Camping in the Appalachian Range

If there is anything that I like of the American,,,,, it is their liking for outdoors. This said…… it’s not that the  Europeans and the British do not like outdoors, but the American is more adventurous. They hike and camp in the rough rugged terrain of America  in groups or as loners frequently and document their personnel experiences.

Camping in the Smokies of the Appalachian Mountain Range was to be a novel experience to me from Sri Lanka’s premier outbound school in the hills of Gurutalawa, where hiking, running cross-country in the rain and camping in the  forested cool hillsides around Horton plains being the order of school life then in the 60’s. 

The Appalachian in October

 Across the summit of Appalachian

The Appalachian crossing borders

Having missed the opportunity to camp in the Everglades for climatic reasons on a short visit to Naveen, Bhagya and their son Mevan who was just one year old living in Florida; the  trip to the Appalachian  mountains  at the right time during the fall in October when the hills put out a array of colours was most welcoming although needing detailed planning. A  travel  distance of over 1000 kilometers from Miami up north  cutting across  Georgia, South & North Carolinas all the way to Gatlinburg in Tennessee. 

  
Appalachian creates many hues every October

Foremost was a reliable mode of conveyance. We rented a Honda motor car for the trip. The bear minimum requisites of camping gear, warm clothes and baby food took much of the boot area which filled to capacity.

The departure from Miami was planned at 10.00 pm with the baby asleep, but  was delayed by an hour looking for a missing cable for the Garmin navigator. Finally it was decided to proceed on the the interstate highway to the border of Georgia and purchase a compatible cable in the morning.
 

Tired an weary through a crammed travel, we rested  at Sandy Beach Park, Moseley Georgia for over two hours napping and feeding the baby as planned.

 Sandy Beach Park Moseley Georgia [Osprey and Mallard in lake that create the beach]  

The second leg of the travel commenced with the aid of the navigator but the distance and the time taken was very much more than expected in the foggy climate in the hilly terrain. However the destination for the night was reached by 10.00 pm, the  River Edge Motor Lodge, in Gatlinburg, Tenancy.  

 River Edge Motor Lodge and Gatlinburg Inn

After a good nights' sleep we joined the  holidaying crowds in Gatlinburg that come alive every fall when many visit to see the  forest turn into a  to  multiple  hues. Also being just before  Halloween  the festivities was to be very much.

Holidaymakers during Halloween time

We checked out by mid day and was at the Elkmont camping ground by evening; tents were put up even though the forecast for the night was heavy to moderate showers. Cooked a can of beans and some soup in a heavy drizzle, fanning and blowing into the dampened firewood; when suddenly, the sky come down.

Setting up camp before night fall

Elkmont campsite

 Before the skies came down

A soggy situation in heavy wind was watched from within the car when the guy ropes of the tent flysheet giving away  and rain beating on the tent fabric direct. Such camping experience was not for a baby. Hemamala and I needed to brave the situation and decided to stay back while the baby with the parents had no choice except for the  River Edge Motor Lodge.

The flysheet was put back firmly when the wind died down and  were now lying in sleeping bags sans sleep waiting for the next thing to happen, while the rain continued into a black chilly night. A hour passed, and another when we now got the feeling of lying down on unset jelly. We had laid an extra  ground sheet under the tent and rain water was trapped between them and the water moving under us giving this jellylike feeling.

An extra long night had passed when morning came.The tents were dried and re-packed into the car and we proceeded to Cosby a distant campsite where the weather was to be favorable. Cosby was dry though chilly and the night being very cold. The warm clothing was able to keep us comfortable with the baby and all four in one tent, our body heat trapped within the tent fabric doing the trick for a good night’s sleep.Even the baby slept tight till morning. An extremely memorable camping trip.

The Cosby campsite

 Grilled frankfurters and boiled rice for dinner

On the return it was with much aspiring feelings that we set foot on the famous  Appalachian Nature Trail that traverse the Appalachian summit. A distance of approximately 2,184 miles (3,515 km) that takes almost six months to complete on foot. Sections of it is traversed by many. Naveen made a vow to come back after his graduation for a week’s backpacking on the bear inhabited trail. A wish that would never come true for me.

 click here for the Appalachian Trail Map

The Appalachian Nature Trail with regulation

 We have been on the Appalachian Trail

On the way back a traffic jam extending almost a mile on either side was due to a mother bear and  cub displaying acrobatics on a way side tree.

