10-26-17  sunrise at Cades Cove!!!!


Since Tim and Faith had an early flight, I decided it would be a great opportunity to see Cades Cove at sunrise.  So we were up by 6 and on the road by about 6:30.  Dropped the kids off at the Knoxville airport.  Then continued on our way up into the Smokey Mountains.

Got to Cades Cove about 10 minutes before sunrise, only to find out they don't let you in until sunrise!  So we queued up---a little surprised to see so many people there already.

About 7 am we were let in.

Even with the line of cars already, it wasn't bad.

There were many hard core photographers there setting up their tripods and shooting away.  Wonder if they were allowed to walk in before sunrise?

It was a truly awesome site with the clouds hanging low.

looking south/west

looking south.

looking east

north/east

a lot of cell phone photographers, too.

I liked the star reflection of the sun on the car in front of us.

Almost reminded me of Haleakala

These were all taken from the car as we drove along the loop.

sun getting higher.

mystical forest.

Lots of color up there, too.

and several wildlife

I'd heard that Oct. was a bad time to go to the park with all the crowds and it taking about 3 hours to drive through the cove, but it wasn't bad today.

With all the photographers there, we pretty much knew when something of interest was close---like this wolf.  I would have missed him if there wasn't a photographer shooting that direction.

Clouds burning off.

the little stream at the end of the loop. 

We even drove through a 2nd time to get a totally different view of the area now that the sun had risen pretty high.

we saw several turkeys during our 2 trips through.

another of the deer we saw.  This guy had a funky antler.

another hard core photographer

We even took the 2 shortcuts within the loop (then did a U-turn and got back on the loop).

From one of the loop.

one of the houses along the loop.

just a view along the road

another view from one of the shortcuts.

the short cuts were mostly gravel road

more views of the colorful foliage. 

Looked like a bride and groom were there, too.  Although what groom wears a plaid shirt and jeans when his wife is in a wedding gown?!

a distant view of another house in the loop through the morning haze.

trees along the road

Definitely a great time to be there for autumn color.

more deer.

another farm house.

more deer.

more farm houses.

more colorful leaves.

even a lone flower here and there.

After about 5 hours in the park, we headed back down the mountains.

one of the views of the river along the way.

Got back to the kids' house and hung out there for awhile.  Eventually it was time to go in search of food.  So we headed towards Oak Ridge.  Even passed the park where I had kayaked with the kids several months ago.

no kayaks today, but there were some riggers and rowers.

the bridge we had kayaked to.

our destination---Calhoun's.  I've had great meals at Calhoun's in the past, but this one wasn't one of them.  I got an inedible steak.  Guess someone was telling me to stick to salads and chicken!

After dinner, we drove down the road a bit more.  Finally coming upon this little park.

Thought we'd check it out for sunset, but with the clear skies, the sun was just blinding.

So we drove back to the park by the kids' house.  Got there right after sunset.  Even a great blue heron was hanging out there enjoying the sunset.

one last picture of a not-too-exciting sunset.

Sunset may not have been great, but it wasn't bad.  But the day up in Cades Cove was fantastic!!!  It always is, but getting to see it at sunrise and with all the fall colors was really special.  Now back to pet sitting.