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Fun

Walkin’ Among the Wildflowers, Wildlife, and Waterfalls

Posted on May 4, 2018April 30, 2018 by Easin' Along

Easin’ Along is on an assignment in the Cherokee National Forest this week so I hope you will enjoy one of our favorite posts from exactly two years ago. We will return next Friday with reports compiled during our time away.

In an effort to recall what my first vision of an active retirement was, it was probably the dream of having to decide whether to park my oversized yacht off of the coast of St. Barth’s or St. Martin in order to snorkel the clear, blue water. That dream is still out there, but I have yet to get the call that my yacht is ready for delivery. Meanwhile, I’m ecstatic with a retirement that’s active, but still has room for spontaneity.

A few weeks ago we told Easin’ Along readers about a trip we made to an area around TVA’s Norris Dam to follow the wildflower walk along the Clinch River. That was an awesome experience and one that we wanted to repeat, but wildflower season near our home was waning quickly. If we wanted to see more wildflowers we would have to go to a higher elevation.

On Friday of last week we were catching up on the events of the day and looking ahead to the weekend when Helen (adorable wife) said that the children would be the featured choir at Sunday’s church service and she felt like they could get along fine without her as the preeminent alto in the adult choir. To that, I replied, “Let’s go to Bryson City”. Admittedly we’re active people, but not so busy that we can’t be spontaneous…I love that. I immediately got on the phone and secured reservations for two nights and the next morning we packed Freddie (car) and hit the road.

Bryson City, NC is about a two-hour drive for us. It is in Western North Carolina and borders the southern side of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The elevation for the town is a little over 1700 feet; about 800 feet higher than Knoxville, but the roads and trails in the National Park can take us much higher. We were sure we would see wildflowers and, in fact, Wildflower Week in the National Park would begin on Monday. This was going to be good.

There are several options for driving and we chose to follow Highway 441 which twists and winds its way from the Park entrance at Gatlinburg through Newfound Gap, a 5000 feet opening in the mountains and down to the Oconaluftee River Valley on the other side of the National Park. From there it is a short distance to Bryson City. As we climbed the mountain we could see wildflowers everywhere including White trillium, Phlox, and blankets of Spring Beauty making their way up the mountainside. We stopped at Webb Overlook to take in the view and while the leaves were not yet on most of the trees, there was just a hint of spring green in front of us.

Gracey Manor - Front — **Gracey Manor – Front**

We arrived in Bryson City and checked in to Gracey Manor, our favorite home away from home. We discovered Gracey Manor on our first trip here about two years ago when we came to float the nearby Nantahala River. The motel is owned by David and Peggy Gracey who operate the motel from April until the end of October, then return to their home in Texas for the winter. Gracey Manor is a classic 1950’s era motel and with no exaggeration whatsoever, is the cleanest place we have ever stayed. The rooms open to a front porch with a view to the mountains and an invitation to relax. David and Peggy are the friendliest people on the planet and go out of their way to make us feel welcome.

That evening we did a little walking around this small but vibrant town. There are a lot of shops and eateries and much to enjoy, and Bryson City is known for its world-class outdoor activities, laid-back vibe, and diversity of activities in its walkable downtown. It is an ideal getaway.

On Sunday morning I got up early and drove a few blocks away to pick up two large cups of coffee and take some pictures of the early morning sun on the mountains at the edge of town. The fresh air was stimulating, but I still needed coffee. I have posted a picture of the morning here.

After breakfast, we put on our hiking gear and drove about ten minutes into the National Park at Deep Creek campground to begin our search for wildflowers. We didn’t have to walk far. Starting on the Deep Creek/Indian Creek Loop and heading toward Tom Branch Falls, we were about 200 feet into the hike when we came upon a bed of bright blue Wild Iris – my favorite wildflower. Here’s a picture.

I continued along the trail and paused in front of Tom Branch Falls, a beautiful cascading waterfall above Deep Creek when I heard Helen yelling behind me. “Come Heeerrre!” “NOW!” She was standing on the side of the trail at the base of a steep hillside staring intently at something and that something turned out to be a light pink Showy Orchid. Of course, I didn’t know what it was but Helen did and she says that they are rare. On this hike, we were fortunate to come upon several beds containing large numbers of the flower. It was a treat.

