On previous visits to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, I did not have the opportunity to visit the Cades Cove area, so I made it my priority on the trip I took there last month. As I drove the 11-mile, one way loop road, one of the first observations was how obvious it was that the early settlers of Cades Cove were strong in their Christian faith. At the beginning of the tour, you will see the Primitive Baptist Church. Some of the earliest settlers established this church in 1827. A log building served their needs until the white frame structure shown above, replaced it in 1887. Although the church closed during the Civil War, the adjacent cemetery has many headstones that allude to victims of that most horrendous of wars.
Every church
that I went inside along the Cades Cove tour, had a Bible in the pulpit. They represent a time when all a preacher had available to share God's Word, was that beloved tome. There were no video screens, no flip charts, no "Power Point" computer programs, no microphones, or sound amplifiers. It becomes understandable why preachers of that day may have had to SHOUT, to get their message across to a diverse group of pioneers!
Other churches along the Cades Cove driving loop are the Methodist Church and the Missionary Baptist Church. The church above was a bit "fancier" than the other two, because of the circular bow-shaped addition behind the pulpit.
Further down the road, in the mill area, visitors can see the LeQuire Cantilever Barn. Large barns were common in the Cove, where farmers needed shelter in the cold months for the livestock they grazed in the mountains during the warm season. The overhand in cantilever barns such as this one provided shelter for animals, as well as storage space for farm equipment.
This photo shows the Cable Grist Mill, so named because it was built by John P. Cable. The water wheel you see provided power for both the grist mill and a saw mill.
One of the churches I visited along the route, was just dismissing a worship service that had been taking place. I heard many of those in attendance mentioning they would see the others shortly at the "dinner on the ground". Having grown up attending small churches in the South, I knew they were talking about an outdoor picnic. I later saw many of those families in the mill area of Cades Cove, enjoying their potluck meal, under the shade of a big oak tree.
Today,
the Great Smoky Mountains Association operates the grist mill as an historical exhibit, with the gentleman shown above, explaining that Mr. Cable had been a farmer, as well as a miller. Therefore, he not only sowed the seed for the grains he raised, he also reaped its harvest. I am using this image as a visual aid for my First Place 4 Health (
www.FirstPlace4Health.com ) memory verse that says, "Do not be deceived; God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows." Galatians 6:7
The Visitor Center at Cades Cove is open most days throughout the year, barring flood or flurry or other times when the entire park is closed. (For example, the entire park shut down for a few days when I was there in September, due to high-speed winds, associated with Hurricane Irma). The Visitor Center was built in 1972, and is a place where visitors can obtain information, buy books, post cards, batteries, maps, guides, and pre-packaged snacks.
After I completed my walk around the Mill Area of Cades Cove, I took the highway that leads to Clingman's Dome. I had read there was a paved trail that led from the parking lot to the lookout tower, so when the highway ended, and I saw this ribbon of concrete in front of me, I knew I must be at the right place. The trail is a one-half mile, asphalt trail, leading to an observation tower. (Note: Pets are not allowed on this trail.)
When the paved trail ends, you will step onto a spiraling ramp, that will lead you to the observation tower. Lest you think the dead trees readily visible at Clingman's Dome are the result of fire, the problem is actually an invasive species of insect that is decimating certain tree species in the park.
For those who do not want to take the spiraling ramp to the observation tower, they have the option of waiting in an area, suitable for sitting, at the entrance to the ramp.
When you are on the circular observation tower, there are placards that tell you the names of the mountains you are seeing in the 360 degree view. You will also learn that you are standing on Tennessee's highest point, and the third tallest summit east of the Mississippi. The official elevation is 6,643 feet above sea level.
Adjacent to the parking lot are some very large rock formations, and several people were enjoying scrambling over them, looking for photo opportunities.
The upper right corner of this photo shows the Clingman's Dome Visitor Center. Besides the usual souvenir items for sale in this building, you can also use the FREE "passport stamps" available to record your location and date of visit, on whatever piece of paper you want to get stamped. The logos available included not only Clingman's Dome, but also Appalachian Trail stamps, as the famous "A.T." goes through this location. In fact, one of the reasons I was determined to visit Clingman's Dome was because some of my hiking friends had posted photos from here, when they were backpacking this section of the Appalachian Trail. With some roads of the park already in the process of closing due to Hurricane Irma, I was giving thanks to God, that I was able to make it to the top before getting "run off" by Park Rangers, who were in the process of clearing out visitors, as a precautionary measure because of the severe storms that were being forecast.
This photo shows the ominous-looking thunderheads that were starting to roll over the top of the mountain.
Folks who like to participate in walking/running events might be interested in combining their love of foot racing, with a vacation to a popular tourist destination. If that is you, check out the schedule for an organization whose motto is "Race Where You Play", at
www.VacationRaces.com I was able to see huge numbers of racers participating in an event called the Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon. They got a very early start, on a beautiful Saturday morning in the park, and walked or ran 13.1 miles along a paved trail (beside the highway and away from traffic) that leads to the park, from near the town of Townsend, Tennessee. This photo shows the medals that would be waiting for them, complete with the emblem-shape of the National Park Service.
Of course, you do not have to sign up for a race, to be able to enjoy the more than 850 miles of foot trails within Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Considering the park is made up of a sprawling 520,000 acres spread out in both Tennessee and North Carolina, you are bound to find a trail activity that is to your liking and skill level.
