12.15.2008

To the Smoky Mountains!



The past few days have consisted of a trek inland. I spent nights in Greenville, Raleigh, Greensboro, and Asheville.



At some point in that trek I noticed signs for the "Country Doctor Museum". I was curious so I followed the signs off the highway(264?) and into the small town where the museum resides. The tour was $5 and included many interesting bygone medical tools, devices, and "cures". Above is a steel lung; above that, some Civil War prosthetics. There were also live leeches floating around a jar. The tour guide explained that leeches require very little maintenaince. You simply drop in "chicken liver" every few weeks and they're set.

Asheville had a neat little downtown run that reminded me of Brattleboro, VT -- lots of coffee shops, art galleries, locally-owned businesses, and so on. I walked around it with the intention to take pictures, but a passing cop, upon seeing my camera, warned me that the streets weren't "as safe as they look" and that I should put it away. So I did.

Leaving Asheville, I finally hit some mountains. The van held its own on the long inclines, albeit with abysmal gas mileage, but that's unavoidable. It was stressful on the curvy roads, what with freight trucks bearing down on me. I always feel bad holding up the trucks, but I figure it'd be much worse for everybody if I tipped over in front of them.



The part of the Smokey Mountains I hiked was along the northern flank. The colors and scents reminded me of the Adirondacks in the late spring. It was very warm; I had to take off my jacket to be comfortable.



BELOW: This lagoon was the goal of the hike. The picture doesn't honor just how truly emerald green it was.



BELOW: Bear scat?

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow! Great green lagoon..its snowing here, so I am happy you have a "green hike". Even the name Smoky mountains sounds beautiful.

Anonymous said...

ps Anonymous is Mom. Love you

Anonymous said...

HEY JUSTIN-LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE HAVING A GREAT TIME! WISH I COULD BE AT DEBBIES. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE HER PROPERTIES. TAKE LOTS OF PICS FOR YOUR BLOG SO I CAN SEE!!! HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS!
LUV YA,
AUNT LISA

Anonymous said...

HEY JUSTIN-WHAT-NO PICTURES OF DEBBIELAND YET??

LISA

Anonymous said...

HEY BY THE WAY-TELL YOUR MOM,ERIC, DEBBIE ETC. THAT I SAID MERRY CHRISTMAS.

THANKS,
LISA

Anonymous said...

Don't know which way you are headed but check out Saluda ,NC if you are headed that way. Nice small town.
I am enjoying the details of your trip I'd like to do. The specifics of say the camp in Abingdom, MD are interesting for someone who has never done a trip like you are on.How are you getting online?
Very nice photo's as well. Stay warm