Flat Tire

We were getting ready yesterday for travel today and found a flat inner tire on the back. Inflated it and it went down again. At 5 pm on Friday nobody was available. So 8 am this morning a guy showed up to fix it. Turned out the stem to fill it was loose.

It's all good and we're going to get on our way. I am sure the sounds from the air compressors made the other campers so happy that early. Had to be done so we could clear out for the next people to come in.

Great Smokey Mountain Drive

Our drive through the Great Smokey Mountains was mostly along this stream.  There were several waterfalls we passed while driving.  They were all beautiful.  Tom got these photos.

The smoke is actually clouds.  It is interesting to note that when storm clouds come up upon this mountain range they break up only to form again on the other side.  

This is the road through the Smokey Mountains. Got this shot from the sunroof while driving.  

The Blue Ridge Parkway is a 469 miles connecting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina to the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.  It is a beautiful drive.  We did about 50 miles of it.  There are closures due to rock slides so detours are inevitable. 

Osprey from the Everglades

When we were in South Florida visiting the Everglades Tom caught these photos of an Osprey that just caught a fish.  We saw it flying in the sky and then it landed on top of this pole to rest.  The fish is still alive and flopping around in the bird's talons.  His photos are amazing.  Sorry I neglected to post them back then.  Here they are now.

Applause, Applause to Tom !!!!!

Great Smokey Mountain Part 2

Coffee climbing around on the rocks and kind of asking for help here.  Got herself in a pickle.

The Great Smokey Mountains

This is a view from the road.  It was a rainy day with lots of clouds.

Grist Mill in the Smokey Mountains started in the late 1800's.  Still a working mill.  They were milling corn.

Grist Mill water diversion canal

The Blue Ridge Parkway is a product of the New Deal’s efforts to provide jobs to the unemployed of the Great Depression. Construction began in September 1935 at Cumberland Knob near the North Carolina and Virginia state line.   The idea was to create a link between the Shenandoah National Park to the edge of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Finally completed in 1983.

Spring Time in North Carolina

Butterflies doing their job for spring.  So beautiful !!

Here's a few more birds we found.  If your getting bored from looking them, sorry, I like the pursuit and capture the photo of them.   It's the challenge of getting the shot.

A Robin building her nest.  Couldn't believe I got this one. 

Male House Finch

Tom caught this guy puffing himself up and showing off.

Spotted this Lizard with the blue chest.

 

Birds, Bugs, and Flowers. Welcome to Spring Time.

Our campground is surrounded by woods and lots of trees which makes for a great place to find some interesting birds.  I (Lorraine) have caught the photography bug as I said before and have been out bird hunting most mornings because if you know Tom you know he's not up early.  


Here is the fast flying Cardinal.  Had some trouble getting close to him, but he finally posed pretty good for us.  

We also went to the Arboretum to scope out some flowers, birds and bugs.   It was truly a beautiful place with lots of trails to hike and bike.  If I lived here I would be there all the time. 

The Butterfly was really pretty.

Tom is very fond of his bugs.  He has a knack for finding some very cool shots.
 The bumble bees were doing their job and he caught it with the eye of an expert. 

At the Arboretum I got a shot of this little guy.  I haven't figured out what he is.
  I'll keep looking and try to figure it out.  He seems to like to forage on the ground for insects.

Daffodil 

This is a Christmas Rose

I hear the birds calling me.  Time to run out and find some more fun pictures.

The Elusive White Squirrel

We arrived in North Carolina on Saturday both with icky colds.   Found a nice little campground near Asheville.  That would not deter the photographer in both of us.  We set out to find some Cardinals and other woodland birds.  On Monday we decided to head out to Asheville and check it out.  When we got in the car I saw something white near a tree.  Tom grabbed the camera and got a picture off before the little guy was gone.   Stopping at the office on the way out we told them about the Squirrel they said few people have seen them and they would love a picture.  Well we had one and we were happy.  

The next morning I woke up early and went out with the camera to find some birds, instead I stumbled upon the little ghost here.  Here are just a few of the photos I captured.

This little guy is really camera shy.  He did not want his picture taken.  But I was able to get some good shots.  

We really like Asheville, a true hippie town.  Lots of street musicians, healthy food, coffee shops, and local culture.