North Carolina: Oconaluftee to Sugarland

One day we decided to drive up the road (Hwy 441) that goes right up the middle of Great Smokey Mountains National Park.  This is the only part of the park we saw last year.  We had hoped to go back to Chimney Tops at least to climb on the rocks at the trail head, but a fire in the last year has the whole trail closed.

This was probably Irene's favorite spot - the Mountain Farm Museum at Oconaluftee Visitor's Center.  She got to go at least 3 times - because we went while others were fishing.  She loves barns - especially the stalls.  She also loved the pig pen and the two enormous hogs living there. 

The observation tower at Clingman's Dome is being renovated and is closed, but we hiked up as close as you  could get.  The Appalachian Trail joins the Clingman's Dome trail - we checked out a little of it, I don't think all of it is this nice:

Puffball on Clingman's Dome

After several days of evaporator toilets and hand sanitizer, we were impressed with the line of sinks at Sugarland Visitors' Center!

Being bears:

This trail was called a "Quiet Walkway" although almost none of the hikes we took were very quiet.  It was completely flat and paved.

We got back off the beaten path the next day.