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.  

Fun with Friends

Tom and I had a great time visiting with friends from our old neighborhood.  Thanks Tom and Jeannie.  Just like old times watching them with a  home improvement project, installing a hardwood floor at their son's house.

Our time in Atlanta has come to an end and we will be heading North from here to South Carolina and then onto my personal favorite North Carolina.  Going to see some friends there as well.  Can't wait to go to the Vanderbilt Mansion and show Tom Ashville.



Tom got some great photos this trip of Towhee birds either mating or fighting, we're not sure.  If it was mating they have a bit of a wild side.  These are some of the great photos he was able to capture.

"Bring it"

"Oh yeah, here I come !!!"

"Where did he go???"

Ahhhh  soooo!!!

"*&%^%#*&(*&!!!!"

I bow to you O master !!!!

It's March and hot.  Why?  Isn't it still winter.  Well winter somewhere but not here.  If the weather stays like this we'll be hitting the triple digits sooner rather than later.  

Off to get ready to travel tomorrow.  

Stone Mountain

This is Stone Mountain in Georgia, the view across the lake from our camp.  A rainstorm is blowing through right now and it pushed us inside.  We were doing some fix it projects today.  All in all having a great day.   

Hiking, Campfires and Wine !!!

The RV set up in the park.

Sam playing in the woods.

We stayed at the park 3 days.  Nice long walks and went on a hike in the woods.  We had a great campfire after gathering wood near our site.  Enjoyed a great bottle of wine.  All in all a great stay until we got up the next morning and I found a tick on me !!! YUK... Going to have it tested because some friends of ours have been struggling with Lyme disease for a couple of years now.  

We left there on Sunday and headed to Atlanta to stay at Stone Mountain again.  

Under the Trees

Near our campsite we have this stream running through the refuge.

This is the big pond or little lake behind our RV.

No one around us.  Hopefully we'll get to enjoy a camp fire tonight.

Walking trail we found yesterday.  

Not as much wild life as we hoped for.  A few birds, some turtles and some bugs.  But very peaceful.  Looking forward to the full moon this evening.  

On to another place in the Sun

We have left Florida behind after being here for a little over 2 months.  It's been an incredibly wonderful experience.  From seeing Disney World, watching rockets fly from Kennedy Space Center, meeting new friends, being eaten by mosquitoes to watching the beautiful birds, seeing Nascar Practice sessions and eating wonderful seafood.  We have enjoyed our time here.

We take our home north into Alabama with stops along the way before we head back to Atlanta, Georgia to meet up with our good friends from California for a few days.

Here are some pictures we took the last couple of days we spent in Florida.

We saw this big guy while walking on the beach.  He was perched by a couple of people just sitting there talking.  Truly a beautiful bird. 

This one wanted us to feed him fish.  We saw him hanging around fisherman.  

A little guy flying from his tree

This one was cleared for landing.

The seagul was chasing this bird because he had something in his mouth the seagul wanted.  Took several pictures to get this !!

Osprey with his half of a fish.  He was eating it on the go.  Must be late for a meeting.

Pelican skimming the water.  He was tagged by some organization.  Maybe he was injured once.  Glad to see he is doing well.

Hermit crab hijacking the Conch shell.

Heron cleared for take off.

We'll be in Alabama a few days.  The weather is great.   We're staying on an Indian Reservation.
http://www.creekindianenterprises.org/westminster/magnolia_branch_wildlife_reserve.html

It's a beautiful place, we are all but alone.  There are only 3 or 4 other campers here.

Pictures will come in the next few days.