Vacation

The week of my recent birthday, Jessica and I decided it was time for some much needed R&R. We threw the road bikes on the back of the car, stuffed some groceries and extra clothes in the back seat, left Aeva with her abuela, and headed off the Smoky Mtns. We spent a not-so-relaxing but definitely refreshing week trekking and biking through Tennessee's most spectacular scenery.

We stopped by the Gatlinburg visitor center and for $1 bought a park map with all the day hikes outlined in red. We decided to start checking off all the hikes marked "strenuous" one by one. Here's a picture from the first---Ramsey Cascades. Supposedly these old growth tulip poplars along the trail are some of the oldest in the country. Something inside me says I should believe this, despite the abundant proof I usually require at the hands of google to confirm all of life's greatest truths.

The Ramsey cascades are the tallest in the park, beautiful, and well worth the eight-mile round trip. We were fortunate because this was the only treks we were able to experience without getting rained on.

We also made a bike trip up the mountain to Cades Cove, then rode the scenic loop at the top. As fate would have it, we got caught in such an hard rain that it was stinging our faces and legs at times, making it difficult even to see. Ah, but the faithful were rewarded with a rain free moment when we spotted a blackbear and her cub, as seen in the background to the right. At one point, Mamabear even stood upright on her feet and cast a backward glance at us. Cades Cove is beautiful, perhaps even idyllic. But maybe next time We'll go in drier weather. Here's the view from our cabin's back porch. We sat out here almost each night in the hot tub and admired the view under a full moon. Talk about beautiful. What a way the relax at the end of the day!
Mid week we did a 10 mile-hike up Mount LeConte. The weather was pleasant enough starting off, but soon we were closed in by thick fog, rain, falling temperatures, and a stout stiff wind. The wind would start off like a howl lower in the valley, then rush up through the trees with a roaring sound that was heard long before it finally blasted you! When we had started in the parking lot, we saw lot of hikers donning northface jackets, pants, and hats, even though it was almost 70 degrees out. We soon found out why. Our shorts and short-sleeves soon were grossly inadequate for that kind of weather. We were soaked and chilled to the bone by the time we summitted at 6,000 ft. Fortunately, we discovered a semi primitive, no-electricity lodge at the top of the mountain that had shelter, and karosine heather, and--can you believe it--steamy cups of hot chocolate (3$ each) to wayward and foolish hikers like ourselves.
That same day it had been pretty stormy in the valley as well. The road back was blocked by several fallen trees.
On our last day we did a 22 mile ride up Chilhowee mountain.... that's 11 miles uphill one-way.
Great view from the top, even better ride down!
After a good lunch, we finished off that afternoon with a hike up to the Chimneys.
We reached the top pretty late in the day, but were rewarded with yet another spectacular view.
That night we drove back to Nashville, and back to reality land with leaden legs and heavy eyelids. What a great trip, though. Definitely one, we might repeat.