Eastern Tennessee was enveloped in glorious fall weather last week. The leaves began showing their colors in the higher elevations, and the temperatures hovered in the mid-70s. More than a week passed without a cloud in the sky. Helen was visiting our granddaughters in Charleston, leaving Mortimer and me to fend for ourselves. Cabin fever set in quickly, and I had to get out.
On Tuesday, I clicked on a Facebook post featuring pictures of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park posted by visitors to the Cades Cove Loop. Without hesitating, I grabbed the camera bag and a couple of bottles of water, jumped into my truck, and drove the 40 miles to the entrance of Cades Cove. Although I visit the National Park several times yearly, primarily on the North Carolina side, the last time I visited Cades Cove was in the late 1980’s.
Cades Cove is a lush valley surrounded by mountains on all sides. Wildlife, such as black bears, deer, and elk, roam freely throughout the area. The Cades Cove Loop is a one-way, eleven-mile road around the valley featuring historical structures that pre-date the National Park, hiking trails, and a visitor center. I arrived at the entrance a little after five p.m., hopeful that most crowds had moved on.
From the Loop, I had a fabulous view of the mountains and the emerging color from the branches of the oak, hickory, and maple trees covering the mountainsides. They stood out handsomely against the clear blue sky. The mountains are beautiful, but I remained focused on spotting wildlife.
Traffic on the loop road was relatively light for the first eight miles, and I had plenty of opportunities to pull over and take pictures outside the truck. The meadows had turned a shade of brown and contrasted nicely with the remaining green on the trees and a few grassy patches.
At the eight-mile point, traffic slowed to a crawl. Many visitors were coming off the hiking trails and heading for the exit, and I got caught up in the rush. Typically, I have no patience for slow traffic, but this was a day to roll with it—I was in no hurry.
A couple of miles later (and fearful that I would leave without pictures of wildlife), a turkey came into view. Several feet later, I spotted several more on the opposite side of the road. Finally, I had evidence that wildlife still existed in Cades Cove. The best was still ahead of me.
At the nine-mile post, traffic came to a complete stop as I approached a small hill. I waited in line for several minutes before traffic moved again, and when I crested the hill, I saw what caused the traffic jam: a large black bear walking across an open meadow. Looky-Loos with cameras were all over the side of the road. Some were on top of their cars, some peering through the sunroof.
When my turn for a close-up came, Mr. Bear was beside the road, less than ten feet from my vehicle. He had tags in both ears so wildlife biologists could track his movements. I only had to point my camera from the driver-side window and snap away. I couldn’t persuade him to look up; the acorns had his attention, but he was large and had a thick, gleaming coat. Mr. Bear was a handsome fellow.
I hit the trifecta less than a mile from the end of the Loop. Still crawling in slow traffic, I passed two White-Tail deer grazing near the edge of a field.
I was very proud of myself for stepping away from the Man Cave on a gorgeous afternoon. It was time well spent. I put the camera away and continued Easin’ Along toward Knoxville. Traffic…who cares about traffic?
Author’s note: Please keep the Tennessee and North Carolina flood victims in your thoughts and prayers. These are hardy folks, but most of them could use a helping hand right now. Many are isolated due to road collapse and remain without water and electricity…and some have no shelter. Anything helps. The Red Cross is taking monetary donations. Thank you.
Hi Joe, glad to read you’re all ok. The hurricanes have been devastating. Continued prayers for the recovery efforts and victims.
Your photos are lovely. Autumn at its best. Wonderful shots of the bear. It’s amazing how much the colors and mountains look like where we are in Winthrop, WA, in the Cascade range this weekend. I’m on a blog break but thought I’d pop in. Found your post in the Reader which I rarely use. Take care!
Terri,
Thanks for stopping by. I saw some of your pictures from Winthrop. That KOA looked very nice, and i will have to keep it in mind if we get that way again. Please keep our flood victims in your thoughts and prayers. The devastation is unthinkable. Have a great week! Joe
Joe, a scenic drive, capturing wildlife in your lens is the perfect solution to being alone. We desperately wanted to see a Moose in Canada, but it was not to be.
Driving I95 through NC on the way home was heartbreaking. There were so many electric company vehicles and lots of road construction along the way. Slow traffic for hours, but everyone was patient – for the most part.
My heart goes out to those who are suffering. Helene and Milton have not been kind.
Suzanne,
Glad to have you back online. The pictures I saw of your trip told me it was a wonderful experience (except for the missing Moose). Heartbreaking is a great choice of words for the flood victims in our area. I’ve visited many of the affected towns in the area and they are in some of the most beautiful parts of our state. I hope the recovery is swift, but, in my heart, I know better. Have a lovely week. Joe
Joe, What a rewarding scenic drive. Gorgeous landscape in autumn colours and how exciting that you saw wildlife, especially the black bear. Hurricanes Helene and Milton have been devastating. I hope affected people get the help they need to recover.
Good morning, Natalie,
A trip into our mountains is just what I needed, and it was a great day for sure. To think about the devastation on the other side of that mountain was difficult. They are hardy people, but they will need a lot of help pulling their lives back together. Thanks for checking in. Have a great week! Joe
Hi, Joe and Helen – I am relieved to hear that you are both safe. Richard and I join you in heartfelt prayers for all victims of the devastating floods.
Hello!
We only experienced a lot rain here, but it was nothing compared to the deluge that fell in the valleys to our east. Most of those strong people will get things back together over time, but some will have their lives changed forever. They need our prayers. Great to hear from you. Joe
Sadly, the devastation and difficulties caused by natural disasters often last for years – long after the news media has moved on to more current events. If there is a silver lining to clouds like Helene and Milton, it’s that the bonds within a community grow stronger as residents band together to help friends and neighbors. The enormity of the destruction is heartbreaking.
The Cades Cove loop is absolutely lovely, Joe, and your photos of nature’s artwork are stunning. What glorious colors! We’ve driven the loop numerous times, and have enjoyed the journey every single time. I remember horseback riding there with Ryan when he was two. He was the one in our group who spotted a deer in the woods. Speaking of critters . . . You lucky duck! And not only did you see a bear, but he (or she) was “this” close. Good for you! So happy you decided to venture forth – you were well-rewarded!
Mary,
Cades Cove is truly a treasure and one that we who live here often take for granted. I’m gonna change that because there are a lot of ways to use a camera there. I need to take better advantage.. The poor people of Upper East Tennessee and Western North Carolina are really suffering. Many are still isolated. Hopefully, that situation will improve. Glad you’re home and safe. I really enjoyed reading about your trip. Joe
Great use of some of your man cave time! You live in such a beautiful area, but particularly in autumn. We have always wanted to see a bear in the wild (from a safe distance) and never seem to catch one. Ten feet is pretty darn close. Wonderful photos!
Hi, Marian,
We’re so blessed to live where we do, but we take our mountains for granted at times, and don’t visit as often as we should. Helen and I go into Western North Carolina several times a year and almost always spot a bear–occasionally with cubs, which is always fun. However, ten feet is about as close as I want to get. Great to hear from you. Have a great week! Joe