We left Thursday (12-12-19) to celebrate Karen’s 60th birthday in the Smokey Mountains. The clouds rolled in and threw down a wintery mix that didn’t faze us. We were prepared for the rain, snow and freezing cold temperatures.
Halfway through our 5-hour drive, we stopped in Pisgah National Forest to see Little Branch Falls. The hiking directions emphasized the lack of a clear trail to this 40-foot cascade and we wandered awhile in the snow before finding our way.
The walk to the falls was exhilarating and the icicle clad cliffs beautiful. We were reinvigorated for the rest of our drive.
A dear friend of Karen’s, Mary, who lives near Maryville, TN, welcomed us to use her lovely home as a base of operations. Ms. Mary was a wonderful hostess and we had a great visit. Above is the view from one of her four firepits.
Saturday we headed home and the forecast was 100% rain all day. “Button up, Baby, It’s gonna be cold and wet outside.” I chose to enter the Great Smokey Mountains National Park at Townsend and take scenic Little River Road to Gatlinburg. We viewed Meigs Falls’ 30-foot drop from the truck by the road.
The Sinks are an awesome cascade that S-turns at a parking lot by the road for easy access.
Kayakers, like waterfall lovers, know that when it’s pouring rain water features are at their best.
The hike to Laurel Falls is 2.6-miles out and back. Many soaked hikers envied our umbrellas.
Laurel Falls tumbles 80-feet with a bridge across its middle.
The rain eased up on our hike back from Laurel Falls and we stopped to reflect on the beautiful surroundings.
We cut back across the Smokies on the road that snakes over 5046-foot, Newfound Gap. At the top it snowed, a dense fog set in and it was tough sledding. It was a relief to have just rain again when we reached Cherokee, NC.
We spent the night at quaint Oak Park Inn of Waynesville, NC. The above picture was taken before we left on Sunday morning. The little motor lodge was clean and the owners extremely nice.
Waynesville closed main street to traffic and celebrated “A NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS” for us. These sheepless shepherds were just a few of the many costumed locals that participated in a live Bethlehem marketplace complete with merchant’s tents, ancient artisans and a manger with Mary, Joseph and Jesus. The local stores remained open and Karen got earrings made from a woolly mammoth tusk for her birthday and maybe Christmas too.
Musicians, carolers and bell ringers made music inside stores and along the street lined with hundreds of luminaries. There was a huge Christmas tree, Santa with Mrs. Clause, horse-drawn carriage rides and lots of happy folks filled with Christmas spirit.
The sun shone bright and it warmed nicely for the final leg of our journey. We stopped at Veronet Vineyards & Winery in King’s Mountain for a snack from their food truck and to pick up a bottle of Cabernet Reserve to go with the chocolate birthday cake we shared back home. Our adventure was a splendid celebration of Karen’s big day.