Everglades Re-visited 3 ……Anhinga Nature Trail on Boardwalks

The area named Everglades National Park of the Everglades wetland landmass situated towards the south of Florida is different to the Big Cypress National Park which is situated more centrally in the glades. It’s a total preservation unlike the Big Cypress while no ownership of property is entertained and the only overnight stayers are the recreational campers.

The flora is of a secondary nature and the water bodies are more stagnant being the immediate area draining to the gulf of Mexico. The land is more of open expanses allowing much bird life to be seen.

The water bodies are more stagnant

The water bodies here are more in the open attracting sunlight allowing water-lilies to grow.

Sunlight contribute to much flowering foliage

Secondary growth after having harvested the rich timbers.

This is a much visited location and the immense bird life and the alligators are accustomed to the visitor and could be approached to almost touching distance……this said, it is better to keep to a distance with the gators unlike with the bird life.

The vulture population both the black and the turkey head are found in abundance as a result of the larger visitor numbers; the  food in the picnic areas attracts them to these localities .

The facilities for the visitor is more in this part of the glades and the board walks that take you on the Anhinga Nature Trail above the marsh is unique. Thus named for the abundance of the Anhinga; a water bird with a snaky neck that frequent the water body above which the boardwalks take you as close as touching distance to them.

  

Board-walks ...part timber and part fiber made to look like timber 

Soft-shelled Turtle feeding on pumpkin ..It was Halloween time and pumpkin was seen everywhere

The Great Blue Heron was at touching distance three feet away from the board walk. It was seen in the same location when returning after one and a half hours walking. Visitors respect the habitat and the fauna........ thus is the healthy coexistence

Not disturbed.....it's not disturbed

The Great Egret on the Opposite Bank

Anhinga fishing before night fall. The Anhinga sinks bodily when it swims leaving the snaky neck and head above water

Details of the Great Blue Heron

The Tri-Coloured Heron dancing to attract fish.......? 

The Alligator and the Crocodile of the Everglades was once hunted to almost extinction. The timely intervention of the authorities have brought back the Gator numbers to satisfactory levels though the Crocodile needs more time to be stable.

Alligators are now stable

Basking gators a common sight in the glades....note the bulky cheeks of the gator that facilitate a large mouth cavity for larger prey

The inner hind palm of the gator

Two visits to the Everglades National Park was made with Hemamala, Naveen, Bhagya and our newcomer Mevan, our first grandson with the intention of camping that was never possible this time. with the marauding mosquitos that swarm into the car no sooner the door is opened. Alighting a vehicle is possible only against the wind when the swarm is  blown away. However this phenomena dies away with the winter winds from the Gulf of Mexico  setting in. bringing the favourable season for camping.

This tree is a special.....

Intended to camp but thought otherwise due to the swarms of mosquitoes 

Many visit the Anhinga trail on the boards for leisure

The beautiful back feather pattern of the Anhinga

Anhinga gather across the water to roost for the night

The take-off of the Anhinga.

The southern most part of the Everglades locates the large expanse named the Flamingo Campsite; over looking the sea and much is the bird life around the jetties and camping ground.

Our urge to camp needed other favourable country. This was fulfilled with a trip to the Smoky Mountains in the Appalachian Range.

The Black Vulture

The Turkey Vulture

Both Black and Turkey vulture species are the avian scavengers of the Everglades;  natures way to keep a healthy habitat. The Turkey Vulture is more efficient in locating prey by smell. Once located the Black Vulture takes advantage,.... for it being a more aggressive bird, would chase away the Turkey Vulture and take possession of the prey. 

Of the 350+ birds located in the Everglades over 200 are migrants.

Ducks, Moorhens and Teal are visiting migrants in the Everglades

The Osprey which is a rare migrant to Sri Lanka is abundant at the Flamingo campsite.

Turkey Vulture pestering the Osprey to abandon its prey.

The White Ibis is in control of the Flamingo campsite in the off-season

Startled ....the Ibis take flight..only to settle in a different location. The grass is yet to be mowed for the campers, until then the insects in the tall grass is food for the Ibis.

 

Red-shouldered Kite taken possession of a Barbecue grill -box in the absence of campers

 

This Laughing Gull will have plenty food with the camping season arriving soon.

The Everglades that was to be drained out for development is now to be put back to its original status that was to be before the year 1882. Whether this is a possibility is only a wait and see. Nevertheless it could be now said the glades will not be exploited for further development being named as three world sites. It’s an International Biosphere Reserve, a World Heritage Site, and a Wetland of International Importance. Much is the focus of the world  community towards the Everglades. Likewise  much are the eyes focused on you when in the Everglades; the fauna that got a new lease of life is watching you in hiding…with thanksgiving.