Mountain Rhodo

Snapped this one at Smokemont information center at the entrance of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Vacation May 2008 Despite High Gas Prices

My wife Sharon and I took a much needed vacation a couple of weeks ago. Thursday May 15th, we headed West on I-40 bound for Asheville, NC. We spent the night in Asheville, and toured Biltmore House Friday. That is one Gimongous house. and well worth the visit. I hope to go back sometime during Christmas. The "Festival Of Flowers" was going on while we were there. I got some photos of the flowers, but I need to work on those before I post them. I never claimed to be a great photographer just someone who likes to take pictures. That afternoon, we made our way to the wonderfully small town of Waynesville, NC, where we stayed at the Windover Inn Bed & Breakfast Friday and Saturday night. (There was a Gingerbread couple on the pillows YUM!) The place was all we hoped it would be. A restored three story home (circa 1883) furnished with period furniture (if you don't count the hot tub--which by the way was wonderful after hiking in the Smoky Mountains). We did go up into the Smokies on Saturday, and visited Clingman's dome. Fifteen years ago when we were there last, the 1/2 mile trail to the observation tower seemed much easier. I wonder why that is? There are five benches about one hundred yards apart on the trail to the top. We hit all five, and a couple of large rocks before we made it there. I have to say however, I saw some considerably younger people huffing and puffing as well.
To get to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, we had to go through the Cherokee Indian Reservation. When I was a kid and had my picture taken with an "Indian Chief", I don't remember him wearing cool shades like those I saw being sported by some of the befeathered "Chiefs" this time.
We wound up our too short stay Sunday morning, by taking a side trip just seven miles outside Waynesville to as close as we could get to the base of Cold Mountain. Yes, the one the book and Movie are named for(see photo). All in all I highly recommend this part of North Carolina if you get the chance to visit. Just bring some comortable shoes, and a light jacket or sweater, even in the summer. Believe me, you will be glad you did in the higher elevations.

Smokies Website

I was browsing the net and found a pretty neat site. www.gosmokies.ning.com. Here, you can read Smoky Mtn. vacation stories, view photos, etc. If you like the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, then you will enjoy this site.
Have fun, I did.