Author: Easin' Along

We’ve had a lot of rain in East Tennessee this summer. I wish I could send some out west where the rivers are running dry and the earth is parched and hot. Nevertheless, the heavy rainfall has given those of us in the east plenty to cheer about. Sunflowers are brilliant this year and proving beauty for us, and opportunities for the bees.

My tomatoes are thriving. Pictured here is one plant that is nearing eight feet tall and producing fruit in abundance. I love summer treats!

Here’s hoping your summer is going well–we’re Easin’ Along.

Helen and I got away for a short RV trip last week.  Her treatments have left her a little energy-sapped, and we both figured that the best therapy might be some time spent Creekside in our favorite campground in North Carolina, reading and watching the ducks float by. Once rejuvenated by the fresh air and mountain breeze, we might even take a hike.

The easiest way to interest me in hiking is to tell me there is a waterfall somewhere on the trail. They fascinate me, and I’m confident that I am not alone. To me, a waterfall is an art form not unlike some of the most delicate sculptures ever chiseled by man.

There are several waterfalls around Cherokee, North Carolina, including Toms Branch Falls in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which we have visited several times.  The trail leading to the waterfall and beyond is a flat hiking trail that follows Deep Creek for several miles. A brisk walk along that trail is a very pleasurable way to spend a day in the great outdoors.

Soco Falls is another waterfall in the area that we have not visited previously, even though it is within a short drive from our campground. We needed to visit Soco Falls.  Helen did some quick research to learn all that was involved in reaching the waterfall.  To our surprise, Soco Falls is only a few hundred yards from the parking lot—a good thing since we had dodged rain showers for our entire visit to Cherokee, limiting our time outdoors.

The short trail to the viewing platform was down a steep slope over slippery rocks and mud. Our hiking poles came in handy.  I was surprised that even with the threat of rain, the parking lot was packed, and the trail was busy. Visitors on the short course accommodated two septuagenarians slipping and sliding down the hill.

Recent rains had filled Soco Creek, and the waterfall was quite a show for us.  The viewing platform was busy, and I had to wait my turn for pictures.  Two young ladies had walked beyond the platform to the creek bottom and climbed the rock face to a ledge within the waterfall.  The act looked risky, but I might have been with them in my youth.

Our visit to Soco Falls was the only noteworthy outside activity on this RV trip due to the rain.  Nevertheless, we enjoyed our time immensely and accomplished what we intended to do, rest and recoup.

This week’s edition of Easin’ Along would be relatively short were it not for two recent posts by bloggers Suzanne (Picture Retirement) and Terri (Second Wind Leisure Perspectives). Suzanne wrote an excellent piece about her love for water and the ocean and illustrated it with beautiful pictures taken on trips both here and abroad.

Terri’s Sunday post gave her readers details about the road trip she and her husband had just completed and asked readers to submit comments about their favorite road trips from either this summer or their archives. Both posts got me thinking that 1) I am drawn to water, and 2) our visit to Soco Falls prompted me to go through my archives for pictures of the many waterfalls we have visited since we began our retirement road trips. It was a fun exercise, and I wanted to share a few pictures.

In addition to Tom’s Branch and Soco Falls, another waterfall located in western North Carolina is Linville Falls, outside of the charming town of Linville. Closer to home is Bald River Falls, located in the Cherokee National Forest near Tellico Plains, Tennessee. I try to visit there at least once a year. (Picture at top of page)

Last summer, Helen and I returned to the western part of the country and made a stop in Crater Lake, Oregon. At the time, we did not know that there were five waterfalls near Crater Lake. We decided to visit them all on a single day. We made it to four of them before the sky opened up and sent rain down in sheets.  The fifth waterfall will have to wait for our next trip. (Click on any image to enlarge)

Glacier National Park offers waterfall enthusiasts an abundance of splashing splendor.  Pictured here are six waterfalls, and I could not begin to pick a favorite.  The hike to Virginia Falls was challenging but well worth the effort. (Click on any image to enlarge)

Yellowstone National Park also has plenty to amaze and delight as well. The impressive Yellowstone Falls is always a crowd favorite, and Gibbon Falls is a beauty. Geologic conditions at Mammoth Hot Springs give us Mammoth Cascade—a heated and very colorful waterfall.

Deschutes Falls near Yelm, Washington, is a smaller waterfall worthy of a short hike and a picture. Stone Mountain Falls along the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia requires a longer walk of several miles to reach.  I wanted to include it here because of its long, flat, and somewhat unique appearance.

The Grandaddy is Niagara Falls, on the border of the United States and Canada. Helen and I visited this stunning natural wonder on our first retirement road trip a few years back.  Niagara Falls consists of three waterfalls, American, Bridal Veil, and Horseshoe Falls. All seem to run together as a single waterfall. Over 3,000 tons of water flow over the falls every second, and the roar of falling water is deafening. For kicks, Helen and I donned blue ponchos and boarded the Maid of the Mist boat to get an up-close view. It was impressive. The distinctive sound of Niagara Falls is demonstrated in the short video below.

I hope readers enjoyed this little swim down memory lane.  We’ve had a scorching summer here, and just thinking about a dip below one of these waterfalls was rather refreshing.

Have a great week.  We’re Easin’ Along.