Great Smoky Mountains
You must live in the present, Launch yourself on every wave, Find your eternity in each moment. Fools stand on their island of opportunities and look toward another land. There is no other land; there is no other life but this.
- Henry David Thoreau
I’ve become familiar with this area, after frequenting it over the last 5 years. It’s a feeling I enjoy; the familiarity with the mountain roads, yet the unknown unraveling before me a mile at a time. I enjoy the drive, the sudden change in direction, accelerating through the curves and pushing through the climbs and descents. Scenic overlooks become a pause, not just to enjoy the scenery, but to slow down the pace. To take it in just a little bit more, instead of just driving through. Paulo Coelho talks of the “Speed Exercise” in The Pilgrimage by saying to walk half the speed and you enjoy twice as many details. I did just that, and was pleasantly surprised by the views I enjoyed when I took a minute. The pictures here are all taken from the side of the road. No complicated hikes, no need for navigation (just make sure you set the GPS before entering the park and don’t take it off until you leave, or you might get disconnected and not get back online for miles), and no need for fancy gear. Just a reminder that not all scenic views are kept isolated from society, some you can drive right up to.
Driving up to Kuwohi was nice. The overlooks along the way were breathtaking. The hike to the viewing platform was cool, misty and foggy, and when I made it up I was just above the blanket of fog. I couldn’t see past the nearest trees, I was in the clouds. It started to sprinkle on the run back down, bouncing with each stride, letting gravity, and the weight I’ve been carrying push me forward.
The summer was nearing it’s end, and you could see some trees just starting to welcome Autumn. Most of the trees were a bright green, probably shining at it’s brightest. Only a few roadside trees and some sprinkled throughout the landscape have started turning yellow. It was nice to see the mountains during summertime, since it’s usually fall when I visit. The warm days never got too hot and the nights still felt refreshing.