It starts at 4:00 A.M. in the morning. I get up, get dressed, double check the camera gear, load the truck, and head for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It's not a short trip, about 220 miles to the nearest point of the park, and when all is said and done, the complete trip pushes 750 miles.
It's a trip I have made many times, usually 2-4 times per year. I wasn't really up to it but the weather forecast suggested that it was now or never, so I dutifully began the long journey.
I made it through Georgia all right, but as soon as I crossed into North Carolina I met a new friend, a state trooper who very politely suggested that if I slowed down, I might live a little longer. He also added that I need to pay $151 dollars by December 5th or a warrant would be issued for my arrest! So I was not off to a great start!
But the mission comes first, so I headed for the Blue Ridge Parkway and Waterrock Knob. Not a lot going on there so I drove through the town of Maggie Valley North Carolina which was very beautiful and scenic. From there I drove over the Cataloochee Divide into the National Park, and was rewarded with many great photo opportunities! I I photographed some great stills and a lot of wildlife, including some good elk shots. I was on a roll now, and spent two hours in Cataloochee before heading back to Heintooga.
Not much there, so went to the National Park at Ravensford and climbed into the elevation for some decent Autumn color. On the way back down I set up the tripod in the middle of the Oconaluftee River for dome nice shots.
Then I started the long drive back home to Newnan. When I got home tonight, I was exhausted, but I have a nice photo journal of the trip. Which brings me to the point of all of this:
Nothing worth achieving is easy. It takes effort, perseverance and determination to accomplish difficult goals. But if you put your mind to it, you can get the job done!
Now excuse me, I must lie down a bit!
Photos: October 23, 2008 Courtesy of SmokyPhotos.com
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Hi Richard. Welcome back home. Sorry about the ticket.
Speedbump on the road to prosperity.
Ken
I love your pics! It is a great country we live in. More people should know what is beyond their city limits.
Hi sweetie, sorry about the ticket but I do love the eye candy. Awesome. Simply awesome...
Richard,
Sounds like a great day, even with the long car ride. And you remembered the batteries for the camera! YEAH!!! I am famous for getting where we are going and the camera batteries are dead. My camera is not good with batteries and apparently not good without.
Thanks for the great pictures!
Ann
Ken...
It was a LOOOONNNNGGGG day! lol
Randall...
Thanks. It's hard to believe that I was in a different world earlier today! wow!
CTS...
Thanks ... it's a strain driving all those miles while searching for the photo all the while. I'm tired!
Ann...
I remembered today because I forgot once before! I went to Warm Springs once and realized the battery was back home in the charger. So now I check and double check before hitting the road!
BTW I shot about 600 total today ... It WAS a long day!
Richard,
It was worth it, wasn't it? You managed to get 600 shots.
Ann
I am awe struck! Thank you for taking the time to go out and take these beautiful shots. It sounds like you got a lot accomplished. I know how hard it is to sift through 600 shots and pick out the best for a post. I am glad you shared some this evening.
I am with the Trooper, "Slow down!"
Ann...
Right now I just want this headache to go away, but I'll feel better after a good night's sleep! Thanks.
Mel...
I am "reserving" a lot of the shots for future posts! I always need material. I'm beat. Worst part about the ticket was I drive slow when it's dark, that was probably the only time I was speeding in the first 2 hours of driving.
RW-What a well worth it trip...great shots to share w/your AR friends! Are you in any of them? That's an early day, I would be beat too. Sorry you got a ticket. Get some rest.. KM
Kristin...
No, no of me! I prefer more attractive subjects! But you're right. I need some sleep so I'm off to bed. G'night!
You got some great shots. I am hoping to drive in the mountains this weekend myself.
Richard,
That is great. I can't imagine taking 600 photos in a day....you are younger than all of us......
Well, lets make this a double dipper... I'll have to give you Da Boot for this one lead foot... LOL
featured in Blogs Happens...
Richard - first, as George Eliot said "It's never too late to be who you might have been." So you aren't getting too old. What was more expensive, the ticket or the gas for the trip? Great pics, as usual. And, a great segue into your point, as usual.
Richard, for some reason I am not signed in and can't seem to, but I wanted to comment that with new friends like that nice state trooper, you don't need any enemies! I'm glad you enjoyed it and I loved the photos. Susan Mangigian
Lovely photos.
I see the collar on the Elk. It must be one of the transplants. Since they were indigenous years ago, it seems like a reasonable plan to repopulate this great animal in these mountains.
Love the fence.
Richard,
I hope that you got a good nights rest and didn't dream about your new found friend and the added expense to your trip. Very good points and pics my friend.
Richard, Long trip but looks like it was worth the $151. Did you use a polarizing filter in the upper shot?
Let's see...we are enjoying the beautiful fruits of your labor...you are tired, have an empty gas tank and have a $151 speeding ticket still to pay. I'd say we got the best of that deal! ;-)
Seriously beautiful photos.
Rich...
I was trying to beat the rain ... and there wasn't a lot of sun in the forecast. BTW what's your favorite "spot" for a daily get-away?
Julie...
