Moon over Chimneytops

It was a half-day at school today, and a half-day at work for Daddy, but we all met up at the house afterwards where Mommy had been packing to get ready to go.  We're off on a quick trip to the mountains, going back once again to Tennessee.

This was a neat picture we took coming down from Newfoundland Gap, looking back at the Chimneytops in the Great Smoky Mountains.   It just so happened that the moon was right above the center of the mountain, when viewed from that particular pullover.

We made our way up here today, part of our traditional journey to the mountains in fall.  The hope was to see a bit more color in the trees, but the weather stayed warmer longer (just like it stayed cooler longer into June).  It's as if the temperatures have shifted somewhat this year.  Fortunately, it is in fact chilly up here, which is what it's supposed to be.  The temperature at the top of the mountains was in the mid-fifties, which meant actually needing a jacket for the first time in a while!

Here's Mommy and Madison at Newfoundland Gap, that stopping place where the Appalachian Trail runs through, and the Tennessee and North Carolina state line goes by there too.  Despite the fact that the colors on the trees weren't fully changed yet, we saw a lot on our travel through today.  Coming in, we saw some wild turkeys alongside the road.  And there were plenty of elk in the field.  There was a black bear alongside the road on the way out of the park.  Even at the top of the mountains, we looked up, and saw this guy here:

It's a bald eagle!  He was doing lazy circles in the sky, enjoying the view from up there.  It was a nice drive through the park, the dulcimer music playing and the views spectacular as always.  We wound up in our hotel by the river here, and after watching "Wreck-it Ralph" on the computer, I think we're ready for a good night's rest - it's going to be a big day tomorrow!