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The Duchess and I visited Tremont early this morning. Enjoying the quiet roadways, parkway and Mecca itself. Very few cars were moving – and even fewer toward the National Park. The access road to Gatlinburg is closed for a few days and thus car traffic was minimal. I visited Tremont just after the rain finished and captured these shots. Click to enlarge. Enjoy.
Yes. I did it. In spite of a sustained howling wind of 25mph, I visited the Institute at Tremont in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park twice today. The total trek was 85 miles. Since I road the route by myself, “group ride math” would re-calculate the ride to 121 miles. As the BGE said, “that’s a long way in the car!” Right on.
Interestingly, the ride to Tremont was easier today because of the wind. Normally the slight-increase in road elevation makes you work a little. Today I was cruising at 28 on Highway 321 … moving fast enough that cars actually stayed in the other lane. The return leg toward home wasn’t so lovely. The same howling wind was in my face the entire time. Rather than enjoying the ’slight down hill’ ride from Tremont to the house (except for a couple rollers), the wind made the trek HARD!
T-1: The arrival home was interesting on many levels. First, I was halfway home even though I was at home. Umm. Second, normally I take the needed fuel with me – and returning home allowed me to roll a little lighter. Prior to leaving for T1, I had made my lunch. So – I grabbed the sandwich, protein bar, two bottles, dry clothes and a fresh attitude. I knew the wind was going to encourage bigger gears and mentally worked very hard to resist. But I couldn’t. I mean, when you can big-ring it traveling toward Tremont and scoot along at 28, 29 and even 30mph — without (!) a peloton paving the way — you had best enjoy it.
T-2: The first leg of T2 (my arrival at Tremont) was exciting. What an accomplishment and what a thrill to capture another photo of my personal mecca. Funny, the moment I crossed the bridge as I turned around to return home I grimaced at the thought of the wind. And yes, it was still howling. I just did my best and actually took the bike path through Townsend rather than riding on the road. It was easier to stroll – versus struggle to crank out painful mph numbers.
When I returned home the second time, I was whooped. Stiff legs. Coughing. Shoulders dropped. Fuzzy. Aching. The flat tire I had earlier in the day (while at Tremont on the first leg) wasn’t even on my mind. All I could think about was a 30 minute hot shower and FOOD! I drank a Coke and my blood sugar came up quickly. This along with the food (double helping of chicken, green beans, asparagus, pretzels, sports drink and several hunks of chocolate) helped.
At some point I’m doing a T3. I’d like to take it slower, but I envision a threepeat before the race season is underway. Peace.
What a beautiful photo – it’s a Dutch Roth photo to showcase the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It was taken at Abrams Falls in wintertime. While the trek is fairly easy (5-miles round-trip), plan on roughly three hours, depending on your pace. Since the departure point for this hike lies within Cades Cove, you will find little solitude unless you are hiking very early in the morning or in the “off” season before May or after the last pockets of Fall color have disappeared. However, even if the circumstances are not ideal, the hike to Abrams Falls is more than reward enough for the effort.
The name Abrams is a shortened reference to Abraham, the Cherokee chief of a village on the Little Tennessee near the mouth of what is now Abrams Creek. The hike allows you to climb to approximately 1,800 feet at one point, but when you arrive at the falls you are actually 300 feet lower than when you started.
The trail to Abrams Falls parallels Abrams Creek most of the way, except when Abrams Creek twists left from Arbutus Ridge to form a nearly one-mile loop resembling a “horseshoe,” a stretch of the creek that has always been populated with trout fishermen when we’ve passed. At mile 2.5 you will cross Wilson Branch and take the short side trail to the falls. Have the camera ready – it’s really nice and highly secluded. Enjoy.
The regional photographer, Dutch Roth, snapped many, many photos of the National Park and specifically Tremont. Today’s photo is wonderful in that it captures the spirit of the mountains while under a blanket of snow. The black and white format gives this photo a richness rarely seen in mainstream photography. Particularly because of the simplicity and sheer scenic emersion of the forest. It’s truly a great photo. Enjoy.
PS. The Duchess is my TT bike and she absolutely loves the trek to Tremont. Sorry for that confusion.
The weather was brisk at 10AM today.
Yet, I saddled up — — all suited up and went for a bike ride. “There goes that nut” is certainly the commentary shared by several cars passing me along the way. To those fat, morbidly obese people I have a simple message: find a diet, stop smoking, eat healthy, don’t drink so damn much and get out and see the world. Funny how people discount their “symptoms” as “the way it is” — and firmly believe their “symptoms” have nothing to do with their lifestyle. I could go on here — but I’ll refrain.
Ok then. The very thing I enjoy most is seeing the world. Today I saw four hours and 80 miles of my local area called Blount County. Nicely done except for the dogs who obviously reflect their owners’ attitude toward people in general. Other than that it was cold. A National Park Ranger stopped and chatted some while I was in Tremont. She was very nice and talkative. This interaction made the ride even better. Why? When the poe-poe say something other than “put your hands on the wheel,” it’s a good thing.
The mecca of my world has a video today. Outta here.
Knit > a. trans. To tie in or with a knot; to tie, fasten, bind, attach, join, by or as by knotting. With cogn. obj. to knit a knot. arch. and dial. Dating back to c1000 (!) – many balls of yarn ago. 2. trans. {dag}a. To knot string in open meshes so as to form (a net); to net. Obs. Daing to 1290.
Ok – knit a stitch or purl something – it’s timeless and important.
Thank goodness for my new hats.
Leaving home I noticed the Foothills were a little darker than those over Townsend. The clouds spelled rain but I didn’t hesitate, I pulled out and keep moving. Good thing. If I had waited I would have stayed inside and ridden the trainer. Heck I was in such a hurry to get to Tremont that I took my sandwich and ate while I rode the bike.
I’ve attached (can you believe it?) a photo of Tremont that I took today when I stopped for a snack. The ride over was brisk and damp. Mostly I saw a beautiful gray colored sky with the mountains strong and outspoken. The thought of visiting my personal mecca seemed like a nice “from me – to me” gift today.
The road on the way to Tremont (just off the Parkway to Cades Cove) is like a private street, following the creek the entire distance. I road without my iPod and really soaked up the sounds as much as the sites. Ok – so when I left Tremont it was lightly snowing – then I felt the unmistakable sting of sleet. Yep – it started sleeting. Burr. That meant one thing, it was going to rain and I needed to tempo-ride back home. At that point I put it on the big ring and cranked. I don’t mind cold. But I do not like cold and wet. There’s no fun in cold and wet.
The other photo is an ‘out-building’ taken at Tremont. There were several woodcutting devices in the vicinity and logg-ege as well. Looks like firewood a-plenty.
Best get on with Sammy-Sam here and enjoy Christmas with Amy and the kids – Petter and Mary Grace.
Happy Holidays.
