{"id":28,"date":"2019-04-17T00:33:14","date_gmt":"2019-04-17T04:33:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/steveandmarleneontheroad.com\/?p=28"},"modified":"2023-02-17T16:59:43","modified_gmt":"2023-02-17T20:59:43","slug":"april-16-2019-great-smoky-mountains-day-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/steveandmarleneontheroad.com\/?p=28","title":{"rendered":"April 16, 2019 : Trip 1, Day 2 – Great Smoky Mountains National Park"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We spent the day investigating Cades Cove. This included a slow drive to Cades Cove, a long hike, and a long drive back to our hotel. We learned some history, saw several water falls and got to see some unique sites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our first stop was at a long series of falls and cascades in the Little River Gorge. We spent quite some time looking at, photographing, and enjoying the falls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The falls were full of white water and eddies.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When we were ready to leave the falls, a group had their car stall near where we were parked. We pulled out of a small roadside parking spot so they could push their car off the road. Our next task was to find the ranger in Cades Cove. Because of traffic and low speed limits, it took us about 40 minutes to get to the ranger. Apparently he helped the people because their car was gone when we returned in the evening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cades Cove is a part of the park dedicated to both history and nature. The area was settled in the early 1820’s by John Oliver and his family. Cades Cove has an eleven mile one way, one lane road that winds through the cove. The speed limit is 20 mph. The traffic limits the speed to about 10 mph on busy days. Our first site on the loop was John Oliver’s home. It was a one floor house about 200 or 300 square feet.. An original tiny house. There was some storage available in the attic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Here we are in front of his house.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

He and his family obviously spent a long time clearing wood and stones. They created a nice valley in the mountains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
One view of the cleared valley.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Our next stop on the Cades Cove Loop was a long hike to Abrams Falls. The sign said it was a five mile round trip. The hike was over two mountains with a lot of elevation changes. It took us a little over four hours to complete the hike. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The start of the hike. Notice how ready we are to go.
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It was a beautiful hike along Abram’s Creek. It was also a hard hike. We saw many different things along the way. Much of what we saw was on the creek. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Abram’s Creek had lots of small falls, rapids and cascades.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We also had interesting paths to follow on the hike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Here is Marlene crossing one of the bridges.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\n\nAfter hiking almost two hours, we finally reached the big falls. \n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Here are the Abram’s Falls. They are about 20 feet high.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After a hard hike we had a discussion with people there about whether the view was worth the hike. We heard some say yes and some say no. The falls are very nice, but a hard two hour hike one way is a long way to travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On our way back, we were tired and ready to get back. Fortunately, we had some interesting sites on our return trip as well. First we saw some violets growing in a dead tree trunk right in the middle of a path traveled by hundreds of people a day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We also walked by a tree at just the right time of day to see some interesting shadows on the tree. God said He takes care of the birds and the flowers so we should not worry about ourselves because we are more valuable. Here is proof of how He protects His creations. He also sometimes draws on trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
At just the right hour of the day, this dead tree stump becomes a canvas for catching the shadows of leaves from other trees.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Once we finally got back to our car, we still had a long, slow drive back to our hotel. We did find one more waterfall on our drive back. We learned that this waterfall was accidentally made by railroad workers who were trying to clear a logjam on the river. They used enough dynamite to move the logjam, and some stones as well. When the stones moved, the river was rerouted and the falls were created in the sink hole of the explosion. The result was amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Tonight we are tired, and again posting on the next day. It was a fun, tiring day. Hopefully we will sleep well tonight.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We spent the day investigating Cades Cove. This included a slow drive to Cades Cove, a long hike, and a long drive back to our hotel. We learned some history, saw several water falls and got to see some unique sites. Our first stop was at a long series of falls and cascades in the 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