Yup, the leaves will soon be turning and the Smokies will soon be calling. move_it
Magicman....Road trip huh?....Well iffin ya ever get the hankering for another trip up north here this time of year...maybe Jeff can point you over to the "tunnel of tree" the lake shore and the view on that drive is amazing. There is a place in route called "LEGGS INN" that enhances the drive even more. If once you get passed that, further north just a tad bit more is a place called "TUCKERS" best dern steak I have ever had and again...the view and natural beauty is fantastic. Now I don't know how that compares to the Smokies but I wasn't sure you ment the "colors from the "Smokies" patrol car or the leafs, so I thought I'd give ya an option. :)
Either way...have a safe and great trip.
We stopped for the night in Gadsden AL and will be in Pigeon Forge tomorrow.
We are looking forward to some R&R. ?
We are enjoying the Smokies and the weather is super nice. 40's & 50's at night and 70's daytime. We are probably a week ahead of seeing the more brilliant reds, but for now the leaves are mostly yellow.
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We saw this young bull Elk chewing his cud in the shade.
Yesterday we drove up the Blue Ridge Parkway and to Balsam Mountain Campground which was the very first campground in the Smoky Mountains that we stayed in back in 1966. 50 years ago!!! :o
From there we drove to the West end and drove Hwy 129 which is called the Tail of the Dragon. Here is a short video clip. (Go to full screen):
https://youtu.be/XjiXCadEtlU
Headed downhill to Georgia ;D.
Some of those bikers like to ride the yellow line.
Very nice, thanks for sharing.
Two years ago almost to the day I rode the Tail on my 1970 Honda - travelling to Barber Vintage motorcycle festival in Birmingham.
Quote from: Magicman on October 12, 2016, 09:31:18 AM
Yesterday we drove up the Blue Ridge Parkway and to Balsam Mountain Campground which was the very first campground in the Smoky Mountains that we stayed in back in 1966. 50 years ago!!! :o
From there we drove to the West end and drove Hwy 129 which is called the Tail of the Dragon. Here is a short video clip. (Go to full screen):
https://youtu.be/XjiXCadEtlU
Wow! I think you folks were just a couple loopdy dee loops short of a roller coaster ride! Glad you're having a great trip and thanks for the ride, safe travels!
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Yesterday we decided to have lunch with our friend.
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He surely knows how to graze.
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The colors were much more brilliant today. The yellows and reds are really showing out now.
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Just a pretty overlook.
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A quiet stream.
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I believe that this is Mountain Ash.
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I ordered a Po-boy, so there is a bun under there somewhere?? :o
Nice pics, MM, thanks for sharing.
Has anybody ever noticed the differences in leaf colors, time of change, how quick, etc. compared to how long or hard a winter it's going to be?
We have lots of bright, perfect colors right now, mixed half and half with trees that are still all green with no change. If I remember right, last year the same thing happened and we had the easiest winter on record here. I didn't have to plow snow once! It was great. I'm hoping for the same thing this year.
We have been here 4 days and it is amazing how much the leaves have changed.
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We enjoyed a "spread" for lunch today at Paula Deens. Corn, squash, tossed salad, mac & cheese, pot roast & rice, spare ribs, breads, and topped off with peach cobbler.
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OK, not the same as the FF Apple Pie.
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And if you reach the end of your rope, this guy on a Harley will drop by and pick you up. :o
MM...WOW...that is quite the spread Sir....I'd need a serious nap after enjoying that.
Quote from: Magicman on October 12, 2016, 09:31:18 AM
Yesterday we drove up the Blue Ridge Parkway and to Balsam Mountain Campground which was the very first campground in the Smoky Mountains that we stayed in back in 1966. 50 years ago!!! :o
From there we drove to the West end and drove Hwy 129 which is called the Tail of the Dragon. Here is a short video clip. (Go to full screen):
https://youtu.be/XjiXCadEtlU
The Dragon/Deals Gap, 318 curves in 11 miles. Pretty much everyone that comes up to the Billarosa on a bike wants to ride it for bragging rights.
Not much for scenery as you are too busy keeping the bike on pavement.
We have a loop we take from the house, over the Cherohola Sky-way, past Fontana Dam, through Deals Gap [Dragon] over the Tellico river then SR360 back to Tellico Plains. 137 miles, Leave mid morning and back for lunch.
1 tank trip unless I'm riding the Shovelhead then it's a 2 tank trip. 1 stop light and 2 stop signs.
There are photographers on the side of the road in key spots taking pix which can be purchased.
This was taken last July. My backpack was Sue Anns Daughter who had never been on a bike before. We gave her a world class ride through the mountains.
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We sorta made that loop in a fashion and passed through your Tellico Plains on the way home Bill, but you weren't there. :-\ Only thing we were in an F250, but I did always pull over and let the bikers pass. ;D
Did you stop in the museum in Tellico?
No but we will be back when we are messing around and not traveling through. ;)
That road reminds me of a lot of roads in Western Montana and and Northern Idaho. High way 12 from Lolo pass west there is a signe that says curve next 77 miles
I finally found the pictures that "Xtreme Sports Photography" took of us on "The Tail". They were pictures #2548 and #2549 that they took that day.
You could have brought your mill and sawed some logs for me, I've been working up a pile and need a food sawyer. I'm just off of I-59 in Gadsden.
Or, just give a holler and I'll buy you a cup of coffee and slice of apple pie.
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We spent the first night in Noccalula Falls Park. :)