Smoky Mountain Adventures

The adventures began yesterday.  The Weather Channel said Tuesday and Wednesday would be full of thunderstorms that seem to be sweeping through the nation right now, many of them severe enough to bring hail and tornados.  So rather than sit in the hotel room all day, or ride the motorcycle in the rain, we decided to go exploring in the car.  Sadly, the rain never came, and still hasn't another day later.  Wish we had been on the motorcycle!  Oh well.  We made up for it today.

Yesterday's destination: Fontana Dam.

This dam is an awesome sight.  Built in the 1940's, it now powers much of the Tennessee Valley.  It's opened in the fall to drain Fontana Lake by as much as 50 feet in preparation for the rainfall of Winter and Spring.  You can walk or drive across the dam to enter the Great Smoky Mountains National Park where nature trails abound.  Based on the rain prediction we didn't bring our hiking shoes.  We'll have to try hiking again later in the week.

Lake Fonatana is beautiful in itself; the bluest water surrounded by lush mountains.  We were so happy the sun came out to shine down on this slice of Heaven.

We hopped back in the car and traveled along the Nantahala River.  The winding mountain roads were so fun to travel.  Every few miles the trees along the road would open to a sweeping view of the mountain range.  And the river offered quaint scenery and little surprises like this suspension bridge.

Only four people are allowed on the swaying bridge at a time.  Fortunately, we were the only two around.  Scott tried his hardest to sway and shake me to fear.  Little does he know my hometown has a larger, higher, swingier bridge than this.  Ha!  I laugh at your silly attempts to scare me!

And I was thankful I grabbed my camera again.  Doesn't this look like a Bob Ross painting?  "Happy little trees..."

So pretty up here!  I'm off to dinner, then to load and edit pictures from today's motorcycle ride.  I'm excited to share more of our Smoky Mountain Adventures with you.  Stay tuned...