Til August…

This morning was my last trip to Cades Cove for this 09-10 school year. It was also my 10th trip there during this school year, which I guess means I like it or something. This trip was unique, though, because it was the first time I took my bike. Cades Cove Loop Road is closed to automobiles from sunrise to 10:00 am on Wednesdays and Saturdays in the summer, leaving the cove accesible only by bike or on foot. I wanted to take advantage of this before leaving for the summer, so I did. Up at 6, on my bike in Cades Cove by 7:20ish. Two laps around the 11-mile loop and a short detour later, I ended my 25-mile ride, got in my car, and was prepared to make my temporary exit via Rich Mountain Road, but then I saw the bear.

You can see the other 20 photos (not all of them are of the bear) by clicking on these words. And you can spend the next few months missing all these photo updates from my very frequent trips to maybe my very favorite place: Cades Cove.