Welcome to JOYFUL REFLECTIONS. Also welcome to MARCH!!!! My header picture this month is a photo I took of the pretty Crocus blooms in our yard... The Crocuses and Daffodils are the first signs of spring here in Tennessee. I am definitely ready for SPRING...

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Hiking in the Smokies

George and I took our last hiking trip to the Smokies for awhile... (We stay away from that area during the tourist season as much as possible--due to the traffic and large amounts of people around.)   We had to go to Knoxville for regular Toyota maintenance early on Tuesday,  May 21,  so we just drove the extra distance and went on a 4.3 mile hike.

This time, we first stopped off at the Foothills Parkway for some pictures of these beautiful mountains  before heading on for our hiking trip near Elkmont to Huskey Branch Falls.  Today will be the first set of the pictures from that trip... Hope you enjoy them!!!   Be sure to enlarge them for bigger pictures.

The picture above was taken from the Foothills Parkway near Townsend.  OH how I love these beautiful mountains!!!!!   NOTE those threatening skies... Hmmmmmmm---wonder what that means??????????




George took this photo of me at one of the overlooks on the Foothills Parkway...  As you can see,  I was happy to be there!!!!




Now we are on the path to Huskey Branch Falls... We followed the Little River (shown above) all of the way up the mountain.  This is a fabulous area of the Smokies --and provided us with many photo opportunities.   The last time we were in the Smokies,  the leaves were still not on the trees ---so it was great seeing all of the beautiful new Spring growth.




Here's another picture of me enjoying the Little River.  Since the weather was 'threatening'--we decided to wear our jackets on the trail.   Am I ever glad that we did!!!!!! ha.....  Note also that I'm wearing my camera vest ---which is wonderful.   The camera is always right there in front of me,  but I don't have to carry it,  or struggle with it bobbing back and forth when I walk!!!!!   If you don't have a Camera Vest (or wear a backpack like hubby does),  then I highly recommend this!




Here's a picture of George doing what he loves ----taking pictures using his tripod and his new filter......  




This is a picture of the type of photos George is getting using the new filter... I think they are truly AWESOME...  He can make the water turn to SILK....




Here's one of my 'creative' shots --without tripod and fancy lens.... BUT--I think it turned out pretty good anyhow.  I call it "Swirling Water"...




Finally,  here is a picture  we took of us at the Little River,  using the tripod...  Oh how we love being in the Smokies!!!!  More pictures to come of this 'memorable' hiking experience.....

Hope you had a great Memorial Day weekend.  We did --although it was HOT here (hotter than it usually is this time of year up here on the Cumberland Plateau)..   We got some yard work done and cooked some steaks on the grill on Monday!!!!

Have a fabulous Wednesday.
Hugs,
Betsy