The National Parks of the USA are such an incredible blessing to all those who visit them, so let's get out there and enjoy them! If you would like to start planning a trip to The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, just visit their website at
www.nps.gov/grsm My visit to this remarkable area in the center of our nation gave me "MILES OF SMILES"! Tricia
Yosemite National Park ( www.nps.gov/yose ) lies in central California on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada. This sign I photographed in June, 2018, at the entrance, is a much more "modern" looking sign that the one that my husband and I saw, when we visited the park back in 1998. I would later discover that this was the first of dozens of new signs (and new names!) for places I saw twenty years ago!
Fortunately, the name, and magnificent view, of the "cut-in-half-sphere-shaped-mountain" in the center of this photo has not changed, and it is still called "Half Dome"! 
However, one thing about Half Dome that has changed since twenty years ago, is that you now need to register and get a permit to climb its spherical ascent side. Apparently, so many people were ascending to the top of it (no technical climbing equipment is required, rather one holds onto a metal railing that leads to the top), that overcrowding became an issue. 
At the observation patio near the entrance to the park, there is a model of Half Dome, that allows visitors to see the topography of the surrounding mountains and valley. 
Yosemite is famous for its spectacular waterfalls, and the best viewing of these is before they run dry during the late summer months. 
My son (who rock climbs regularly at Yosemite) gave me some recommendations on hikes that would be suitable for my cousin, Debbie (shown in this photo), and I. One he recommended as a "Must See" was the jaunt to Bridalveil Fall. Since we were there in June, the sign was accurate in that it was steep, but we did not encounter any icy conditions!
The entire ascent to the Bridalveil Fall viewing area is alongside this cascading rush of water, crashing against boulder after boulder.
Debbie is seen in this photo, with the spraying mist of Bridalveil Fall behind her. We did not go much farther than this point, because the rocks were big and slippery, and we had many more places we wanted to check out in the park!
After the falls, we drove down to Yosemite Village, and the biggest challenge we faced was finding a parking place! Once that hurdle was overcome, we set out on foot to explore what the village had to offer. We visited a gift shop, a restaurant, a re-created Ahwahneechee Indian village. We also saw an Indian Cultural Exhibit that depicted the history of the Miwok and Paiute. 
Being a "photography nut", I was eager to visit the Ansel Adams Gallery ( www.anseladams.com ). When I was there twenty years ago, the gallery had offered a free "photography walk", and I was eager to find out if they still did so. The answer was "Yes", but it was all booked up for that day, so Debbie and I signed up for the first one offered the next morning. 
When we arrived at the gallery the next day before it opened, we chatted with other guests who were also going to be on the walk. Soon our leader appeared, and we followed her like "ducks in a row" across the meadow and the Merced River, to a location that would give us a beautiful view of Yosemite's Upper Falls. Our leader is the girl in this photo that everyone is looking at. 
She had a copy of one of Ansel Adams photography books, and took us to a few of the same locations where Adams captured the magnificence of Yosemite Valley. 
This photo shows the meadow in the foreground, and the Upper Falls in the background. Folks are asked not to walk on the meadow, as it is in a restoration phrase; likewise, pets are not allowed in the meadow or on the trails. 
One of the ladies in our photography "class" tried out the skills she had just been taught, by taking this photo of Debbie and me together on the boardwalk, with the Upper Falls in the background. I think she did a great job!
After the photography class, Debbie and I made our way over to the famous hotel she had been wanting to see, after hearing great things about it from family members who had stayed there. Debbie and I called it The Ahwahnee Hotel, but we found out that it has a new name, due to the fact that a new concession service has taken over the management of the park. It is now called the Majestic Yosemite Hotel, and true to its name, it is MAJESTIC!. Debbie looks like a little midget beside its MASSIVE fireplace! You can find out more about lodging available within the park at www.travelyosemite.com .
After a thorough visit of the public areas of the legendary hotel, we drove over to the newly opened Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. We felt very fortunate on the timing, because this section of Yosemite had been closed for renovations until just a few days before we were there. 
One of the new exhibits is this "slice" from one of the trees at the Mariposa grove, and I am using it as the visual aid I to help me learn my First Place 4 Health ( www.FirstPlace4Health.com ) memory verse from 2 Corinthians 4:16. It says, "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." These giant trees sometimes will have an outer appearance of charred bark, but somehow---miraculously---they will recover and manage to eek out another growth ring. They are being inwardly renewed!
One new component of the Mariposa Grove is this shuttle bus that takes one to the trails within the Mariposa Grove. Twenty years ago, when I visited with my husband, we were able to drive our car to the parking lot where the trails begin. 
The Mariposa Grove is where you can see those famous trees with tunnels through them!
Out of curiosity, Debbie and I stopped at this historic hotel near the giant sequoias. It used to be called Wawona Hotel. It is now known as "Big Trees Lodge". Admittedly, that is an easier name to remember, and does relate to its location near the famous big trees. Not surprisingly, it was completely booked up!
After the Mariposa Grove, Debbie and I made our way eastward through the park, through the Tuolumne Meadows. There are two rivers that flow through the park---The Tuolumne River and The Merced River---and we had managed to visit both of them in one day!
To me, the highlight of the eastern side of the park was visiting the unforgettable Olmsted Point. 
Olmsted Point is an easily accessible rock outcropping, with huge cracks and boulders left by glacial action of centuries ago. I could have stayed there for hours taking photos, but darkness was approaching, and we had many more miles to go!
This is a photo of my beautiful Cousin Debbie, and it was such a blessing, to get to spend time with her at Yosemite National Park. That is because June, 2018, marked the one year anniversary of her liver transplant! She had been on the Liver Transplant List for almost twenty years, and she is a wonderful example of perseverance and hope!! We had a great reason to be celebrating this milestone in her life! Getting to make this visit to Yosemite National Park with her, was an answer to many prayers, and gave me MILES OF SMILES! Tricia
