Rhodies everywhere

We traveled over to Roan Mountain State Park in Tennessee today for a good hike in the woods at the top of a mountain but mostly to see if the rhododendrons were blooming in massive amounts like I heard they were supposed to be.   Unfortunately, the heavy rains they had here over the weekend caused the flowers to be kind of sad looking except for some of them.  There were huge bushes everywhere so I am sure they were gorgeous in full bloom. 

This rhodie ( I am not typing that long word again) was feeding two TINY FAUNA..a butterfly and a bee.   There were many different butterflies and bees around this park.   We walked the Cloudland trail which ended up being about 3 miles for us..uphill over stones and rocks and mud remaining from the rains with parts of the trail like a rainforest   so full of green..carpets of ferns and moss, moss growing all on the trees. Roan Mountain has many plants that are found only here and some are on the endangered list.    

We also walked a short ways on the Appalachian Trail which crosses over this mountain on its way north toward Virginia or south toward more western North Carolina.  

On a happier note,  Joyce drove up and down the mountains today..sometimes a little nervous, but overall she is becoming a mountain driver.    She had some extra training as we made a wrong turn on a wonderful country road that took us a long way out of our way but there is nothing wrong with exploring!    I always enjoy making a wrong turn!

The weather was perfect!   I am loving this cooler mountain temperatures.  Tomorrow much of the same!  

More adventures up a different mountain tomorrow.