I’m Telling You…
By Four Walls
@FourWalls (69010)
United States
October 13, 2023 9:40pm CST
…It was beautiful.
I took a quick trip to the Smokies, deliberately leaving in time to avoid the massive crowds. They’re all going to see what I went to see.
See the picture.
It’s amazing how I could watch my car thermometer as an indicator of how good the colors would be. Generally, any time it told me it was 72 or warmer, the color was minimal; however, when it was under 70 the colors were popping.
The Little Pigeon River was quite low, indicating they haven’t had a lot of rain recently. Rain, or lack thereof, plays a role in how vivid the foliage will be.
So it wasn’t “perfect,” but it WAS. I considered the trip a massive success.
I have a lot of appointments next week, so I’ll see what’s blooming nearby.
15 people like this
14 responses
! I guess autumnal colors like the cooler temps? We don't get massive fall coloring here (by end of summer it's all usually quite brown 
). Maybe with it being on the cooler side this year we'll get lucky!
@much2say (56057)
• Los Angeles, California
14 Oct 23
@FourWalls The rains definitely made a difference in nature's "growth spurt" . . . we shall see what happens in the next few weeks!
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (69010)
• United States
14 Oct 23
You’ve also had rain this year, for a change. Maybe that’ll help give a little color to things.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (104160)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
14 Oct 23
Thank you for sharing the events of traveling in the Smoky Mountains.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (69010)
• United States
14 Oct 23
On weekends during the fall it’s packed, which is why I went during the week. It was still busy (a 2-3 hour drive through Cades Cove, according to the sign they had posted) but there was a little elbow room during the week.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (104160)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
14 Oct 23
@FourWalls When my relatives would go to an amusement park in New Orleans, the best days that we could go to the park was during the weekdays.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (50528)
• United States
14 Oct 23
I love going to the Smokies. Gorgeous photo.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (69010)
• United States
14 Oct 23
I love it, too. That entire drive along Interstate 75 is amazing this time of year (except there’s construction right now 
).
).1 person likes this
@FourWalls (69010)
• United States
14 Oct 23
@Tampa_girl7 — we’d go to the Smokies a lot when my mom was well enough to travel. After a couple of years she asked if they were really doing construction on I-640 or just moving the orange barrels from one lane to the next every year. 
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@Tampa_girl7 (50528)
• United States
14 Oct 23
@FourWalls construction is always a pain to go through and the detours.
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@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
14 Oct 23
Beautiful colors indeed. Since we don't get much color change in our foliage here in Florida, I have to live vicariously through you and imagine I am with you when you view these beautiful fall leaves!
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (69010)
• United States
14 Oct 23
I’m trying to help you as much as possible!
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (69010)
• United States
14 Oct 23
@moffittjc — since I went to the highest point in Florida this year on my winter trip, here’s another vicarious thing for you: a real mountain.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
14 Oct 23
@FourWalls And I much appreciate that!
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (69010)
• United States
14 Oct 23
I saw more red than usual this time.
1 person likes this
@RubyHawk (99405)
• Atlanta, Georgia
14 Oct 23
@FourWalls Maybe we’ll have more red here this year.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (181748)
• United States
14 Oct 23
Beautiful trees. Trees here are still mostly green. It's going to be chilly for the next week; so maybe they will start to turn more. Hope your appointments go well. Have a good weekend.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (69010)
• United States
14 Oct 23
Three this week, dentist and mammogram next week.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (69010)
• United States
15 Oct 23
@LindaOHio — mine is just a cleaning. If there’s anything else it’ll probably have to wait because my dentist is a reservist in the Israeli Army, and he may be busy for a while. 
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@LindaOHio (181748)
• United States
15 Oct 23
@FourWalls My mammogram is the 2nd of November. Had to wait another 6 months for the dentist.
1 person likes this
@kareng (61749)
• United States
14 Oct 23
@FourWalls It's hard to plan trips with the hours I have to put in at the boutique every week and that makes me sad!
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (69010)
• United States
14 Oct 23
The tourism slogan is “The mountains are calling.” So answer that call and go!!!! 
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@FourWalls (69010)
• United States
14 Oct 23
Even where it was still mostly green it was still amazing.
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I would have done the same thing!@FourWalls (69010)
• United States
14 Oct 23
Absolutely! I spent most of the trip going, “Oh, Father, thank You, praise You!”
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (69010)
• United States
14 Oct 23
It was perfect! Cool at night and comfortable shorts weather (but jeans would have been just as comfortable) during the day.
@FourWalls (69010)
• United States
14 Oct 23
When I’m not out seeing it in person I’m watching live webcams!
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (472114)
• Switzerland
14 Oct 23
@FourWalls I also like to watch live webcams.
I also like to watch live webcams.1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (108144)
• Marion, Ohio
14 Oct 23
Glad you had a good trip. The colors are starting to show here
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (69010)
• United States
14 Oct 23
Quick and gorgeous! I’m watching a lot of online cameras, and there’s great viewing out there!
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (80748)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
14 Oct 23
From what an old friend once told me it is lovely in the Smokies and even lovelier when you're seeing double, He was hiking with a buddy and ran into some hillbillies brewing up moonshine, and since the hillbillies were also making music they stayed for awhile
1 person likes this
