UP--UP--UP we went!!! We took a gravel road across Rich Mountain (between Cades Cove and Townsend) on Thursday, September 9th. IF you missed Part I of our journey, click HERE. Today I will share with you some more pictures from our little trip. The picture above shows the road below us ---as we take the switch-backs up that mountain... This is an incredible area!!!! Below are more!
We stopped along the way ---and in this particular area, we took a little hike. We were looking for another overlook --so that we could see more of Cades Cove, but we didn't find one. It was a nice little trail though ---and we enjoyed the hike.
While on the trail, I saw this adorable little purple flower. My Sweetie put on his macro lens --and took this great picture. Isn't this a gorgeous little wildflower?
George can tell you how much I love Fall ---especially RED trees.... Not many trees had turned in the Smokies when we were there, but I got very very excited seeing this gorgeous red leaf.... Fall is truly coming!!!!! Yeah!
The dogwoods were beginning to 'turn' ---so we captured some pictures.
In the last Rich Mountain post, I mentioned that George had to climb up a bank in order to get some pictures of Cades Cove above the trees... There's some old girl watching him climb that bank making sure that he didn't take a tumble. (He stayed on his feet really well!!!)
Like I said, we do want to go back up that mountain when the leaves are off the trees. I think we'll get many more pictures showing Cades Cove then.
I'm sure that some of you bloggers know what these berries are. I have no idea--but I was hoping there would be some little birds around grabbing them. But there were no birds in sight at that time.... Sigh!!!! (UPDATE: Thanks to LINDA from PA for telling me that they are Elderberries!!)
Eeee Yi Yi..... A very pregnant tree!!!!!! ha ha ha..... OR---if not that, it's the biggest WART I've ever seen!!!!! Yipes!
Well--this concludes our little trip across Rich Mountain... I'm sure we will go back --and then you will be the lucky one to see more of our crazy pictures!!! (Tee Hee)
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Some of you may notice that I changed from the pull-down comment menu to the full page one... The pull down form has been causing trouble to people trying to post comments on my blog. Either the menu comes up blank, or you get "Service Unavailable".... I don't want my wonderful commenters to have that kind of problem.
I love the pull-down one ---and hope that Blogger will eventually get it fixed.. I will admit that the pull-down one can get frustrating when I hit the PUBLISH button--and then don't have a clue whether my comment published or not... That's why I do multiple comments at times --being impatient waiting for Blogger to tell me that my comment was published.
Have a great Thursday!!!
Hugs,
Wonderful photos, Betsy! I have seen those berries in the woods next to my house. The birds do love them.
ReplyDeletei might just try this to, i have been having the same thing happen to me also.
ReplyDeletelove hat red leaf, love that knot on the tree, love the view from the top looking down at the road. will you go back when all the leaves are color? and again when it is nothing but dead trees?
wow.. how enjoyable.. i have been sitting here for hours..now i feel i got to stretch a bit..otherwise i will be more rooted to the floor.. hahaha...
ReplyDeleteThose mountains are the most incredible place, brimming with wildlife too !
ReplyDeleteA lovely little wildflower, and excited to see the leaves are already turning, the start of a beautiful season in the Smokies....
Thank you for sharing your little trip with us, now I can get off to work, and feel refreshed ;)
I've often thought about this drive and for some reason have never made it, but you've inspired me.
ReplyDeleteI've never been on that road in the fall even though I've driven it 3-4 time...I'll bet that it would be beautiful in the fall.
ReplyDeleteLove the signs of fall in these photos Betsy! What a gorgeous view too! When are you and George going to write a travel book? :-) I would definitely buy it!
ReplyDeleteMiss ya & lots of love,
Shelley
I want to be there right now - instead of getting in my car and spending the day in a classroom! I have open house tonight too - 2 hours of standing in my room waiting for someone to come say hi! - No one ever stops to see the music teacher!
ReplyDeletePerhaps I will get my lesson plans done for next week!
Gorgeous pictures! Fall is slowly making its arrival here as well, despite the fact that are temps remain quite hot!
ReplyDeleteJane
I love the purple flower and red leaf, Betsy. Such pretty, bright colors!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos and I love that you captured some Autumn color. That's a pretty wildflower too!
ReplyDeleteLove being out ine the woods. Thanks for sending link to "tree house" post neat photos
ReplyDeleteBetsy, you and George live in such a beautiful place. I always enjoy your photos. The fallen leaf picture is just perfect. I love Fall!
ReplyDeleteBetsy,I LOVE that one red leaf.This is my kind of picture.Simple yet beautiful.I would also love traveling down that road,it looks so interesting.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful day.
Blessings,ruth
I enjoyed reading and seeing your beautiful back-woods drive, Betsy. I can't wait to see the fall colors you and George are going to capture in the coming weeks.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the ride, I love the journey!
Blessings ;)
Your little purple flower should be framed and hanging somewhere in your home! How beautiful! Do you have sumac(sp?) around down there? It usually turns a bright red no matter what the water levels have been during the year.
ReplyDeleteHave a great day!
Fall is definitely on the way. The transition time is just beautiful with the wildflowers still blooming and the occasional leaf turning. Such a wonderful time of year.
ReplyDeleteThose fall colors are starting to look so wonderful! You and George always have so much fun.
ReplyDeleteI was having trouble with blogger yesterday too. My post wasn't updating and my comments weren't working on my blog. sigh... it's so frustrating isn't it?
Have a terrific Thursday Betsy!
xo Catherine
Gosh, do you think that a different comment form will help? I've never thought of that! Up to your old stunt tricks again, I see! Well, at least you stayed on the ground! That tree is something else!! And I wish I knew what those berries are!! That's a very red leaf for this early in the season, so bright and pretty!
