"Autumn on the Little Pigeon River--Photo by Judie McEwen
The Rogue Speaks:
I grew up in the southeast, and lived not only in Georgia, but Tennessee as well. One of my favorite places to visit in the fall has always been the Great Smoky Mountains, and particularly Gatlinburg. The town of Gatlinburg is way over-commercialized from that little village I knew when I was younger, but I still love to drive through it to get to the Little Pigeon River.
The Great Smoky Mountains are part of the Appalachian Mountains. The "Smoky" part comes from the natural fog that hangs over the mountains. The fog is a result of warm, humid air from the Gulf of Mexico. In the lower elevations, hardwoods abound, and the autumn, the forests are alive with brilliant red, orange, and yellow leaves. The Great Smokies are also home to the densest population of black bears in the eastern United States.
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee is located on U.S. Route 441, AKA "The Parkway." That road will take one straight into the Smokies, and it follows the Little Pigeon River. It is such a lovely and peaceful area any time of the year, but in the fall, when the trees are cloaked in their finest fall fashions, and there is a bit of a chill in the air, a calm hangs over the landscape, and makes one feel at peace with nature and the world.
"A River Runs Through It" photo by Judie McEwen
FRIENDSHIP AFTER LOVE
"After the fierce mid-summer, all ablaze,
Has burned itself to ashes, and expires
In the intensity of its own fires,
There come the mellow, mild St. Martin days,
Crowned with the calm of peace, but sad with haze.
So after love has left us till he tires
Of his own throes and torments and desires,
Comes large-eyed friendship. With a restful gaze,
He beckons us to follow, and across
Cool verdant vales we wander, free from care.
Is it a touch of frost lies in the air?
Why are we haunted with a sense of loss?
We do not wish the pain back, or the heat,
And yet, and yet, these days are incomplete"
Ella Wheeler Wilcox
(1850 - 1919)
"Cade's Cove" Photo by Judie McEwen
Now that you have seen my visions of autumn, please go to Jenny's blog, and check out the rest of the offerings. I know they will be wonderful!!
31 comments:
We have yet to travel to this part of our beautiful country.....but we will get there.....yet. (O:
xo
Jo
Oh what beauty you share here. I am so excited. I like learning aobut place I have not been to. You have beautiful photos and the poem is beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
The frost
Laces the trees,
And in this night's cold
I think back to your warming touch
Soft calm.
It was the Berkshires, with me, that New England addition to the Appalachian chain... the Peoples Forest, and the Housatonic River. _m
I've gone there every summer as a child. The last time we went to Cades Cove it was sad. It isn't like it used to be. The park is is such disrepair and in need of funding to maintain the roads. But the story behind it still fascinates me. I just love the Great Smoky Mountains! My parents had a cabin in Bryson City, NC so we've been all over up there. Tubing at Deep Creek, riding the Tail if the Dragon,the road to nowhere, the TVA Dam, Cherokee etc... Hubby and I used to tour the mountains on his Goldwing. I have a great fondness for it and get the itch to go there every year when Fall arrives! It's almost like I have an an internal Fall clock. And Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg was a special treat to us.~Ames
Judie: Come home.
Absolutely beautiful autumn scenes, Judie. Your artistic eye remains always true.
I love your visions of autumn - so peaceful. What a special place that stretch of river must be.
I love these autumn colors, delicious photos, especially the second one has a really lovely light.
So gorgeous. My dad has hiked a lot of the southern AT, and the Smokies are his favorite part.
Lovely all the way around!
I hate autumn, and everything which comes with it ! I prefer spring and summer by far. I think I am born in the wrong place, lol !
I love the smokies! :) Beautiful, beautiful, but yes, Gatlinburg is way overdone now. Sad. :/
Gorgeous autumn photos, Judie! Your post is always educational for me since I have never been to Smoky Mountains..
Love your beautiful trees!!! Fall time is so gorgeous. Yep...we have chilly evenings here in the Ozarks. 33 in our neck of the woods last night. :) Thanks for stopping by.
Beautiful thoughts and pictures for a beautiful time of year.
I've loved every minute of touring around that neck of the country, and we even camped in tents in Georgia once! The movie A river runs through it is also a great reflection of so many things....very excellent post Judie, thanks so much!
Beautiful Judie! I finally made it to the Southeast a year ago. I'll be making trips to North Carolina soon. It would be great to ramble along these roads...
Have a great weekend.
I finally fixed whatever was wrong with my computer and I can now leave comments on your blog again...
Your old home turf is my home. Living in Knoxville, we have access the Smokies and Blue Ridge Parkway. I consider these a gift from God. Many people want to see this lovely location, but never do and we are blessed to absorb it any chance we get.
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what a gorgeous photo - "A River Runs Through It" And I really love your "Get Permission" pic. May I use it? {:-Deb
I see where the permission came from. Get idea. {:-D
gorgeous lush photos! I love "A River Runs Through It!" We drive through the mountains on our way to visit our daughter in Asheville, NC. When our kids were younger, we spent several Spring Breaks in the Smokys near Gatlinburg.
So, my friend (and I do mean that), when did you last read the Razor's Edge? And, do you think that, in your own way, you are on a Larry kind of quest? You are a rather old soul, you know?
Ah, Bruce! One of my favorite books, that! And of course I am a rather old soul. Dear Larry is such an inspiring fellow, don't you think? I am always on a quest of one kind or another. I believe that one should never stop seeking...
Maybe the three of us will one day meet up.
Sounds like a plan, Bruce!!
Spectacular photos, Judie!
Love this post Judie, such awesome colors! Some day I'd love to visit your old neck of the woods. How did you ever get so far away?
Beautiful! Oh how I would love to visit those Smokey Mountains sometime. Fall would be especially beautiful.
Add this to my list of places in our wonderful country that I must see one day. Love the River Runs Through It, and the poem is thought provoking, too. Thanks!
Stunning photos! Autumn is my favorite time of year and you truly captured the best of it.
Oh Judie! This is tremendous! Absolutely stunningly beautiful!
This is how I see Autumn in my mind.
When my ash and pistache trees start turning color and the grass in lush and green you will have to drive up to Mesa and enjoy autumn, Arizona style!
Loved this link. And that is one of my favorite poems.
Thanks for sharing this.
A+
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