I have to have my Jack-o-lantern. This year we have a grinning pumpkin pie and these really great glow-in-the-dark spooky balloons.
Camp appears to be kid less so no trick or treaters tonight. No problem though,Kent got a snickers bar for me so I am all set. Snickers (my very favorite candy bar) are the one mini bar treat that we always gave out…..well, we gave out most of them!
Deep Creek, Smoky Mountains
We drove some pretty remote sections of the Park along the ridges above the Parkway and the Cherokee Reservation. There were great vistas and a quiet that made falling leaves seem loud. It was a good excursion but, no bears to be seen.
But back in the town of Cherokee my wish for a bear sighting was fulfilled, sort of.
Proud, brave, wise, and at one with nature. Life size statues of the noble black bear stand street side. They have been painted by Native American artists to reflect elements of the Cherokee culture and beliefs. It is powerful imagery.
In the car. Our gravel road shared a steep narrow valley with a quick moving spring. Seems the road crew favored paved flow-crossings over bridges….I suppose they don’t wash out as often. In reality the creek crossings were just a bit disconcerting.
The most difficult areas were uphill climbs that had been wallowed out by spinning tires to depths that easily exceeded the Miata’s ground clearance. Kent maneuvered us through without mishap. It was a pretty 8 miles but it took us about an hour. That’s one drive we likely won’t do again. To extend the challenge, when we popped out on paved road we were right in the middle of the “Tail of the Dragon”; a section of US 129 favored by motorcyclists for it’s nearly continuous down hill curves. That part was perfect for the Miata! It just hugs the road and gets on down. Kent actually had to let up on it so he wouldn’t run over a couple Harley riders.
Today was a 170 mile day just to get to parts of the park we have never seen before. Tomorrow we plan to put a few more miles on our boots and fewer on the tires. Leaves are past peak in the high country of the Smokys but valleys are still beautiful so a couple waterfall trails are calling my name.
We have seen the full range of “cabins”. Tiny one room clay chinked that seem to set perfectly in their surroundings to towering A Frames that seems to dominate the very natural setting they sought out.
This one is pretty but a bit to rustic I am afraid. 
Too close to the Parkway too.
We will have to keep looking for the one that is just right.
High Rocks Trail Cranberry Glades
We saw a wedding at Hawks Nest State Park. The ceremony was at the overlook built with graceful CCC stonework walls and walkways with the back drop of color dotted mountainsides and the curving river below. The reception was set up at one of the picnic pavilions. It was beautiful and wonderfully simple. I’m just saying!
I joined the Wahama Alumni Band for homecoming 2012. It was great to play again at the game. Brought back a lot of memories. We did; The National Anthem, alma mater, fight song and performed at half-time including playing for the introduction of the queen and court. Got a couple of compliments on the performance and was proud to represent the school again. Thanks to the real band for standing aside and allowing us alum another chance.
2nd row left side in picture is Kent