Anniversary/Bday trip

Our original plans for a long weekend were to fly to Philadelphia....just because we had never been.  Planned to visit the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, etc.....

But, a nasty weather system was headed our way and it was going to make traveling in that direction difficult in the airplane.

So, we decided just to avoid all the stress and head to the NC mountains instead.

We buzzed out late in the evening - arriving at the Asheville Airport just at sunset with overcast skies.

We rented a car and rode up to Cherokee for a little gambling fix....didn't win anything much, so decided to go sightseeing instead.

Found some ducks - maybe wood ducks or mallard's?  

It was chilly and damp - beautiful greenery and spring flowers too.

Some elk in a field - there was Park Ranger nearby to make sure no one bothered them, I assume.

We drove for hours and hours - beautiful views at the Tennessee line.

We walked up to the observation tower at the top of Clingman's Dome - the highest point in Tennessee. (just  a few feet shy of Mt. Mitchell in height).

A nice couple asked us to take their photo - and I asked them to return the favor!  Very chilly up there - and we brought no jackets on the trip because we didn't really plan it well!

We walked a little on the Appalachian Trail....joked that now we've walked on the Trail in Maine and TN/NC, we'll have to connect the two someday....hmmm....no, probably not!

Drove on a very rough gravel road near Cades Cove....luckily one way 8 miles!  Signs warned that it was closed in winter and that limited emergency services available.  They weren't kidding - no cell coverage either!  We saw no-one else for the hour it took us to carefully drive the 8 miles.

I just loved the Park Services treatment of the many, many streams that crossed the road.

They just had concrete slabs at each crossing.  I'd hate to be there in a rainstorm though!

We made it around to the Fontana Dam....doesn't look too imposing here, but it really is huge!

A pretty view of Fontana Lake....then off to visit Granny for a little while as she's recovering from a very recent knee replacement surgery!