A March Hike

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Several years ago, when both Betsy and I were younger and could still do some hiking, we celebrated my birthday by visiting Desoto State Park near Fort Payne, Alabama.  While there we took several hikes, one of which was along the west fork of Little River.  It was on that hike that I captured this image of the March scenery along the river.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Little River in the Smokies

 

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Betsy and I often go to Great Smokey Mountain Park in the winter, because there are usually fewer people and it’s easier to get close to nature than it would be during peak tourist seasons.  One December day a few years ago we stopped along Little River, where I got th photo that was the basis for this watercolor.  Th Smokies are beautiful any time of the year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Sinks

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Many places in the Smokies are easily-accessible by car, which means they are very popular during tourist season (which seems to be year-round nowadays).  The Sinks is one such place:  it’s a cascade with a pool right along the road.  The parking area is small, so it’s hard to get into it at times  But January, which is when I got this picture, can be a good time to visit if you just want to enjoy the beauty of our world.

The Sinks

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The Sinks is one of the more popular areas of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park along Little River Road.  Daredevils (mostly teenagers) dive into the stream below these rocks, although they are warned not to do so.  Fortunately it was too cold for daredevils when we were there in early April, but we did enjoy the beauty of rocks and water.

Mossy Tree and the Little Pigeon River

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Sometimes a scene just begs for a picture to be taken.  In mid-January Betsy and I were hiking along the Little Pigeon River in the Greenbrier section of the Smokies.  The day was pleasant, but partly cloudy.  As we got near the bridge over the river leading to Ramsey Cascade Road, the sun came out.  This moss-covered tree on the bank had branches leaning out over the stream, and the light seemed perfect for a photo.  This is the result.

West Prong Little Pigeon River

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The West Prong Little Pigeon River in the Greenbrier section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  We visited this beautiful stream February 13, 2015.

Little River in Winter

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The leaves are gone from the trees in the Smokies in December, but there is still beauty to be found.  This picture of the Little River was taken at the ‘Y’ — Townsend, Tennessee, entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Middle Prong in the Smokies

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Monday was a beautiful day in eastern Tennessee, so Betsy and I headed to the Smoky Mountains.  We wanted to do some hiking, and I wanted to play with the lens Betsy got me for Christmas.  We didn't do much hiking, but we did drive along the Middle Prong Pigeon River near Tremont.  There was quite a bit of water rushing around the boulders in the stream, but it was so clear we could see the rocks at the bottom.

Deep in Thought

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This past Friday we stopped along the Emory River on our way home from Pine Mountain, Kentucky.  I went back to the car to get my tripod, and when I returned I found my Beautiful Bride deep in thought on a rock beside the river.

Middle Prong of Little River

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In mid-July Betsy and I drove over to Cades Cove to visit some friends who were camping there.  On the way home we drove along the Middle Prong of Little River since the water levels were pretty high, and we thought we might get some good pictures.  This is one of those pictures.

Little Pigeon River

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Last month Betsy and I spent a couple of days in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  One of the days we drove up Greenbrier Road along the Little Pigeon River.  I got this picture of the river at the intersection of Greenbrier Road with the road leading to Ramsey Cascade.

Roaring Fork in the Smokies (2)

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The picture above was taken in April as Betsy and I hiked along Roaring Fork in the Smokies in late April. The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail behind Gatlinburg follows this beautiful stream along much of the way, providing many places to pull off and enjoy the beauty.

Roaring Fork in the Smokies

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Betsy and I paid a visit to the Smokies this past Monday. We decided to drive the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail since it has been several years since we've taken it. We made several stops (as usual) along the way, and I got an opportunity to experiment with my new variable neutral density filter. The picture above is one of my first attempts at photography with exposures lasting several seconds. I'll have to admit I rather like it.

Little River

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The distance from Townsend, Tennessee, to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, along Little River Road in the Smokeys is less than 20 miles, but it usually takes Betsy and me two or three hours to make the trip. That's because we usually stop at every pullout along the river to enjoy the view. I snapped this picture in March, 2008.

Little River Canyon National Preserve

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Betsy and I have visited Little River Canyon National Preserve near Fort Payne, Alabama several times. The Scenic Drive along the rim of the canyon offers several overlooks with views of the canyon and river below. This photograph of the river taken in February, 2010.

Little River in the Smokies

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When Betsy and I visited the Smokies last month, we stopped, as we usually do, to view the river. This time the water was high and very clear. I was attracted both by the white water flowing over the rocks and the unusual shape of the tree in the middle of the stream.

My Favorite Travel Companion

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Betsy and I visited one of our favorite places -- the Smoky Mountains -- in December, and we stopped just inside the Townsend, Tennessee, entrance to the park to enjoy the river. I used Photoshop to create this line drawing of Betsy from a photograph taken at the river side.

Clouds Over the Niagara River

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When Betsy and I visited my daughter and her husband in Buffalo last month, Kelly took us to Squaw Island, a park in the Niagara River near Black Rock, New York. While walking along the river I captured this picture of the clouds above a railroad trestle connecting Canada and the U. S.

Zion's Virgin River

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Zion Canyon in Utah was carved out by the Virgin River over the millions of years. When we visited Zion National Park in June, the river looked quiet and dreamy -- not at all like something that could form that deep and majestic canyon. This picture of the river was taken on the Riverside Walk along the river near the head of canyon.

From My Archives: The Niagara River

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This picture of the Niagara River was taken from the bridge leading to Goat Island in New York's Niagara Falls State Park. The view is looking down river toward the brink of the American Falls.