"Leaf Photo Op" Day Trip --10/14/13

On October 14, 2013,  George and I took a FOURTEEN hour Day Trip to check out the Autumn Colors around our area.  We started out in the Great Smoky Mountains;  then we went on the Blue Ridge Parkway (from Cherokee to Waynesville, North Carolina);  finally, we went on the Cherohala Skyway (between Robbinsville, NC and Tellico Plains, TN).  We finished our day by eating a BBQ Dinner at Bradley's Restaurant on Highway 68 --on our way home!

What a fantastic day we had... The photo opportunities were numerous everywhere we went with the best Fall Colors at the higher elevations.... Today I will share just a few of the 800+ photos we took on Monday.  Hope you enjoy seeing our area in Autumn. 

Above is a photo of George and me taken along the Cherohala Skyway.  Be sure to click on the photos for enlargements.

Once we headed up the Great Smoky Mountains (on Highway 441 between Gatlinburg, TN and Cherokee, NC)---notice the colors we began to see! When the sun hits those mountains,  the colors really show off for us!

And look at our view from Newfound Gap (on top of the mountain ).  We love seeing fog in the valley when we are in the mountains.  (We did, however,  run into that fog when we got on the Blue Ridge Parkway later!!!!)

Once we left Newfound Gap and drove over the mountain into North Carolina,  we stopped at the overlooks along the way.  Here is George standing at one of those overlooks.  Aren't the trees gorgeous behind him?

AND--- here is what the mountains looked like in the Smokies --on a gorgeous Autumn day!

This is an interesting photo showing the sun and shadows on the Great Smoky Mountains. This photo was taken from one of the overlooks on the North Carolina side, not far from Newfound Gap (the top).

WELL---after seeing all of that fog,  when we got to the Blue Ridge Parkway (between Cherokee and Waynesville, North Carolina),  we did run through some of that fog... BUT--it was okay since we enjoy taking 'fog' photos also.  This photo was taken at Woolyback Overlook,  elevation 5,425 feet.

Here is a photo showing the colors along the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Can you see the tunnel?????

I like this photo taken along the Blue Ridge Parkway showing the rocks and all of the colors..

Here is one of my favorite photos along the Blue Ridge Parkway.  This was taken at Woodfin Valley (elevation 4,120 feet).

After leaving the Blue Ridge Parkway,  we drove to Robbinsville,  North Carolina and headed up the Cherohala Skyway (toward Tellico Plains,  Tennessee)...  We loved what we had seen in the Smokies and the Blue Ridge Parkway,  BUT when we got to the Cherohala Skyway,  we saw even more Autumn colors!!!!

Here is a picture of me ---trying to get taller!!!!!!  George is 6'4" and I am 5'5"...  There are times that I can't see in order to get the best photos available!!  SO---as I said on Facebook,  "A Girl has Gotta Do what she's Gotta Do"!!!   I'm not sure that picnic table was made for someone to stand on,  BUT.............  ha ha

This photo shows  "God's Paintbrush in Action"--don't you think????  Aren't these colors marvelous?  This photo was taken at an overlook on the Cherohala Skyway at the Shute Cove Overlook (elevation 2,660 feet).

This is a great photo which shows the vivid colors we saw on the Cherohala Skyway.

Here is one of my favorite photos from the Cherohala Skyway.   I love seeing the shadows on the mountains ---and also where the sunshine is popping through.  Wish you could have seen this in person... It just took my breath away!  God is so GOOD.

I love SUNBEAMS...  We were blessed to get to enjoy them off and on during the day.  This was also taken as we traveled along the Cherohala Skyway.

Finally,  here's one more photo of George and me  taken at the Brushy Ridge Overlook on the Cherohala Skyway.  Do you like our Patriotic Shirts????  We got them at Colonial Williamsburg!

WELL----that's our trip in a nutshell.... It was hard choosing which photos to include on this post since we both have SO many good ones... It was a perfect day in every respect --and I'm sure I'll include many more photos from this amazing day trip in the future.

Hope you have a wonderful week.   I am taking a week off from Blogging not only to get some yardwork done --but also to continue enjoying this glorious Fall Season.  I'll be back--hopefully with some more great photos-- on October 28...

Hugs,

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