We followed the Deep Creek/Indian Falls Loop for about 4.5 miles which included a fairly steep climb of a mile or more to the top of a ridge above Indian Creek then back down. We took our time and I was grateful for the time I spent at the YMCA (see post) over the past few months for giving me the needed energy to make the hike. In addition to the Iris and Orchids, we saw Wild Phlox, Phacelia, Trillium, Foamflower, Spring Beauty, and many others which will have to go unnamed for the moment. I was truly impressed by both the numbers of different species and by the sheer beauty they gave to us.

Blanket of Spring Beauty — **A blanket of Spring Beauty**

We were also treated to some spectacular waterfalls – Toms Branch and Indian Creek Falls among them.

While walking, we met many very nice and friendly hikers out to enjoy the Park. We lost count of the number of states represented by fellow travelers, but remember meeting folks from Connecticut, Oregon, Florida, and Alabama among them. One hiker we met was on his way to do some fly fishing for trout in one of the creeks along the trail, and he was most helpful in sharing some of the highlights of the area. His name is Dr. Spencer Muse, a professor of statistics at North Carolina State University. Dr. Muse is from the Bryson City area and comes back often to fish. We enjoyed our time with him on the trail, and he agreed to let me take his picture.

We met one other “stranger” on our hike when I was near the bottom of the ridge and looked straight into the face of a young deer about six feet away from me. This fella was accompanied by two other deer that seemed not the least bit disturbed by our presence and continued eating while we took their pictures. This was a bonus. Apparently, we missed a bear that was spotted by some others on the trail when he poked his head out of a cave above the road. I’m glad we avoided that opportunity, but he created quite a stir on the trail.

We are genuinely blessed to have the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in our backyard and it is easy to see why it is the most visited and most popular National Park in the country. Having been to many of our Parks, I agree that they are the greatest gifts we Americans have given to ourselves. This year we celebrate the 100th anniversary of this awesome gift.

That night we decided we still had enough energy to drive the short distance to Cherokee, NC and try our luck at the Casino. We’re not big gamblers, but we always hope big and walk through the doors very optimistically about having a big night. On this night I did well, but it wasn’t as good for Helen. Nevertheless, we evened each other out and walked away having a lot of fun for the two hours we spent there.

Adorable wife - Very busy — **Adorable wife – Very busy**

Up early again the next morning and walked about three blocks along Everett Street to our favorite breakfast spot, the Everett Street Diner. On our first trip to Bryson City, we noted that a lot of local policemen and firefighters filled this restaurant for breakfast and decided it must be good. We have never been disappointed. This is a true diner with tablecloths, heavy china plates and cups, and lots and lots of the things I get really excited about…like biscuits and gravy. It didn’t take us long to study the menu. Helen had the breakfast special and I went all in for the Biscuit and Gravy Combo. It arrived quickly and good and hot. We feasted.

Soon it was time to check out so we said our goodbyes to David and Peggy and took a picture to remember them by and hit the road.

We decided to go home by the same route along US 441 in order for a few more glimpses of the wildflowers in the Park and were again rewarded when we passed a large bed of Phlox and rare pink Trillium as well as white Trillium. A Pink one is pictured here and I think readers would have to agree it is stunning.

We stopped to take in the view from Clingmans Dome, the highest peak in the National Park. There were a number of visitors there and, judging from the license plates, they came from far and wide. The hike up the somewhat steep path from the parking lot to the tower takes about 10 minutes, but the view from the path is spectacular and we joined many visitors taking pictures. The tower offers a panoramic view of the horizon and it is breathtaking. I would encourage all to visit…but wear comfortable shoes.

We arrived back home in about three hours exhausted and exhilarated, thrilled by what we had seen and proud of ourselves for making the effort. Spontaneity can definitely produce a big reward.

Until next time, we’ll be Easin’ Along.

Fundamentals

A Blogger Needs a Writing Desk

Posted on April 15, 2016April 15, 2016 by Easin' Along

I love my man cave. Everything I need is in here—comfy chair, man-size HDTV, large desk, sound system, big windows, you name it, I have it…or at least I thought I did. A few months back however, I discovered I was one piece of furniture short.

My disk is situated so that the television is to my back in order to avoid being distracted when I am working at the computer. I may have the television on if I’m just web surfing, but if I need to focus intensely, I usually have music playing in the background as I noted in an earlier post of Easin’ Along.

