Sometimes one is just plain lucky. While doing some work in the garage early this morning, I noted a bug on Kay’s car hood. Upon closer examination, it proved to be a butterfly. Quickly grabbing the camera, I made several photographs while it was still in a semi-dormant state because of the cool temperatures. It proved to be a Red-banded Hairstreak. The hood of the car made for an interesting background.

After doing a few chores outside in the back, Kay and I observed a solitary dragonfly, female Widow Skimmer, warming herself on a shrub.

Meanwhile a beautiful Monarch was nectaring on a Lantana bloom. The Monarch was very skittish, and only allowed itself to be photographed from a distance.

Also, a few Skippers were nectaring among the many blooms of Lantana, butterfly bushes, butterfly weeds, etc. What a thrill to be back home among the beautiful creatures.

After lunch, Kay and I cleaned the inside of the motorhome and packed a few remaining items, and then put it in storage until next time—hopefully sooner rather than later—as there are some minor maintenance items that need attention.

Kay and Sue (Kay’s longtime friend and our fabulous house sitter) spent the evening at Pam’s celebrating her birthday; they had pizza, cake and ice cream, and wine while watching the first half of Gone With the Wind. I remained home, catching up on blogs and vlogs. Life is good!

And oh, by the way, the Arkansas Photography Club Facebook group administrator has banned me from posting/commenting for 30 days (I’m in “time out”). Though no reason was provided, it’s likely because I expressed concern in a comment regarding their recent group picture, “No masks or social distancing”. Time to resign!

Despite yesterday’s rain, we were up early on Friday and departed Cross Creek RV Park about 7:30 AM.

Given the forecast of rain and fog, we opted to travel separately through the worst part of the mountains, and connecting back together at the I40 Rest Area in Tennessee at Mile Marker 425. That proved to be a wise decision, at least for us, because the motorhome traveled up the mountains and around the curves flawlessly without the Honda CR V “toad”, tugging along behind. We lucked out at the Rest Area as the rain had dwindled to a mere mist, making connecting the toad to the motorhome a little less messy. After attaching the vehicles both mechanically and electrically, we continued west through Knoxville, TN. It began raining there and rained on us the next 300 miles through our gasoline stop and most of the evening as we overnighted at Parkers Crossroads RV Park in Yuma, TN (Parkers Crossroads was a notable Civil War battle near Jackson, TN).

We both slept hard last night (Friday). The 270-mile drive was trouble free. Over the years, we have noticed that highways through cities and towns need lots of maintenance as do most bridge approaches. In the motorhome, these will cause shake, rattle, and roll, sometimes to the detriment to the home on wheels and its occupants. And, the concrete sections of  I40 through West Memphis and I440 around the south side of Little Rock are other areas we dread! Nevertheless, we pulled into the Coronado RV Park in Hot Springs Village about 12:30 PM, set up, drained and flushed the tanks, and emptied the motorhome in record time, arriving at the house about 2:30 PM. 

I am both glad and sad to be home. My nomadic personality mandates that I travel to be contented, and relocating at least every three weeks——except for winters in Arizona. However, Hot Springs Village offers endless possibilities, and friends with whom I enjoy doing things are there. It is a mixed bag for sure.

Kay left relatively early this morning to tour Biltmore in nearby Asheville.

Having been there and done that, I skipped the tour and remained behind to consolidate and pack photo and computer equipment—playing with toys sure requires a lot of work! As an aside, feeling better sure changes one’s perspective of life. With time on my hands, I caught up on reading blogs and watching vlogs on YouTube. Kay returned mid-afternoon, and we thoroughly enjoyed a relaxing, quiet afternoon.

By Kay’s declaration, tonight is “pizza night”. After having our first adult beverages in several days, she diced Canadian bacon and chopped veggies—onion, green pepper, jalapeño pepper, and mushrooms. I spread pizza sauce on a couple of low carb tortillas (1 Weight Watchers point each), sprinkled shredded mozzarella cheese over the sauce, followed by pre-cooked Jimmy Dean turkey crumbles (tastes like sausage), and Kay’s Canadian bacon and Veggies. Since we don’t have a pizza stone in the motorhome—to be remedied for our next trip—I inverted a cookie sheet on the grill and cooked on that: 10 minutes on high. With leftover Caesar salad from last night, we had a great, satisfying dinner.

After the invigorating walk at Lake Junaluska, we drove the steep and crooked road to Cataloochee Valley, nestled in the far northeastern part of Great Smoky Mountains NP, hoping to get a glimpse of the elk that graze there in late afternoon; we were not disappointed. As we entered the Valley, we noted a car of two stopped along side one of the pastures, and sure enough, elk were observed in the woods. And then, a big bull stepped out of another section of woods and began grazing alone.After a short while, he laid down, and to our surprise began bugling. If you’ve ever heard one bugle, you know what a thrill it is. A few other elk joined him, and others were observed in a pasture about a half mile away. The big bull posed for photographs for all the stopper-bys, and while the gnats swarmed around him,, the flies ate on me!

