which is made of granite and stands 90 feet tall.

Wisconsin infantryman monument.

"Cavalryman" statue

The Ulysses S Grant statue stands at the site of his battlefield headquarters.

The Rhode Island memorial.  This statue is of a soldier who has retrieved a fallen unit battle flag.

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