Around the first of this year I had a project (can’t remember what) that was simple enough even for me, a one-ball juggler. I reasoned that I could handle whatever it was that I needed to do and still watch football at the same time. I moved a folding table into the man cave and set it up in front of the television and began multi-tasking. In my mind, this was a temporary set-up and the table would disappear as soon as it had served its purpose.

After the project was completed I noticed that the “temporary” table had assumed a life of its own. Suddenly the table became a handy resting place for a few extra papers. My camera also had found a home there while waiting for the next batch of blog pictures to be downloaded. I found that it was more comfortable reading the newspaper while facing the television instead to turning to my right as I was doing now. Removing the temporary table was getting more difficult and ultimately I waved the white flag and admitted that I needed another piece of furniture in my beloved man cave.

Fully aware that Helen (adorable wife) was not going to tolerate a Sam’s Club folding table sitting out in plain view on a permanent basis, I put it away and went looking for an acceptable replacement.

I was also aware that furniture is expensive, and since I’m too tight to buy something new, I began to scour the thrift shops and flea markets periodically in search of a two foot by four foot writing table…with character. It wasn’t easy. I found one table advertised on Craigslist that was in an indoor flea market on the south side of town, but it just didn’t have the right “vibe”. Eventually I settled for a table I found in the Habitat for Humanity Thrift Store that was the right size and came in within my price range…$25.

This table functioned well, but the top was supported by legs that crossed in the middle rather than by the usual four legs and it was unstable. It rocked back and forth a little when writing on it. Also, the legs robbed me of the space I used for a small footstool that I had become very accustomed to having. This table would do in a pinch, but I remained in the market for something else.

I continued to resist the idea of buying something new, but I had exhausted the available thrift stores and decided to visit a store that sells unfinished wood furniture. There it was. The table was exactly two by four and very solidly made. The only problem was that the table had a price tag of over $200…couldn’t force myself to do it. Man, I’m tight.

As we all know, we’re living in the digital age, and there are lots of shopping options out there so when I got back to my computer, I searched Amazon for an unfinished wooden writing table…bingo. The very same table I had just walked away from was listed on Amazon for $100 with free shipping. Admittedly, I was going to have to assemble and finish it, but, what the heck, I’m just an old retired guy, and this would be the perfect retirement activity. I pulled the trigger and the table was delivered to my front door in three days.

In our previous home I had a wood shop in our basement and I had done some wood refinishing in the past and really enjoyed it. My favorite project was refinishing a solid wood picnic table that my brother-in-law no longer wanted but is now one of my most prized possessions. I was eagerly looking forward to taking on another project and the garage would have to be my wood shop for a few days.

Assembling the table was no big deal in that it only required the attachment of four legs using eight nuts, eight washers and eight lock washers. This took less than five minutes.

There was no need to sand the table–it was as smooth as glass. According to the paperwork that came with the product, it was made in Viet Nam from the wood of the rubber tree.

Before staining, I applied a coat of Pre-stain conditioner to help the wood absorb the stain more evenly. I learned about the necessity for conditioning when I tried to stain some window trim once without it and the wood ended up looking like a piece of marble with big streaks running through it. The conditioner dries in about fifteen minutes. It was time to apply the first coat of stain.

The furniture in the man cave is a dark shade of red so I chose a stain that I hoped would get me close and picked MinWax Sedona Red. I apply stain with a cloth rather than a brush because it seems to go a little faster and I have more control of a rag than I do with a brush. I used a Q-tip for the tight inside corners. Rubber gloves are essential for this task or else your hands will be stained for several weeks.

Each coat of stain requires about three hours to dry before applying another coat. I used three coats for this table to get it near to the color of my desk, and although I couldn’t get a perfect match, I was able to get it close enough to avoid a clash.

Stain - three coats — Stain – three coats

I let the final stain coat dry overnight before I coated the table with polyurethane. Again, I chose a MinWax product in a clear semi-gloss. I like the glossier coatings over the satin because the finish is a little harder. For this application, I used a china bristle brush and applied in long, even, brush strokes. Polyurethane takes about three to four hours per coat to dry and a little light sanding between each coat to prepare the surface for adhesion. I do this with sanding sponges in a 220 (fine) grit. After two coats, I decided to apply one more coat to the table top only since the legs and sideboards were fine. This meant that the final coat would be applied the next day.

