"Ima Byrd"

Yep! I'm a bird!

"Cherokee National Forest"

One of my favorite spots in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to stop, soak it in and take a picture. This is a pulloff just before you reach Newfound Gap going up from the Tennessee side.

And much closer to home, another one of my favorite places to take a picture. Looking out at Cherokee National Forest, which is the same national forest that the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is carved from, standing on my sister's deck!

"Jakes Creek"

Jakes Creek just above Daisy Town at Elkmont near Elkmont campground in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

"Smoky Mountains National Park"

Looking off into North Carolina from  Newfound Gap parking area in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park . This is as "On Top of Old Smoky" as you can get in a motor vehicle!

"Swallowtail Butterfly"

Western Tiger Swallowtail butterfly at Mingus Mill in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

"Cumberland Square Park"

Coming in for a landing at Cumberland Square Park in Bristol, Va.

"Newland Waterfalls Park"

Newland Waterfalls Park in Newland, N.C. This is a nice little stop right on the road side on the way into Newland coming from Tennessee. This is just one of a group of cascading falls that are all pretty easy to get to. Lots of picture opportunities here!

"Lone Star"

"Lone Star" quilt block on an old house that was long ago converted to a barn at Crumley Farm - Sycamore Shoals Dr. - Elizabethton, Tn.

"Just An Old Barn"

An old barn I discovered today on Smallings Rd. in Carter County, Tn. just outside of Elizabethton. It looks like it was maybe something other than a barn at one time but then again, I'm a city boy.

"Old Mill Pond"

The Old Mill pond in Damascus, Va. This is actually called Whitetop Laurel River.

"Window Art"

A decorated window of a loft apartment on 5th St. in Bristol, Tn.

"Red Barn"

A patriotic barn on Blountville Hwy. in Bristol, Tn.

"Blue Heron"

Blue Heron wading in Steele Creek just outside of Steele Creek Park in Bristol, Tn. Pretty elusive bird. The first good picture I ever got of one of these was from across a river. This time I got a little luckier.....across the road. Didn't want to chance getting out of the vehicle so rolled down the window and did a drive by....

"The Homeplace"

Old home at "The Homeplace Mountain Farm and Museum",

Wadlow Gap Rd. in Gate City, Va.

"McCormick's"

Old country store on Tilson Mountain Rd. in Unicoi County, Tn. Sign above the door says "McCormick's Harvesting Machines".

"Cascades in Unicoi County"

 

  

A really cool cascading creek I found by accident today on Tilson Mountain Rd. in Unicoi County, Tn.

"It's Bristol Baby!"

"Racing the way it ought to be!" 

Bristol Motor Speedway welcomes race fans to Bristol for the Food City 500. "It's Bristol baby!"

"Downtown Meadowview, Va."

 

Here are two restored storefronts in "Town Square", Meadowview, Va.

"Sunset in East Tennessee"

Sunset over East Tennessee earlier this evening. This is the view from up on the hill at Bristol Motor Speedway.

"Sign From the Past"

Old Pepsi sign on storefront in Town Square, Meadowview, Va.

"Lookin' Down the Line"

Lookin' down the line in front of Emory and Henry College this past Saturday. With the 2 steam excursions in town this weekend there should be plenty of shots like this one going around!

"Bristol to Bulls Gap"

Southern 630 Steamer rolling back into Bristol, Va./Tn. after an excursion to Bulls Gap this afternoon.

"Southern 630 - Bristol to Radford"

 

Southern 630 steamin' up as she backs up to switch tracks to take on passengers at Bristol's Union Station.

 Southern 630 rounding the bend in Wallace, Va. on her way to Radford

 

 

Southern 630 hammerin' down as she passes Macado's Restaurant in front of Emory and Henry College in Emory, Va.

Southern 630 approaching crossing at athletic field at Emory and Henry College.

"Southern 630 Steamer"

Southern 630 Steam Locomotive is in town for the weekend. Set for two excursion rides on Saturday and Sunday. Special thanks to railroad security team for letting us come on property to take these photos.

click here for more info on this weekends trips 

"Blue Heron"

Blue Heron on  Holston River in Hickory Tree, Tn.

"Frost on the Mountain"

Frost line clearly defined on Holston Mountain as seen from the top of South Holston Dam in Sullivan County, Tn. 

December 30, 2012

"Morning in the Cove"

Cades Cove waking up after an overnight rain in February. This turned into a beautiful day!

"Moses H. Cone Memorial Park"

 

"Looking out across Moses H. Cone estate on Blue Ridge Parkway near Blowing Rock, N.C."

click here for more on Moses H. Cone Memorial Park 

"Panorama on the Blue Ridge Parkway"

Looking towards Grandfather Mountain from the Blue Ridge Parkway. Snowing pretty good so most of the "Grandfather" is kinda blocked out by the clouds, but you can take my word for it, he's there!

"Sinking Spring Presbyterian Church"

Stain glass windows adorn the side of Sinking Spring Presbyterian Church in Abingdon, Va.

click here for history of this church 

"Misty Morning"

Early morning mist rising in Cades Cove this past Saturday.