In April, 2008, we took a trip to the Smoky Mountains. We stayed in a resort called Tree Tops, an RCI timeshare facility. It was a very convenient location to Gatlinburg and the National Park, but we would have preferred a private cabin to a place that felt like an apartment complex. Roaring Fork Motor Trail actually ended up right at our resort, which was neat. One of the rivers ran right by the road and if you had the right unit, you would be able to hear it at night with your window open. We were too far away to hear it or see it but could walk across the street and enjoy it.

This is the view from Roaring Fork Motor Trail, a five mile one way route thru the park. We stopped to enjoy the view and stayed very quiet so we didn't disturb these two ladies doing the same.

Our favorite day was the day we went into the park at a location suggested by Vicki. She said it wouldn't be crowded and it wasn't. The weather was just perfect for walking and a picnic. Here we are on a bridge overlooking the Little Pigeon River. I set the camera on a rail of the bridge and took the picture with the automatic timer. Worked out pretty good.

Denis climbed down to the creek to get close to the rushing water for a close up picture. The water was so loud it was impossible to talk to each other over the noise.

Then it was Norma's turn to get up close and personal with the river. Those rocks are slick and the water is cold, so be careful and don't fall in!

This is where we had our picnic, a nice, clean table nestled in the dogwood trees above the river. No bugs were out yet to bother us.

We didn't have a cooler, so took two of the little plastic trash cans from our condo and lined them with plastic bags, filled them with ice and they worked great for keeping our drinks and food cold. We called them our hillbilly coolers.

Look how big the boulders get there in the Smokies!

This is the view we had out the back door of our condo. The redbuds were just glorious this time of year as were the dogwoods. We really picked a good time to be there to see trees and wildflowers in bloom and experience those beautiful mountains.