I just get tunnel vision ... my wife won't go because she is afraid that I will drive off a cliff. I am ALWAYS looking for a shot! ;)
Mel...
Thx, I appreciate it!
Michael...
I love to get da boot! THX
Mike...
The ticket was more expensive by DOUBLE! My Toyota pickup currently costs about $25 to fill up and three tanks were just about $75!
Susan...
Hello my dear. The trooper was about my age, so he'd been at it a while. He was courteous and professional. I was polite as always. he has a tough job to do and I respect that! I had my camera on the seat and the gear exposed and I told him I took photos and published them on the web to enhance North Carolina tourism and he said "and we appreciate it!" lol
Lenn...
The park servce re-introduced the Elk in 2000. The Elk of the Cataloochee Valley. Great Smoky Mountains National Park They are located in one of the more remote and less visited areas, and they are all collared and monitored for migration.
Great Pics Richard...I know how you feel, I did a trip to Atlanta & back in less than 3 days...and helped set up and attend a wedding in that time!
Richard - fortunately for us in Middle TN we can get there in just over 2 hours. Your pictures are great. I'm thinking I need a day trip. Hmmm
Don...
Thanks. Worst part is, I ususaly don't drive fast when I'm taking these photo trips. I just wasn't paying attention! What I did notice was that EVERYONE was driving the speed limit in N.C. In GA, we add 15 MPH! ;)
Richard I...
I use a Nikkor circular polarizer about 90% of the time. When I used transparency film in the past, the photos would really "POP!"
Susan H...
Thanks! I'll be more careful next time. Also, I'll be using a lot of these photos in my future posts!
Jer...
It's a lot of driving. I don't think that most people realize how "long" North Carolin is!
Connie...
By all means do ...but not on a weekend ... too much traffic!
Hey Richard...Nice shots...That is a lot of milage to put on. To bad about the friendly cop, I guess it could have been worse.
Was there a place for me to hang my tree stand!!?
after reading the headline, and then the wake up time, it reminded my of why I quit skiiing. Getting up so early and putting on all those clothes to go play in the cold is a young mans (or younger than me) game... of course, it is always worth it once you get there
Bill...
There was a nice salt lick near where I took this shot ... with a camera!
James...
It is worth it while you are there, but you pay the price the next day! I'm beat.
Richard: Great shot of the elk. And you reaped the rewards for your hard work. Your right....nothing worth achieving is easy.
I hate I have not had a chance to make it to the mountains this Fall yet. I love it this time of year.
Chris
Beautiful pictures Richard. Sorry about the ticket. Those are bad. I've been good the last 6 years... my kids say I now drive like a Granny. Drop me an email and let me know the address of the Lake Oconee lot you have. It's a great price, I need to take a look.
Chris Ann...
It was a good day, that's for sure!
Chris...
Hurry! Fall is waning quickly!
Tammy...
Thanks for the kind words and I will do so!
.....and you take beautiful pictures while enjoying the surroundings of the scenes you take. Doe it get much better than that, Richard?
Not to me.....I will bet not to you wither.
Bo
Sounds like you had an adventure to say the least. As always though, great pictures!
Bo...
I love it ... every minute of it ... when I am not getting a citation that is! lol
JL...
And as always, thanks, my friend!
Richard- You were suppose to set your cruise control my friend. It is the only thing that saves my butt from the lovely speeding tickets.
As usual the pics are great Richard and let me say thank you for going to all the effort. Looking forward to seeing more of them.
Too bad the Trooper couldn't just take a chill. Next time take some donuts with you just in case.
Richard,
Great shots and documentary. Nice turnaround from a not so great beginning. Figure how much you have spent in film and processing - easily over $151 - so you actually came out ahead. :)
Steve
Richard, your photographs are amazing - I love checking out your posts as I am pretty much sure I am going to see some good pics. :-)
Sorry about the ticket. . .
Richard, your photographs are amazing - I love checking out your posts as I am pretty much sure I am going to see some good pics. :-)
Sorry about the ticket. . .
I'm sorry to re-post, but realized I wasn't logged on . . . :-/
In the summer, nothing beats the rivers and streams over in Townsend and in the fall, I really like to drive through the mountains. As for hiking, some of the portions of the Appalachian Trail are less populated and have gorgeous views.
Richard,
I hope things were better for you today.... Did the headache leave? Did you get a good night's sleep?
Ann
Lori...
If I had it on that truck, I would! lol
Steve...
I never thought about that way... I used to spend a fortune on processing!
Sandy...
Thanks! I try to use some interesting photos, and I try to make them relevant but sometimes I just want to show-off a little!
Rich...
I have done some of the AT ... Mostly in Georgia, but the views are indeed fantastic! THX
$151?! Goodness man, how fast were you going? Next time I'll drive... I seem to remember obeying the speed limit once back in the 70's and yet I've never had a ticket... yet. :) Sounds like a great trip, Richard.
When I lived in PA & traveled to Myrtle, NC was the hardest part...it took foreverrrrrrrrrr!
Great post Richard and the pics are beautiful - I live 35 minutes from the Smoky Mountains and love it!