A Smidge of Smokies

Look, it's been so long since I have made regular posts on my blog that when I opened it up yesterday I couldn't remember how to do it!

Smokies during the early spring rains

But, as of April 16th I am DONE WORKING! And Wayne was done working last week!  We still have a lot going on in the next few weeks, but I finally have time to post photos I took down in the Smokies 2 months ago.

Knowing that trips to the Smokies might become a thing of the past I wanted one last short trip to say good-bye.  It ended up being almost all driving, and most of that in the rain...but I was glad I went.

I stopped for a look around Bud Ogle's Place, liking the moodiness of the misty rain.

Who lived here in days gone by?

And any Wisconsin resident would stop in awe to see Daffodils blooming in February.  Ours just opened up a week ago, and then spent a day snowbound when the weather gods dropped half a foot of snow just for the heck of it.  Never mind I'd been wearing shorts for a few days.

fascinating fungi

The weather will be less finicky than that in Newfoundland.  I get asked about the weather there a lot, especially what the winters are like.  I'll soon know for sure, but what I tell people is that winter is a little longer with temperatures still only in the 40's and 50's by mid-April, but it doesn't drop down as low at night and you don't get the deep cold that the Midwest has to live with.  Winter temperatures tend to hover right around the freezing mark which is November or late February weather in Wisconsin.  So, no more deep cold and less snow! I won't get a break in the wind department, but you can't have everything.

Left behind to age gracefully

Summers are mostly in the 60's and 70's especially once you get into July, August and September.  Now that's my sweet spot for weather! Might be staying put every summer!  But as I have done in years past I plan on traveling in January and March to break up the winter blues.

Spring rain makes for roaring creeks

Another trail I hiked was Chestnut Branch which is located in the Deep Creek section of the park just over the North Carolina border.  I like this part of the park because it's less visited.  It's about 2 miles up and 2 miles back down with a little over a 1200 foot elevation gain, which was more than enough for someone who spent her winter behind the wheel of a car and getting no exercise at all.

When I make those trips back I probably won't be going to the Smokies anymore, so this was my farewell in my heart.  There are a lot of places left to explore, and now I have 2 countries to call home and it's time to branch out and find new trails to love!