DEEP CREEK NATIONAL PARK--October 23, 2014

37 degrees last night; beautiful day Took a 7 mile hike on a horse trail--moderate grade; twinkling leaves with colors galore; blue, blue sky; trippin out on the day and my blood sugar is all over the chart--a mini Snicker & pack of orange Lance crackers and things settled down & we're going at a good gait, and the....... there in front of us is a healthy pile of fresh bear poop.  Oops....we'd both forgotten this was the heart of bear country. Hummmm...and then, here comes a whole herd of jolly, college kids, horsing around...lots of loud banter and the fierce, boogie bear trepidations vaporized. A very, beautiful, wonderful day.

   Yesterday, October 23rd we rode the Great Smokies Railroad from Bryson City to Dillsboro--a day trip there and back. Some cool pottery & touristy little shops in both B.City & Dillsboro...and, a good bit "hard times" afoot.  Big learning from the railroad trip was  a heartfelt appreciation for my ancestors who road back and forth across America on trains back in the old days....like the 1860's, 70's ; etc. with batches of children,  and little or no train perks---just a seat. At maybe five miles per hour on average, you do the math for a distance of say, 2000 miles. Whew....I'm bushed.

ATTENTION, READERS!! PHOTOS FROM THE 23RD & 24TH SOMEHOW CLUMPED TOGETHER AND ARE ALL POSTED ON OCT.23 BLOG. (It's Bill Gates' fault.)  

DEEP CREEK LEAPER'S LURKING

DEEP CREEK LEAPER---Oct. 21st, 2014. Yep, the Leaper is a bear that stuffs himself/herself on backpackers' food they've hooked onto a wire strung between two trees---the hip way to store one's food in the wild. That is, with the exception of the mighty Leaper.  This-here bar climbs the tree with wire attached and leaps over to the food bag and rides it to the ground.  Alas, the poor  backpackers with no food must head back to their crib with their tails between their legs.

   We're EGGing up here in the Smokies in Leaper territory. Both of us have been sick---me with bronchial pneumonia. But we have turned the corner.  I figure I can hawk up mucus in the woods as easily as  at me casa.  Besides, the woods are where I belong. I spent my childhood way, way out in the country. Apart from the paved road out front, I could hike in any direction all day and never happen upon any civilization. Left the country for the city as a 9th grader; returned ten or twelve years later and our farm was history. In its place was a  strip mall and a McDonalds. And the beat goes on.  

   More later from Leaper country.

Deep Creek Leaper Country