ReplyDeleteSuch a pretty area to explore. I love all the shades of green and the delicate little purple flower.
ReplyDelete☼ Sunny
P.S. Regarding my post - yes, I have tried Facebook and numerous other searches, even tried her son's name. There is a possibility she has a different name now.
This is such a great area to explore Betsy.
ReplyDeleteLove the preggo tree!!
Hi, that looks like a nice place to hike this time of year. I love the colors you found on the wildflowers, fall leaves and berries. I'm looking forward to some cool fall good-for-hiking weather here, desert summers are so very long.
ReplyDeleteCould those berries possibly be elderberries?
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to the fall too. I'm hoping that we have LOTS of color. That is a pretty red leaf in your one photograph.
Excellent shots, Betsy.
ReplyDeleteI am glad your knees are up to hiking a bit. I love the woods--whether deciduous or full of conifers. We have more Conifers out this way. MB
Love a day in the woods!!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure when I've seen such beautiful pictures! blessings, marlene
ReplyDeleteLove,love, love the photos of the little blue flower and the elderberries! And of course my favorite is the red leaf and the dogwood, this means Fall is coming!!!! Yeah! I just sure hope I'm not to late when I get there the end of October!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing and have a fabulous day, Betsy!!
I have seen the elderberries in England but never here. They make wonderful wine too. Lot's of folk in the UK make wine with them but again, I've never heard of it here.
ReplyDeleteVery pretty wildflower too. Do you know it's name?
No problem with commenting at all toady. Pulled up first time!!
Love the photos. Miss switchbacks (there are NONE in the midwest). Love elderberry wine!
ReplyDeleteBest,
Bonnie
Loved the photos...and the tree wart. haa That was HUGE!
ReplyDeleteI am so excited about fall...afraid it will be a short one with all the dry weather we have had. There are getting to be a few more trees tipped with color around here, and I am loving it.
ReplyDeleteI have a blog friend that hikes in that area....it's beautiful. I'd love to see it sometime, it's on my bucket list.
ReplyDeleteThat tree fungus is so weird looking!!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the pictorial trip on the little gravel road, Betsy. Especially the purple flower and the red leaf. Yes, those are elderberries and they make wonderful jelly/jam! I, too, am looking forward to Fall, it's been too hot here lately.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
CottonLady
Betsy Fun photos from you trip. So your the rich people that went up Rich Mountain. The story spread all through the area. BTW: That tree has a burl, it would make a great bowl because the grain is all twisted in different directions.
ReplyDeleteLove all your photos -- especially the wild flower and elderberries.
ReplyDeleteAnd the fact that you watch over George as he's climbing to take pictures! I also love the zest you and George have for life!
Rich Mountain was very scenic and I enjoyed seeing your photos of it, and those of you and George, Betsy.
ReplyDeleteI actually like this full comment page better as then I can "spell check" my comment which I can't do on the pop up page.
This is a beautiful area now, but In a few weeks it really will take your breath away. Nature truly provides us with some of the greatest sights ever. If you have time, read BJ's comment on my today's post. What is wrong with having my comments that way? I never change anything. Just want it where I do not get a lot of spams.
ReplyDeleteLovin these photos...the little flower is so beautiful and again I think you have some frameworthy photos here...the one with the red leaf would be so pretty framed!!!
ReplyDeleteYippeee...the weekend is almost here!!!
Love the dogwood pictures! If Jeep and I ever get back up there, I hope we get to travel this road.
ReplyDeleteEspecially good photos today, Betsy! I enjoyed the tour!
ReplyDeleteYour sense of humor is the greatest, Betsy! A pregnant, warty tree LOL!!!
ReplyDeleteThe red leaf is perfect and the purplish flower is a beautiful macro. Now I know what an Elderberry is!
I love how you and George aren't afraid to go off the beaten path and find great views and landscapes away from the crowds. You are intrepid explorers :-)
Great pictures Betsy. Lots of pretty things to see and photograph. Diane
ReplyDeleteDunno what those berries are but I'm sure all the birds are loving them. That pregnant tree is very interesting :)
ReplyDeleteBoy, this blog sure has stirred up some fond memories like the first on on Rich Mtn Road.
ReplyDeleteElderberries do make good wine, jelly & jam. I heard about them all my life. I even had a tree in the edge of the woods when I stayed at our place in N.C.
Gorgeous pictures as usual. Those switchback roads are something else when you meet yourself coming and going! The curves will about wear out your stomach muscles when riding in the car since your body shifts back and forth so often.
ReplyDeleteThe pregnant tree is very interesting looking but I really like the red leaf and that gorgeous purple flower.
ReplyDeleteBlogger comments always seem to be acting up in one way or another, maybe they will get their act together soon.
Lovely glimpses of these woods. I love the signs of autumn coming.
ReplyDeleteYour elderberries are much further forward than ours. Hope it's not a sign that you'll get cold weather soon.
EEE YI YI! I wonder why....Why that tree had the huge growth around it like that? There is so much to learn in the mountains. Elder berries make good wine I hear! Love all these pictorial reports of your travels.
ReplyDeleteThe forest photos are beautiful, and I just love that unique wildflower. George did a great job with the macro shot.
ReplyDeletewow... these sets of photos are gorgeous. i love the fist one because of the trees and the trail. but the macro shot of the purple flower is my favorite. it is simply awesome.
ReplyDeleteThat is a big wart, isn't it??? I have heard a name for that but can't for the life of me think what it is...and too weary to read all the comments right now to see if someone else knew.
ReplyDelete