5-5-17  back to the Smokys:

What a difference a day makes!  After the day of upper 80s 2 days ago, today it was only going up to about 50---in May!  It rained all yesterday and stormed a bit, too.
So when I saw some sunshine, I suggested we go back to the mountains and run up to Cades Cove.  Such a gorgeous ride, even to get to the park.

Love the barn quilt signs.

Got to the park only to find it CLOSED!!!!  The storms yesterday came with 80 mph winds and blew a bunch of trees down.

Great Smokey Mountains Park Closed!!!

borrowed from a National Parks photo---some of the damage in the park.

Great Smoky Mountain Park's photo

So we spent a little time by the river at the edge of the park---where we exited the park the other day.

the river was a flowing'

downstream

still some moisture around from the storm yesterday.

a couple fisherpeople.

another stream running into the one above.

so clear

one last photo of the river a little farther downstream.

Not the day I had planned, but it was still a pretty good one.