About a month ago, Jim and I set out to spend a few days in the Smoky Mountains. The rains came down and the forecast said in no uncertain terms: GO HOME, COME BACK LATER!!!!! And we did just that: came home and went back. For those who have not been to these glorious mountains and wondered why they are called “smoky”, here’s a clue:
Like déjà vue, the day before we got to the foothills, the forecast was not very promising. But we forged ahead–sure that with rain gear and massive umbrellas, we’d survive the meanest tempest! Then, north of Atlanta, the sky started to clear and by the time we crossed the border into North Carolina the Fall colors were waving and beaming everywhere you looked. I spent the first afternoon battling with my tripod and filters to get some shots of waterfalls and streams:
Next morning, we drove up the mountain to Clingmans Dome. Every twist in the road brought spellbinding vistas to light. (It also brought a stream of heavy traffic from the other direction. There had been an avalanche of boulders a few days before, so people had to take an alternate route to get to work.) Here’s my first view of Mountain Ash with only the berries left:
I know I said I wouldn’t pepper my postings with animation but I just couldn’t help myself with these ones of the beautiful smokies:
In the afternoon, we went on to Cades Cove and took a narrow road back to Bryson City. Driving that road was like driving through a cathedral of glowing, tiffany mosaics:
Next day we had to leave but got up before dawn to catch the rising sun:
On the way down the mountain, I HAD to take a shot of the misty ghost trees:
I also had some fun with the colors. Here’s a zoom with a slow shutter speed:
And here’s the original:
And since it was a few days before Halloween, I thought this looked quite the part:
On the way back to Georgia, we saw more waterfalls. Some wide and rushing:
Some wispy and hazy:
And, of course, we had to be copycat tourists and take pics of someone BEHIND the fall. Here’s Jim:
And one last glance on the Carolina/Georgia border:
The rain started to fall then but the colors burst through the mist in all their vibrancy. I think I left a piece of my heart up there. Well, I’ll just HAVE to go back, now won’t I? Won’t you join me in listening to Vivaldi’s Fall in the Four Seasons by clicking here? 
by admin
5 comments