** Picture of the Day 3 **

[OKW Lover]

 

[klmall]

Today was spent on the mountain! Cades Cove loop and highest point late afternoon!

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Absolutely beautiful! This type of scene is why I named my SmugMug site "Mountain Waves"!!! I actually backpacked in that area many years ago with Outward Bound; you should see it when the rhododendrons are in bloom!

 

[klmall]

Absolutely beautiful! This type of scene is why I named my SmugMug site "Mountain Waves"!!! I actually backpacked in that area many years ago with Outward Bound; you should see it when the rhododendrons are in bloom!

I could find only one picture from that era with the beautiful pink rhododendrons...pictures were so expensive to take and develop back then

 

[goopysolelady]

Absolutely beautiful! This type of scene is why I named my SmugMug site "Mountain Waves"!!! I actually backpacked in that area many years ago with Outward Bound; you should see it when the rhododendrons are in bloom!

You are brave! I struggled on our 4 mile hike on Saturday and couldn't make it up to Observation Tower! Got 1/5 way up and decided I didn't want to have a heart attack way up there! And...vertigo hit me fast! Didn't feel to bad though when 2 twenty year olds walked back down with me! I was happy enough at the base of that climb! It is positively gorgeous up there!

 

[goopysolelady]

 

[kimmar067]

 

[kimmar067]

 

[klmall]

You are brave! I struggled on our 4 mile hike on Saturday and couldn't make it up to Observation Tower! Got 1/5 way up and decided I didn't want to have a heart attack way up there! And...vertigo hit me fast! Didn't feel to bad though when 2 twenty year olds walked back down with me! I was happy enough at the base of that climb! It is positively gorgeous up there!

Hiking uphill is hard especially when you are not used to it and going downhill is so hard on your knees at our age! At least you tried and got to enjoy the company of fellow hikers!

 

[klmall]

typical New Mexico scenery along I-25 north of Albuquerque

 

[goopysolelady]

Hiking uphill is hard especially when you are not used to it and going downhill is so hard on your knees at our age! At least you tried and got tost enjoy the company of fellow hikers!

David said coming down just about did him in! That incline was CRAZY steep and you are so right...I'm NOT used to it! It was 53 up there which felt wonderful...for about 30 minutes! We did have jackets but no gloves or hats. I'm glad I tried but admit I'm not in shape for that! I struggled on our 4 mile hike on Saturday. The girls did a 7 mile Saturday afternoon and Sara said it was a struggle for her...unsteady footing was her issue. Was such a nice trip...good memories for us all.

 

[goopysolelady]

Back in our beloved Texas tonight and we're so grateful to be only 4 hours from home! Drove 7 hours today and that's about our limit. Spent a couple hours in Vicksburg and could have stayed all day! What history that city has! Always sad to see a vacation end but need to get back home. My poor neighbor has had to take care of the watering lawn for us...no rain in at least a month with temps still in 90's and none in sight. Texas sunset was a beautiful sight this evening!

 

[kimmar067]

 

[klmall]

Back in our beloved Texas tonight and we're so grateful to be only 4 hours from home! Drove 7 hours today and that's about our limit. Spent a couple hours in Vicksburg and could have stayed all day! What history that city has! Always sad to see a vacation end but need to get back home. My poor neighbor has had to take care of the watering lawn for us...no rain in at least a month with temps still in 90's and none in sight. Texas sunset was a beautiful sight this evening!

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Bet it feels good to be home even if it's still hot and so dry! As much as I love travel home is always nice!

 

[klmall]

Not a great picture but this is just a portion of the AM Balloon Ascension that happened while we were flying nearby. I'll post better close-ups later when I'm done editing.

 

[goopysolelady]

My flowers welcomed me home with lots of blooms! Sweet neighbor did an awesome job keeping them watered! She gave me a cutting of the last picture last year and it finally bloomed! It starts white, midway through the day it changes to this color and close to sunset it turns a darker pink!

 

[kimmar067]

 

[klmall]

 

[Scottwdw]

Speed shot of TRON Lightcycle Run with Ares Overlay

 

[goopysolelady]

One of my favorite photos...Saturday morning at the beginning of our 4 mile hike!

 

[klmall]

This is what the opening morning of the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta looks like at 5:59 AM. It was very crowded but the lines moved quickly through security and then we found a place to wait for the Balloon Ascension to begin. It never did though due to winds above 11 mph. But we stayed and watched the inflation of the balloons and walked through the acres of different balloons..

The 10 balloons you see below are less than 10% of the balloons at the Fiesta.