Hello Winter

The rain changed to snow yesterday

And we awoke to a soggy slushy scene

Rising Water

Its been raining for several days

and the trails are becoming little rivulets flowing to the creek.

I photographed this fallen tree 2 days ago

as the rain was starting.

This is yesterday after about an inch of rain.

And this morning, after 1.5 inches of additional rain. 

Still coming down, so I may add to this post.

Funny Sounding Fungus

Turkey tails on an old stump.

This gelatinous fungus is called Witches Butter.

This finger-like fungus is called stinkhorn.

All found in November.

Hidden Majesty

Hey, Where is Tom Going?

And why is he in that handbasket?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Rainy Day Nap

Can You See Them?

They blend in so well, but there are 2 deer on the ridge.

See them?

Firey Sunrise

Winter's Comin'

Winter can't be far off, when ice forms on the frog pond.

I'm Watching You

TN Cabin

Thanks to my dear friend who arranged our trip,

we had pretty cushy accommodations.

This is our rental cabin.

With a nice deck and outdoor fireplace.

And I had a nice comfy bed to sleep in after those long trail rides.

The horses had pretty nice digs too.

What a welcome sight after along day in the saddle.

TN Graveyard

While trailriding in Tennessee,

we stopped near an old cemetary.

Many of the graves are dated in the 1800's.

 

 There were many interesting gravestones,

such as this orphan girl's stone.

This woman's epitaph shows how much she was missed.

At rest in the Slaven Cemetary

TN Trip Highlights

Big South Fork has some hidden gems to discover.

 One is the Indian Dome Rock House

The entrance is quite deceiving.

It appears to be just a small cave under an outcropping of rock.

But once inside, a huge room with a 3 story domed ceiling is revealed.

Another destination is the Charit Creek Lodge.

The lodge cannot be reached by car.  

You must hike or ride in on horseback.

The buildings are on the National Historic Register

and are the oldest buildings still being utilized nation wide inside the park system. 

 You can spend the night in a rustic cabin

or enjoy a meal with advance reservations.

We enjoyed our packed lunches with the resident kitty cat.

And contemplated staying for a nap,

but continued on down the trail.

We rode up Hatfield Ridge to Charit Creek Overlook

and looked down on the lodge.

Other highlights were the sweeping vista of Bronco Overlook

Lunching by a series of small waterfalls along Williams Creek.

Exploring the rock formations

And seeing a herd of deer cross the river

as we plunged in to cross as well.

We only visited a small portion of the park

which encompasses 125,000 acres. 

There are many more sights to see.

Tennessee Trailriding

I am back home from 5 days of trailriding in Tennessee.

We rode at Big South Fork Natl' Recreation Area

and what a beautiful place to ride.

There are lovely waterfalls,

Hidden caves,

Huge boulders & rock outcroppings,

And magnificent views from rocky overlooks.

We crossed the very wide South Fork of the Cumberland River

Rode well maintained but somewhat challenging trails

And ate our lunch in some pretty serene settings.
All in all, a fun way to wind down the riding season.

Lookin' Out My Front Door