Greenery Overload at Elkmont & Fall Creek Falls, Home
This summer, I’ve seen a lot of green both at home and about.
First, J and I spent a night a misty night at Elkmont Campground in Smoky Mountains National Park. The grounds were full, but beautifully situated on the edge of a river and amongst smaller streams.
Our first night, we hiked in the darkness along a trail crowded with people to catch a glimpse of thousands of synchronous fireflies. I couldn’t capture them on my camera, but it was one of the most beautiful things I’ve seen. This post details the current winner.
Misty river.
Island.
Fire buddies.
What the fireflies looked like. Photo courtesy of internet.
The next morning, everyone packed up their tents. Our camping buddies departed early for a longer hike, while J and I followed a river up into the woods past abandoned buildings and evidence of bears. We cut across and came down another hill past a whole abandoned resort village of Daisy Town. I was in abandoned building heaven.
Campsite woods.
The first view of ruins.
Doorway.
Inside the old restaurant.
River view.
Green pathway.
Long exposure falls.
Beautiful view up the river.
Specific beetles mating on specific fungus.
Shelf mushrooms.
Bear evidence.
Ruins.
Backyard pipe.
crispy curtains.
Old drawers.
Cabin ruins.
An old porch.
Two weeks later, we visited Fall Creek Falls State Park. Whoever was in charge of naming water features in the area really phoned it in.
We spotted numerous deer on the drive in, and our car was splattered with bugs.
Our brutal-looking, state-owned inn was on the edge of the lake. A symphony of frogs croaked all night.
The first morning, we went on a long hike to Fall Creek Falls. The hike down was steep, but was amongst large rock formations and trees.
There wasn’t as much water flowering, but the base of the falls was a calming place.
Except my phone slid out of my camera bag and down a rock, screen down. While largely undamaged, the screen and my case got a few nicks. I was pissed at myself, as I had never damaged a phone before. It took a lot more hiking before I could clear the damage from my mind.
Dinner was a reasonably cheap buffet from the inn’s restaurant. We mostly sat around bikers, family, and the elderly.
The next day, we checked out of the hotel and went around the lake on a pedal boat.
No powered boats are allowed on the lake, which makes it tranquil even in the baking sun.
Night lake. Not pictured: one billion frogs.
Socialist architecture.
Scenic lake, brutal building.
Lakeside deer.
Lakeside path.
Whoever named these falls wasn’t very creative.
Fall Creek Falls from above.
Forested valley.
Path down to the falls.
J in the crack.
Cliff tree.
Scrambling under the cliffs.
Looking back along the trail.
One of many narrow suspension bridges.
Beetle damage.
Sunset valley.
Brutal symmetry.
J the hiker.
Me on the bridge.
Pedal boating.
Light and dark.
At home, J and and I went strawberry picking. I drove over my father-in-law’s bucket when I was washing my car, and I ended up scraping up the underside of my bumper.
Sphinx.
The strawberry picker.
Our haul.
Squished glove.
Old church in Adams.
Old storefronts.
Dishes.
The cement plant along the greenway.
Warehouse.
My sister came to visit for a few days, and we went on some local hikes.
Trail view.
Another trail view.
Fawn.
Trail maintenance.
Sister and vines.
King of the meadow.
Moth and thistle.
At home, the garden thrived with peas, tomatoes, squash, cucumbers and herbs.
Our first garden squash.
A storm is coming.
Roses.
Our guardian gnome.
Our first pea pod.
Flowering cilantro.
Ribs.
Colorful concrete base.
Business casual.
Bras.
Hunters.
June bugs.
Our squash offering.
A grand day out.
J and B.
Tree.
Sole soul.
Long horned striped beetle in the backyard.
Garden squash, roasted.
Our big tomatoes turning red.
And our cucumbers were ready for harvest.
On a humid neighborhood walk, we spotted thousands of fireflies, seven rabbits, swifts, bats, cats, and a beautiful sunset.
It’s dusk, and the fireflies are out.