Old mill offers a taste of yesteryear

Old things seem to intrigue.

My wife likes to visit the ancient grist mills in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

 There is one near Cherokee. That one is Mingus Mill which uses water to turn turbines to grind corn and wheat. It was not operating the day we visited because of mechanical problems.

The other is Cable Mill in Cades Cove, on the west end of the park. 

We don't always visit the mills on each trip to the mountains, but after missing them for a few years, we feel we are best served by returning to each. And apparently there are many others who  visit and are enamoured by them,  enough so to videotape and post on You tube.

It was raining that July day recently and it took a little bit of time to get to the parking lot up to the mill. Although we didn't buy any cornmeal it was available for sale.

We spent about an hour touring the facility and taking a myriad of pictures of our journey. Others who spent time also offer their opinions on the old relic.

Next post: July 31, 2012

Happy Independence Day!

The 4th of July fireworks came a day early to our hometown, Ocean Springs, MS.

The city has been shooting off the pyrotechnics the day before, starting at 8:45 p.m. down on the beach.

Our departure from home was about 7 p.m. in attempts to get a decent location. We thought the display would be launched from a barge offshore, but that was not the case. It was landbased. This is the first time we have been to the event, so we weren't that well informed.

We were about a half mile away but still managed to get a good look at the offering. There were hundreds, nay, thousands who showed up to be a part of the event.

This area, like others throughout the US, has been rather dry, but thunderstorms were moving through and we witnessed Mother Nature's dispay as lightning struck all around us and offshore, but it quieted down.

Having fun, getting buried on the beach

Our next post, due to the fact we will be in the mountains and not have internet connectivity at an opportune time, will be July 24.

Time to beat the heat and get Smoky

Overview at Clingman's Dome parking area

The Smoky's fever is taking over. Its just about 10 days before we head back to the mountains.

It seems like we were just there about two months or so ago, and we were. But this July trip is going to be our annual summer camping pilgrimage. 

Why go so often? The views! The animals! The vegetation! And a place to just get away and enjoy life - cool streams, mild days (unlike the hot and humid times in South Mississippi), a campfire and s'mores for the kids.

Elk just north of Oconaluftee Visitors Center near Cherokee

We'll have one of our sons and daughter-in-law and family (four grandkids) to enjoy and pick on. The kids love to tube the river and explore and see if they can spot a bear.

Elkmont campground will be our main stay with potential for camping also at Balsam Mountain and Mt. Pisgah farther to the north.

We look forward to more boiled peanuts and the Tribal Grounds coffee shop in Cherokee and probably another journey over to Waynesville to look at more art (wifey already made the request).

So, its time to get out in the southern heat and start fixing up the van and camper for our next great adventure.

Next post: July 3, 2012