Trip North - Smoky Mtns - Cades Cove

One of the reasons for coming to this side of the Mountain is to do the scenic Cades Cove Drive.  It is still another 23 miles and that is at 25 mph.

We head out a little before 4 pm.

 It's on the map now!

We arrive around 5 pm and traffic is light.  We avoided the weekend because we have heard it is bumper to bumper

 Bucolic scenes of open fields, woods and mountains

 and lots of Turkeys

 Cades Cove is a one way 11 mile scenic road.  We mistakenly drove by the parking for the 1st of over 80 historic buildings- John Oliver Place and couldn't turn around but I got a long distance shot from the truck.  Built in the 1820's it is the oldest log home in the Cove.

 We continue down the road

and next is the Primitive Baptist Church

 Established in 1827, he original log building 

was replaced with this one in 1887.  Gary prepares his sermon.

 It has a pretty good size cemetary

 John Oliver is buried here

 On the way back to the truck I spot some deer and apparently I am spotted too

I stood still and it just kept approaching

Not far down the road is the Methodist Church.  A Blacksmith built this church in 115 days for $115.  The church has 2 front doors which usually indicated that the church sat Men on one side and Women on the other.  They did not do that here - they had simply borrowed the building plans from one that did. 

 Tucson waits patiently for us at each stop

 A Missionary Baptist Church

A group of Baptists expelled from the Primitive Baptist Church because they favored missionary work formed this church in 1839.  This building dates from 1915.

 Tucson takes in the scenery

 The Loop is open to cyclists and I had considered bring ours - 

but glad we didn't!

 We missed the Elijah Olver Place - apparently there is a trail to it which I thought was just a hiking trail.

We don't miss the next stop and the crown jewel - The Cable Mill.

The Gristmill and other historic buildings on this site were brought in from other areas in the Park.

 The wooden Flume brings water from the creek.

 John Cable built a water powered grist mill in the Cove in 1870.

 The Gregg-Cable House  It is believed to be the first 

all-frame house in the Cove.  The smokehouse is to the right.

 The Barn has a drive thru center and stalls on either end.  A wagon load of Hay could drive in the center and a man on the wagon and one in the loft could quickly transfer the hay to the loft.

The overhand on the Cantilever Barn provided shelter for animals as well as storage space for farm equipment

The Dan Lawson Place was built in 1856.  The bricks for the chimney were made onsite.  The original part of the house is all hand-hewn logs.

 

 There is a Granary and Smokehouse here too.

 Next is the Tipton Place.  "Col. Hamp" Tipton who served in the Mexican War built this in the early 1870's

Last but not least is the Carter Shields Cabin.  The Battle of Shiloh left Carter Shields crippled for life.  Shortly after the war he married and moved to Kansas.  He moved back here in 1906 and bought this property in 1910.

A great drive.   2 1/2 hours later we start the trek home.  We notice lots of cars parked on the side of the road and people standing with cameras - so Gary let's me out to investigate while he finds a spot to pull over.  

Turns out a Mama Bear and two Cubs are in the trees.

 Here she is jumping from the tree she was in to the one her cubs are in.  Not sure what they were find to eat.

I was able to get a short video before my battery died.

Another great day in the Smokys!  

Tomorrow we will try to get out early to do the popular Laurel Falls Hike.  The trailhead fills up early and cars can be parked a mile away off the road.