Left the sun, came home to snow

We got home from 3 weeks of sun on Saturday evening.

Woke up Sunday morning to SNOW!

So I decided I was not done taking photographs. We took off to Cades Cove.

These were all taken on the road going to Cades Cove.

All but the first one were taken from inside the vehicle as we traveled.

The road leaving Metcalfe Bottoms Schoolhouse

This is the road as I was leaving the Metcalfe Bottoms Schoolhouse. Notice in the top photo, you can see the fence that surrounds the cemetary up the hill from the schoolhouse.

These are the last of the photos from this visit to Metcalfe Bottoms in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. I am sure I will be returning, maybe when it snows.

Metcalfe Bottoms in GSMNP trails and roadways

The first 2 photographs are on a walking path, on the back side of the water, close to the Metcalfe Bottoms picnic area.

The last 2 photgraphs are on the one lane roadway to the Metcalfe Bottoms schoolhouse. It is one lane, but 2 way traffic. Just had to stop to photograph. If you have visited very long you know I love the old country lanes with trees on both sides.

And these just a hint of fall colors showing. This was the last day I was able to go to the GSMNP during the fall colors this year.

Road to Townsend from Cades Cove

There is a road directly across from the Missionary Baptist Church that goes to Townsend, Tennessee. Sorry, I failed to photograph the sign. It is an unimproved road, and it takes an hour to get to Townsend. When the colors are right (and so far they are not) it is awesome to take, just for one overlook. You look down on the Methodist Church and cemetary. The colors are outstanding, and the setting cannot be topped. It is a well known photograph of Cades Cove to the locals. I have taken this road in the past, but not on this day, I still had to get out of the park and go to work.

I am sure at least several of you know, I like the light coming through the trees, especially on gravel roads or paths.

Deer with swollen face

I drove down this quiet little back road in Rhea County, Tennessee. This road photograph reminds me of the Trail to Woody Place at Cataloochee Cove in GSMNP, except this is a paved road, instead of gravel. When I turned around and was coming back out to the highway I spotted some movement down the road. So I grabbed the camera.I saw the deer cross the road then, and go up the bank, when I got up even with her, she turned her head, but I think you can still see from this photograph her face is very swollen.She looks like she needs a dentist, REAL bad. I was only able to get this one photograph before she took off. Don't know if you can tell, but she is also drooling.

UPDATE: Due to being contacted about this deer (via email) I have learned a little about this condition. If you need information about a deer with a swollen face, please check this link and this forum. I just realized today (12/5/08) if a google search is done on "deer+swollen face" this post came up first. Since that is happening I decided to research a little further to see what I could find. I don't come into contact with many deer other than at Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and this is the only deer I have ever seen with it. This deer was not in the park.

Trail to Woody Place, Cataloohee Cove - GSMNP

Well, it was still too early in the afternoon for the elk to come out of the woods, so we decided to walk to Woody Place. The sign said 1 mile. We all know how these markings are in the parks. It sure seemed like a lot further than 1 mile.But at least it was pretty, and we were also in the woods, so it was not as hot as it would have been in the fields. Don't know what we would have done if we had seen any elk in here. All the signs said the elk were more dangerous this time of year than the bear.
We crossed 3 or 4 of these bridges across the streams. Made sure not to grab the rail, because it appeared to not be attached very well.