Back at the motorhome, we watched British television before hitting the sack fairly early.

No rain was forecast for today, Sunday, an unusual occurrence this summer in the Smokies. Still tired from our road trip, I opted to edit photos and write updates for our blog, Dunngone, while Kay shopped for groceries. Consequently, we waited until late to venture out out for exercise and photos. Besides, crowds seem to be worse in the late mornings and early afternoons. Kay chose for us to walk the 2.4 mile trail at Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center, followed by a trip to Cataloochee Valley hoping to see elk.

Lake Junaluska was dependable as always, offering a few blooms and butterflies.

These occur mostly near the Kern Center. Sites along the trail are described as follows. Built in 1956, the Kern Center includes meeting spaces, a seasonal soda shop and a year-round fitness center. The Corneille Bryan Native Garden features more than 500 species of native plants and is a haven for birdlife. The Lake Junaluska Rose Walk was conceived in 1962 and features more than 200 hybrid tea, grandiflora and floribunda roses. The World Methodist Museum and Susanna Wesley Garden houses the largest collection of Methodist history, artifacts and memorabilia in the world. Named for John Wesley’s mother, the Susanna Wesley Garden is a place for prayer and meditation. The Terrace is a recently renovated hotel offering contemporary luxury and breathtaking views of the lake. The Harrell Center, built in 1960, houses meeting facilities, Lake Junaluska’s coffee and gift store “Junaluska Gifts & Grounds”, the SEJ Heritage Center, the Lake Junaluska library and public restrooms. Access to the boat dock is available at ground level. Stuart Auditorium, the first structure completed at Lake Junaluska in 1913, was originally an open-air construction with a dirt floor covered with sawdust. Later, the auditorium was enclosed with walls and was renamed in honor of George R. Stuart, a minister and strong supporter of the Southern Assembly. Memorial Chapel was built in 1949 as a memorial to southeastern United Methodist Church members who served in the armed forces during World War II. The Book of Memory, located in the SEJ Heritage Center, contains the names of 90,000 people who served during the war. The Room of Memory, adjacent to the chapel, houses the Lake Junaluska Columbarium. Constructed around 1930, the Francis Asbury Trail is named for Bishop Francis Asbury, one of the pioneering American Methodist ministers who passed through this area in 1810 while spreading John Wesley’s message of Methodism. The Lake Junaluska Dam was constructed between 1911 and 1913, and has a oneway road and sidewalk. Completed in 1921, the center section of the Lambuth Inn is on the National Register of Historic Places. It is named to honor Bishop Walter R. Lambuth, a notable missionary. Inspiration Point offers panoramic views of the lake and mountains, and it is a scenic destination for all to engage in quiet meditation, prayer and study. The Lake Junaluska Cross was constructed in 1922. The Amphitheater was built in 1988 and is now a popular location for vesper meetings, worship services and Lake Junaluska’s annual Easter sunrise service. Built in 1988, the Turbeville Footbridge enables visitors to complete the shorter 2.3-mile path that circles the lake. Next, and last, is the swimming pool and kayak/canoe/paddle board center.

Most butterflies were observed near the Harrell Center

Together with Nan and George, we left Zionville, NC, about 10 AM on Saturday, each going opposite directions. We drove the Blue Ridge Parkway south and west to Asheville, then the interstate to Waynesville, and local state highways to Maggie Valley. A short drive, just over 120 miles taking about 3-1/2 hours, wore us out, and we lollygagged the remainder of the day.

After coffee and a smorgasbord of breakfast foods, we set forth to Blowing Rock. Blowing Rock sits at 4,000 feet, dangling over Johns River Gorge located at 3,000 feet. Typically, a peculiar current of air flows upward from the rock caused by rocky walls of the gorge creating a flume which forcefully sweeps northwest wind. If one were to stand on the rock and throw a light object (say a handkerchief), the object would not fall but simply float or return to you.

There were a number of short nature trails among the boulders at this private tourist attraction. While we masked up anytime anyone was within about 10 feet, most of the crowd there did not wear masks.

Wanting a more substantial hike, we drove to Annie Cannon Park in the heart of Blowing Rock. Here, the Glen Burney Trail offers three majestic waterfalls along the trail adjacent to New Year’s Creek. Just as we began the hike, it started raining to the extent that we opted to turn back. It proceeded to rain all day, driving us to play bridge back at the cabin. Laughing and thinking at the same time proved to be a challenge, as we had a blast. It’s so much fun to enjoy time and laugh with family!

Kay was the primary dinner preparer, and the fish tacos and all the fixin’s were fabulous.

