Know the song!?
And what a fantastic big surprise we got! Will tell you what it was shortly! If you can't "bare" (hint) to wait scroll down!
Today we ventured into the beautiful Smoky Mountains National Park and explored Cades Cove in the west of the Park. We travelled Little River Road and then Laurel Creek Road to get to the Cades County 11 mile one way Loop. The drive to the loop was absolutely beautiful. The sun was filtering through the woods highlighting the amazing shades of greens in the trees' foliage, and the river and creek followed the roads as we meandered to our destination. We stopped and did the 1.3 mile hike on the Laurel Falls Trail and were rewarded with seeing the beautiful Laurel Falls.
Our tour of the Cades Cove Loop was really interesting and also very beautiful. A "cove" in Smoky Mountain vernacular is a relatively flat valley between mountains and ridges. This particular cove has some inspiring natural and cultural treasures - wild nature and human history can be enjoyed in an idyllic setting!
Cades Cove once was a farming community and in 1900 had about 125 families living there. The states of Tennessee and North Carolina bought the land from the farmers beginning in 1927 and gave it to the federal government for park use. The last school closed in 1944 and the post office closed in 1947. Some of the farms' remains can be seen throughout the park. The Cable Mill Area still has the original water-powered grist mill and sawmill, as well as the farm house and outbuildings, which were built by John Cable in 1870. The same wheel provided power for both mills.
Our biggest excitement and big surprise was that we sighted 5 black bears wandering in the woods and cove while we were in the park. We had the privilege to stand about 30 metres from a mother and cub
(we had to quietly hike a little way into the woods from the roadside) and watch them for about 30 mins - amazing! and awesome! She knew we were there and looked at us occasionally but was quite content to carry on her business regardless.
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| On our hike - beautiful spring blooms in the woods |
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| Laurel Falls |
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| Our first bear sighting on our hike to the Falls - this was the cub resting under the tree. Mum walked out of sight. |
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| The road followed the meandering river and creek |
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| Our second bear sighting in Cades Cove |
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| The remains of John Oliver's farm. |
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| Beautiful view down the cove from the farmhouse |
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| The cove and the Smokies from the farmhouse |
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| Click to enlarge |
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| Interesting fence construction - logs were balanced not nailed |
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| The cove and the Smokies |
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| Our third sighting - Mumma Bear and Baby Bear. See baby bear up the tree peaking around the trunk at us |
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| Down the tree and heading off to Mum |
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| Mum checking us out |
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| Climbing on the logs |
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| Mum scratching at the bark on the log, Baby Bear watching keenly |
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| Mumma Bear getting organised to feed Baby Bear |
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| Lying down feeding Baby Bear |
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| I've had enough! |
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| Play time! |
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| Got you Mum! |
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| Got you again! |
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| I'm winning! |
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| Mum giving Baby Bear a kiss - so cute! |
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| I accidentally stepped on a twig - it got their attention! |
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| Playtime over ! |
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| Fossicking in the mulch on the wood floor . Notice her bald patch - rubbed off from lying down? |
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| One of the churches left in the cove - the Primitive Baptist Church |
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| Wild flowers in the fields |
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| Wild grass |
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| The cove and Smokies |
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| Beautiful scenery in Cades Cove! |
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| More spring wildflowers |
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| Cable Mill community |
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| Sorghum Furnace and Sorghum Mill |
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| John Cable Mill |
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| The mill still works |
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| Milling the grain |
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| Click to enlarge |
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| The farmhouse and the Smokehouse |
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| Click to enlarge |
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| The kitchen |
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| The lovely woods |
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| The remains of Dan Lawson's farmhouse |
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| The remains of Tipton's farm |
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| The remains of Carter Shield's cabin |
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| A carpet of wild flowers in the woods |
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| And the river gurgles on through the beautiful National Park as we head out of the park and back to Pigeon Forge! |
What an amazing day! We loved it!
Awesome ... don't get too close or that mumma bear will be after you Pete!
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