Visit with Friends in Kentucky

Having Fun at Cove Lake State Park, Tennessee

From October 22-25, 2013,  we visited our good friends,  NEAL and Patti,  at Pine Mountain State Park in Kentucky.  We have met for three Octobers in different places,  just enjoying our time together and also getting Fall photos of the colored leaves.  Three years ago, we met at Maggie Valley, North Carolina (click HERE);  last year, we met at Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio (click HERE); and this year at Pine Mountain State Park.

This year was the first year we have met when the weather didn't want to cooperate. It was cloudy and COLD almost all week... BUT--that didn't stop us from going-going-going, and having a good time!!!!

Today I will share some bits and pieces from our week --but will share much more in more upcoming blogs.  Be sure to click on the photos for enlargements.  The photo above is one George took of me having fun on a swing when we stopped to check out Cove Lake State Park in Tennessee --on our way to Kentucky!!!!

View from our room at Pine Mountain State Park

After we got to Pine Mountain,  we had to check out the view behind our room.... Pretty, isn't it????

Log Rock --at Kingdom Come State Park

The next morning,  we traveled to check out another state park that George and I  had never seen before,  Kingdom Come State Park (Kentucky).  Even though it was cold (very windy) and mostly cloudy---we LOVED this state park.  The Autumn colors were terrific.  This photo of George, Patti and Neal was taken at LOG ROCK at Kingdom Come.  This is a long rock which looks like a huge tree which has partially fallen.  It was NEAT!

Neal, Patti, George, Betsy at Kingdom Come State Park

George put up the tripod at Kingdom Come State Park and took a photo of the four of us...  We all have such a good time together... Can you tell????

Look who is talking to the bear!!!!!

We saw this sweet little cute adorable BEAR in the Visitor Center... You know that "I" had to take time to have a little 'chat' with that bear.... ha ha

Neal and Patti at an overlook at Kingdom Come State Park

We saw some beautiful views from Kingdom Come State Park.  Here's a cute photo of our good friends, Neal and Patti, at one of the overlooks.

Fog in the Valley --taken from the lodge restaurant at Pine Mountain State Park

The next morning,  this was our view from the Pine Mountain State Park Lodge Restaurant.   I love seeing fog in the valley below... We got a similar photo to this one when we visited here in June --but this time,  we enjoyed seeing some Fall Colors also.

The "Tree of Many Colors"

We visited the Cumberland Gap and Middlesboro area looking for some sunshine (we did see SOME, but not much), and more Fall Colors.... I took this neat photo of a "Tree of Many Colors".... Pretty, huh????

Overlook at Pine Mountain State Park

Here is a great photo showing some of the Fall colors from an overlook at Pine Mountain State Park.

Betsy, Patti and Neal at Lookout Point at Pine Mountain State Park

George took this photo of us at Lookout Point at Pine Mountain.   Look at that wicked sky!!!!!!!!  Can I tell you that it was COLDER than COLD standing out there in that stiff wind!!!! Yow!

At the Scenic Obed River near Wartburg, TN

On the way home on Friday (25th),  we stopped to check out the Scenic Obed River along our way.  While George took photos,  guess what I did???????  I SAT and enjoyed the scenery all around me!!!!ha

Us at the Scenic Obed River, Tennessee

While at the Obed River (which as you can tell was VERY low--with not much water), we decided to take a photo of the two of us together... Other than still being cold,  we had a gorgeous day to travel.

Gorgeous Autumn Colors along the Catoosa Wildlife Management Area, Tennessee

After getting up on the Cumberland Plateau and taking the 'short-cut' through the Catoosa Wildlife Management Area,  we found the Fall Colors to be much, much prettier (at the higher elevation).  I put this photo on Facebook --so wanted to share it with you too.

Along our rocky road in the Catoosa Wildlife Management Area

George took this photo --and I loved seeing the blue skies and all of the different Autumn colors.  Isn't it just marvelous?

Beautiful Fall Colors on the Cumberland Plateau, Tennessee--on 10/25/13

I am constantly looking up at the blue-blue sky and seeing so much interesting color in the tops of the trees.  I love this one!

Praise God for all of the Beauty we Enjoy!

AND---just as we got almost home on the 25th,  we noticed these beautiful red trees near the Lutheran Church in Fairfield Glade.  I managed to get a fantastic photo showing a red tree and the church steeple.   What a fabulous 'welcome home' for us!!!!!

Stay tuned for more photos from this great trip... Hope you had a good week.  IF I missed anything important on your blog,  please tell me.. I 'tried' to read blogs --but didn't have much time during the week.

Be sure and check out Neal's blog (click HERE).   Neal and Patti have been traveling through the years --so he always features GREAT photography from his trips.

Have a fantastic Monday!
Hugs,

Emoticons

"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,

Emoticons