Good-bye GSMNP!!!

I'm craving food. officially. all the time. even when it's in front of my face. even when i'm stuffed to the max. and I hear it only gets worse.

The Smokies are over - I'm hoping that also means less rain. Not a logical hope, but I still can hope that way. We arrived at the Standing Bear Farm today in beautiful weather - a very good start to my hopes. It may have been the most beautiful day yet, actually. And most of the day was downhill, too.

Being out of the Smokies also means more freedom - we get to camp where we want. No forced shelter stays. No super high elevation trudging in the mud and fog...well, not til a lot later on, at least.

The Standing Bear Farm is sort of like a thru-hiker oasis in the middle of the mountains. It's actually not too far from I-40 (which we had to go under- that was super weird), so I suppose it's not entirely out in the middle of nowhere, but hiking to it you wouldn't know it. It's on a gravel road with some cabins, a bunkhouse, a farmhouse and a barn with a cute little creek running right through the middle of it and very odorous hikers just hangin' out. They've got a resupply food house and an honor system to pay for everything. Washboards to wash clothes, and open aired kitchen and shower...in fact, it seems kind of strange that there is even internet access...but it all makes more sense knowing the computer is a good 8.5 years old, ancient for computer standards. but it works!

The actual terrain through the Smokies wasn't that bad, or my legs are just getting mighty stronger - may be a combination of both. I like hiking uphill, though. In fact, I like it better than going down. Easier on the knees, more stimulating to my brain. I made it up to Clingman's Dome in no visibility - not much of a surprise. But I did get a cool photo of the observation tower. awesome.

I saw my first snake today. It was brown, skinny and about a foot and a half long altogether. Took a photo from afar with my zoom.

At these low elevations we've been without for a good week now, there have been lots of blooming flowers and trees. It's very pretty. Lots of whites, soft pinks, magentas, purples, lavendars, and even bright reds. also all shades of greens imaginable. I like it.

I want some ice cream.