Where We Went

After I wrote my blog I read my email about the suggested topic. How cool that it is to write about a time you took a trip!

One of my blogger friends has a super blog where he shares so many magnificent places he has traveled. Doug J’s blog, Where Do You Want to Go Today has taken me on so many virtual tours all around the world! So today I decided to write my version of his topic to where we went. It’s no where close to the places Doug has shared but this was our little bit of heaven for a few days last month.

We love going to the Great Smoky Mountains and usually stay at Harrah’s Casino but this trip I checked online and found a little cabin in the middle of nowhere in Cosby Tennessee. We left early morning and the first sight we saw was a beautiful sunrise. I shot the first photo of the sun peaking over the trees then a few minutes later it was high in the sky and what a spectacular photo I got with a church steeple and the sun.

It was a nice six hour drive to our cabin and one word, BEAUTIFUL! Even though I saw a few photos on the website we were totally amazed at the inside. The walls were all cedar and what a wonderful smell when we opened the door. The kitchen had all stainless appliances, fully equipped with pots and pans, dishes and even a toaster tucked in the cupboard. Next to the kitchen was the TV and in the corner was a gas fireplace. We could use it for heat or just ambience with the flame.

The cabin so light and airy and had everything to make our stay wonderful. A comfortable sofa and a king sized bed with high ceilings. The door to the right opened on to a screened in porch.

Even the bathroom was well stocked with towels, soap, shampoo and everything else needed. We didn’t have to bring anything! If this was my cabin, the one thing I would do is add a railing around the top of the bathroom wall, attach a ladder and turn this space into a reading loft! It would be the perfect place to relax, read or meditate.

The most relaxing part was sitting on the porch listening to the stream that was only a few feet away! The one thing we did take was food since we didn’t know what eateries were nearby. I’m so glad we did because I cooked burgers, hotdogs and home grown squash for our dinners and bacon and eggs were on the breakfast menu. Just sitting, doing nothing but relaxing and watching the water while we ate. Rich could have stayed on the bank of the stream all day! But we had others places to visit!

We always love to visit Cade’s Cove when in the Great Smoky Mountains and it was only about a two hour drive from the cabin where the mountain views are exquisite. It’s an eleven mile loop where you drive around and it takes you back to the early settlement days. We have been around the loop so many times but we always see something different. It’s so beautiful. But this time we got to see something up close!

There are lots of deer, bears, turkey, plus other wild life but we were so excited when we met a Mama bear and her three cubs! The traffic was almost at a standstill so when I heard people talking about the bears, I told Rich I would run up and see about getting a few pictures. As soon as I got to where mama was, she started climbing up the bank and walking towards the road. I made a mad dash back to the car just as Mama bear crossed right in front of our car while her cubs were in the tree.

Rich parked off the side of the road while the park rangers showed everyone where to stand. He had to leave an opening on the road for mama bear to come back and get her cubs. Rich and I had the perfect waiting spot, a huge boulder right along the edge of the stream. After waiting about half an hour the ranger told everyone to stay back, mama was coming back!

We had the perfect spot to watch mama bear call to her cubs to come down from the tree. After then didn’t listen, mama climbed up and one by one they all climbed down the tree. It was such an amazing sight to be able to catch this video of the bear family.

The bear family slowly walked down the bed of the stream and we were back in the car to see what other sites we could see. It wasn’t long when I noticed some people in the middle of the field so far away I could barely make them out. I had my Nikon camera but so far I had just been using my Google phone for photos. I zoomed in and there was a bride and groom getting married! It was the perfect spot, such a peaceful setting to start their life together!

Rich’s and my little get-away was so relaxing and we will definitely reserve our next trip to the mountains with Bear Camp Cabin Rentals! Where we went was the best few days and we were only about an hour away from Harrah’s but didn’t even go near the casino! LOL