Polyurethane - first coat — Polyurethane – first coat

Finally, three days after arrival, I had a new writing table resting comfortably in the man cave with my footstool underneath where it belongs. I hope you enjoy the pictures of my latest project. Let me hear about some of your projects in the comments section below.

Every blogger needs a good writing table and every retiree needs good activity. With both of my needs fulfilled for now, I’ll be Easin’ Along.

Fun

Blues on a Sunday Afternoon

Posted on April 8, 2016May 5, 2020 by Easin' Along

One of the unexpected surprises of retirement has been my decision to fill some of the available time with music. It’s surprising because music, like math, is not something that comes easily to me. I can’t write music, I don’t read music and I definitely can’t sing music, but, in the past, I have derived great pleasure from listening to music. Upon entering retirement however, I soon realized that music has value beyond being just sound projected from a car radio.

While sitting at my computer in the man cave and crafting eloquent blog posts for Easin’ Along, I discovered early on that it’s a lot easier to concentrate if easy listening, or light classical music is playing in the background instead of Sports Center or cable news. Soon I was digging out a number of CD’s from a large box that had been stored in the attic and playing them on a decade-old CD player that I connected to a Bose Radio. Being cursed with a somewhat obsessive personality, I next found myself pouring through the racks of a used CD store searching for more melodies to marinate the man cave. A new retirement activity had suddenly, and surprisingly, been born.

Equally surprising was that I discovered that my preferences for different types of music was wider in range than I had thought previously. I have a very large collection of 60’s and 70’s music on my MP3 player that I listen to when I work out at the YMCA. This has been my usual “go to” form in the past. Now however, good Mozart piece stirs me on occasion. I am fond of classic country music, and I LOVE Bluegrass.

Thanks to the satellite radio in Freddie (my car) I have recently tuned in to 70’s folk music, bluegrass gospel, and even some disco. It’s been fun and I’m certain that I will explore some more forms as I dig a little deeper into the CD stack and move further down the radio dial.

I know what I don’t like too. That list includes the music I don’t understand like hip-hop, new age, or rap. I’ve never been a fan of hard rock or heavy metal.

About a week ago I received an email from a friend who was promoting a concert of Blues music being given by the Smoky Mountain Blues Society on the following Sunday afternoon. My only other exposure to the Blues had been a trip with some friends last year to the Juke Joint Festival in Clarksdale, Mississippi which I enjoyed very much. In trying to decide if I really wanted to go, I thought, “why not”, for once a concert was being held before my bedtime…I bought a ticket.

*Blues singer – Juke Joint Festival, Clarksdale, MS*

The concert was held in an old building that had been converted into an entertainment venue in a revitalized part of town. There were about 125 people in attendance of all ages including a 30-something young lady who danced throughout the entire concert. She obviously had some professional experience and paused just long enough to take the picture shared below.

The Golden State Lone Star Blues Revue is composed of five gentlemen, several of whom are award winning blues musicians. Mark Hummel is the lead singer and blues harpist (harmonica). He is joined in the group by guitarists “Little Charlie” Baty and Anson Funderburgh. R.W. Grigsby plays bass, and Wes Starr plays the drums (a note of interest is that he holds the drumstick in his left hand between his index and middle finger).

Wes Star, Drum

Together they are sensational and Mark has to be one of the most accomplished blues harpists in the world. He can flat out play. Little Charley’s guitar rips were amazing and brought out thunderous applause from the crowd. Anson’s play was equally as good. Mark Hummel describes the group’s trademark sound as “Texas meets California meets Chicago”.

The afternoon was truly delightful and the Smoky Mountain Blues Society is to be commended for getting them to make a stop as they were on their way north from Atlanta. During a break I was able to speak to Mark for a minute and he told me that he makes his home in Castro Valley, California, but spends a lot of time on tour. He was gracious enough to sign a couple of CD’s for me and let me take his picture. R.W. Grigsby signed them as well.

The concert flew by, but I have posted several pictures here as well as a short video of their performance in the side margin of the home page. Please take the time to view it, the guitar solos are well worth the effort. I have also posted a five minute video of the concert on the Easin’ Along YouTube channel which features solo rips of several of the band members as well as Mark’s excellent harmonica solos. Be sure to increase the video to full screen size.

I’ll be Easin’ Along now, but a musical afternoon like this proved to me once again that when music and retirement come together, the outcome quite often produces great harmony.