Cloudland Canyon Encore

 

Remembering some of our fabulous times in Cloudland Canyon as we look forward to a return later this month:

Cloudland Canyon State Park

Waxing Moon

Late Afternoon

Notes:

Super Tuesday, 2020. Pleasant cottage in Cloudland Canyon. Darryl cooks turkey and mashed potatoes, and we have wine. Darryl also makes a pecan pie. 

 Here for several nights. Walked  the West Rim trail to a bridge and enjoyed the warm afternoon, the river, the myriad birds, the trails I had to myself except for a father and young son from Minnesota I met.  The boy ran along the cliffs like a mountain goat.

Darryl and I also stopped in the little grocery cafe earlier for a hamburger and fries. Great, friendly place.

Starr plans to join us tomorrow. 

Our Cottage

No way to photograph the roar of Cherokee Falls deep in the Canyon or even the birdsong, both of which were the only sounds I heard this morning from my rocking chair on the screen porch. No way to share the quiet here while walking the trails. An owl hoots; a crow caws. Birds are abundant. Were Jocelin here, she would point out the Sayornis Phoebe and the wood thrush.

Thursday. Moved from our luxurious cottage to one of the old cabins on the West Rim. The rain stopped for the time it took for us to move, and I even made the hike to our trail before the rain set in again. Darryl made chocolate chip cookies. 

Yesterday, Starr joined me for a hike to the overlook. The three of us dined at the Canyon Grill. We had a mellow, pleasant visit. 

Rocking in one of the rockers on the screen porch, listening to the rhythm of rain in the woods and upon the leaves is so relaxing. So spiritual. The election competition goes on, the caronavirus spreads, but here all is magical; here is the rich life of nature. Here, Life is beautiful.

The cold is returning. Tonight we shall build a fire in the stone fireplace after dinner.

Supper: filet mignon. Pinot Noir. Darryl read to me the history of nuts, almonds, pecans, cashews. Extraordinary evolution to the human table. We shared the amaretto brownie with vanilla bean ice cream, and I had French press coffee. Extraordinary dinner. Darryl had honey almond chicken. 

Venus and the Moon dominated the sky as we left the Canyon Grill. Fire is licking the logs in our cabin.  Adore the peace and tranquility here.

Cherokee Falls

Today Darryl and I hiked down to Cherokee Falls. We had eaten catfish at the gay café. For energy, we added Darryl's chocolate chip cookies. The wind was more than whistling. After all the rain, the fall was incredible. We both took several photos. On the long way back up, Darryl told me of phosphorescent amphibians and salamanders. 

Tonight, with the Fire burning, Darryl made dinner. We listened to a podcast of the effects of language and the events of 1066, with details and curiosities from the lives of William and of Harold.

Photographs above made with the Nikon P610. 

Here are a few more reminisces:

.

Brooke enjoys the Cherokee Falls.

 

 Starr's new Home.

Darryl's 
Apple Pie

Jameson