Fourth of July weekend. A much anticipated long weekend after a rather long and hectic office schedule. Only thought in mind - rest and recuperate. Recharge those batteries before the greulling days to come over the next couple of months. Prospect of stay in a cabin, in the midst of the Great Smoky Mountains, was tempting with enchanting appeal. Near the Tennessee-North Carolina border, it is only 3 hours drive from Charlotte. Popularly known as Smokies for the natural fog that often hangs over the range as large smoke plumes from a distance, these mountains are a subrange of the Appalachian Mountains and forms part of the Blue Ridge mountain range.
The mountain cabins dotted the slope and offered a spectacular view. Wild bears tend to frequent the area foraging for extra food. Leaving leftovers outside in the bins is strictly prohibited.
Sitting in the balcony, watching the sky as the sun gradually went down the horizon is a sublime experience. One can hear the surrounding forest come alive with the growing darkness.
We went on walks in the mornings, down the mountain trails which funnily reminded me of tractor or bullock cart tracks back in India. The forest was rich in flora and we spotted beauty peeking from the brush. It was a nature's treasure trove.
The forest is rich in flora and we spotted beauty peeking from the brush. It was a nature's treasure trove. Several varieties of wild flowers adorned the brush on both sides of the tracks.
We even spotted a small brook which merrily tinkled down the mountain before vanishing further down, into the depths of the forest.
The nearby town of Gatlinburg is a quaint little town with all kinds of fun stuff to do. Wax museums, hall of mirrors, scary house, you take your pick. We passed by a tattoo shop and few of us jumped at the opportunity to get a tattoo done. The fact that the tattoos were being made by a beautiful Russian lady might have had a tiny influence on our decision :)
The long weekend over, we made the drive back to Charlotte high on what nature's offered, completely replenished after this sojourn with nature.