Up bright (actually, it was raining) and early Thursday morning, we packed the newly repaired car and secured the motorhome (awning in, water turned off, hot water heater turned off, shades pulled, etc.). And then we drove north on state and federal highways and I40 to join the Blue Ridge Parkway north of Asheville, NC; our destination was Zionville, NC, near the NC and TN state lines. There, we met Nan and George, Kay’s sister and brother-in-law, for a two-night getaway. It rained most of the three-hour drive, with low clouds enveloping the mountains. As we arrived at the quaint cabin, Nan and George were at the porch to greet us.

After unpacking food, clothes, and other paraphernalia, the four of us loaded back into the car for a drive to the Moses H. Cone Memorial Park.Moses H. Cone Memorial Park, on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Blowing Rock. The park preserves the country estate of Moses Cone, a prosperous textile entrepreneur (he and his brother cornered the market on denim), conservationist, and philanthropist of the Gilded Age. In 1901, he built Flat Top Manor, then a  gleaming white 20-room mansion in the grand Colonial Revival style.

Twenty-five miles of carriage trails wind through the fields and forests of the 3,500-acre estate. Moses Cone’s interest in nature and conservation led him to plant extensive white pine forests and hemlock hedges (at the advice of friend and noted conservationist Gifford Pinchot), build several lakes stocked with bass and trout, and planted a 10,000-tree apple orchard.

Our 3.5 mile carriage road hike took us on a loop descending to an unnamed lake.

Rhododendrons lined the carriage road, and covered the forest floor—one can only imagine what it would look like in mid-June when the Rhododendrons are in full bloom. Scattered along the roadside among the Rhododendrons were beautiful wildflowers; Master Gardeners Nan and George identified them and provided some information about each species. It was like a guided tour! Even a few butterflies were observed nectaring on the blooms. Light rain accompanied us on the ascending half of the loop trail.

We returned to the cabin to enjoy happy hour after which Nan (and Kay) prepared a sumptuous dinner of salmon, broccoli, and Caesar salad (my favorite). Bedtime was early, after watching an episode of MI5 via Amazon video and a BritBox subscription.

Traveling mandates a degree of flexibility, particularly if one is in an RV. I am spending ALL of today at the Honda dealership in Asheville, NC, for right front wheel bearings, new brake pads and adjustments, tire alignment necessitated by new front wheel bearings, draining, flushing, and adding new fluids to the rear end (not mine, fortunately, but it probably needs it, too), other new fluids, etc. to the tune of about 3 car payments. This was unplanned and unexpected, but the car has almost 160,000 miles. Meanwhile, Kay washed clothes, packed for an upcoming road trip, and tidied up the motorhome. We would rather be hiking. However, we are truly blessed that we can afford the time and cost for the repairs, especially now with such high unemployment among the population.

Trying to forget about the disappointment yesterday (Tuesday) of not hiking to the top of North Carolina’s Chimney Rock, we traveled the Blue Ridge Parkway north to return to Mount Mitchell (via NC Hwy 128 at MP 350) to walk to the summit (it was raining during our trip here last week). At Milepost 361.2, we stopped to view Glassmine Falls. While the sign at the overlook claims it is 800 feet tall, it is likely only about a 200-foot drop. This is the only view of Glassmine Falls, and you cannot hike to its base.

Just after beginning the short hike, the mountain became shrouded in light mist. Further up the trail, the mist became heavier, turning into a light rain. Though we brought raincoats, neither of us had thought to take them out of the car! By the time we returned in a full blown rain, we were soaked; thankfully, the camera and lens were water resistant. 

From Mount Mitchell, we continued north on the Blue Ridge Parkway to Crabtree Falls, MP 339.5. The Falls is accessible via a 3-mile woodland hiking trail, with a steady and sometimes difficult descent and return climb on craggy rocks and stone staircases. The 70-ft. waterfall was worth the trek! Once again, few people on the trail wore masks.

On a roll, we continued north to Linville Falls, MP 316.3. Linville Falls is the most visited and photographed waterfalls in North Carolina. The Falls drops 90 feet into the 12-mile long Linville Gorge with cliffs towering above the river. We took the Erwin View Trail, an easy 1.0 mile roundtrip hike to the Upper Falls overlook. At the Upper Falls overlook, one can observe the cascades and watch the water rush into a narrow canyon before it plunges 45 feet over the lower falls. A quarter mile further, the Chimney View overlook offers an excellent chance to photograph both the upper and lower falls, along with the impressive cliffs. Because of the crowds and lack of “masking”, we did not do this segment. This falls reminded us of the Athabaska Falls between Banff and Jasper in Alberta, Canada.

On the two-hour return trip to the motorhome, we stopped at Walgreens in Waynesville to pick up an early birthday present for yours truly, a 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD from Tamron to use on the Sony a7riii mirrorless camera. (Another thing 8 learned from a Getaway Couple (https://www.getawaycouple.com) was that each Walgreens has a delivery station for FedEx (a great asset for travelers). Back at the motorhome, we collapsed and thoroughly enjoyed an adult beverage before showers and bed.