I don't normally describe my photos that I use for my posts and yes every picture is one of mine. I have a passion for photography and I do that as a hobby on the side. This particular spot is in the Smoky Mountains National Park in the Tremont Area. Tremont is located just outside of Townsend TN and is on the way to Cades Cove. Just enter the Tremont area and drive to the end of the road where the Middle Prong Trail starts. The falls are marked on Googles maps. It's an eight mile round trip with a gradual assent. You follow an old railroad bed up the valley until you get to the last mile. The last mile is more strenuous but I would consider to be easy to moderate overall. Along the way you'll see evidence of an era time has forgotten. From old cars to sections of the old railroad to evidence of old structures, the Tremont area is filled with history. Stop by the gift shop for more info on the area. Indian Flat Falls is off the main trail a little ways and is not maintained by the park. It's only a tenth of a mile walk but has some very rugged terrain so wear appropriate shoes and be very careful. The picture is of a blooming Rhododendron with the falls behind it. It's one of my many favorite photos I've taken.
When I hike in the mountains, I don't see the destination as the main attraction but I see the journey to it as being the most important. It's the humdrum of the mile after mile, step after step progression that is the real wonder for me. If we always look towards the reward at the end of the trail, we miss the small miracles along the way. For me the small stuff like little mushrooms growing on a log or a small flower tucked behind a stump or the call of a passing bird gets me excited. The smell of the forest, the sounds of water, the whole of it all just gets me going.
It's like life, we must trudge through life just like walking mile after mile uphill to reach what we are after. Whether that is retirement, heaven, graduation, a better job, marriage or even a vacation it is all about that destination for some. We tend to live from highlight to highlight and ignore the small miracles all around us. We live a simple life my wife and I and we constantly get ribbed or told, we need a dish washer. In our entire lives, we have never owned a dish washer. So we get called out on that and also told, once you get one you'll love it. Now personally, I think doing the dishes side by side with my wife is a small enjoyment. It's time we aren't in front of our phones or TV or any other distraction. We just click when we are doing chores together. If we take that away, what will we do with that time. Probably on our phones or in front of the TV. The comforts of electronical gadgets have taken away the interactions we can have with family, friends or even strangers.
Don't get me wrong, the modern day gadgets are nice to have but if they replace interactions with others then are they really a help. We have a social deficit in this social media filled society. We've forgotten how to interact beyond a screen, especially for the youth.
If you can chose to do it easy or do it the hard way, choose the hard way. It builds character, gives you a chance to ask for help or it can be a group activity.
To God be the Glory
No comments:
Post a Comment