above: pioneer junk.. an old wash tub lying about on the manway
Sams Creek Manway
Kenny & Dana Koogler
Sunday Nov 16 2025
We had quite spell of sickness the past two weeks. Plans blown to smithereens for our 41st Wedding Anniversary. None of what we had planned took place. Despite all that by Sunday Kenny was finally well. We were able to attend worship service at our home church Rocky Branch Baptist. We went home after to have lunch, rest and see what we'd make of the rest of the day. The weather was beautiful. Clear and crisp with the temperature seventy degrees at the house. Kenny asked me if I'd like to go over to the park to take a stroll? I was happy to hear him say it. I'd had more than enough being cooped up.
We went over to Tremont around 3:30 p.m. to find plenty of parking at the road's end.
Still a fair number of hikers out and fishermen, but not a terrible crowd. I still wasn't in the mood for a bate of hikers so we chose Sam's Creek instead of the main trail. It had been way too long between visits. It was beautiful. We got out of the truck where we parked. The holler back there was dimming by that time and the temperature was sixty-three degrees! A little chilly with my shorts on, but I got moving and I was perfectly comfortable.
We encountered more fellow hikers on this manway than I ever have before. We saw at least eight people. Six out of them were leaving as we arrived. The last two were coming in as we hiked out. We ended up hiking a bit further than we'd thought. Kenny was so fatigued on Friday that just being out for a little over an hour to eat at McAllister's did him in. I did not want to press our luck by going too far. We enjoyed the pretty scenery, fallen leaves, little bit of remaining color, history, the cascades and the start of Betsy Lee's Stick Season!
Below: the steel I beam bridge over Sam's Creek
above and below: two views of spots along this lovely stream.
Below: Kenny ahead of me on the manway with the sun still in the sky, but the gloaming has come to this holler. The dimming of the day.
above: old wash tub junk at Long Branch crossing. If you look closely you can see this was bridged at one time.
above and below: looking at the rock work of the old bridge abutments and walls on Long Branch
Below: you can see the sun and Autumn colors high up, but down lower near this beautiful stream it is darker and cooler. It is tranquil and pretty.
Last of all is a short video clip of the stream and some mournful music that sets the mood for the place. The music is Autumn Stillness by Violin Sky
I cannot hike back here without thinking of Big Will Walker and his many wives. Two of which helped him bear the children that led to me having ALL FOUR of my grandchildren!
I hope when I get to Heaven he is one of the first people I get to see to thank him. God is great every single day. His wonders to perform!
Sat. Nov. 15, 2025-- I am making a note here to say that after nearly 12 years of blogging, I had a mishap. I was over half done with typing this trip report last night when I lost ALL my work.
One time in twelve years isn't bad, but it was very discouraging. I am starting over fresh today. I hope it will be even better than it was. I am going to keep it down to the condensed version as I don't think I have the gumption to do more than that right now. Remember, Back up all work!
Friday Oct. 31 we decided late in the evening that on Saturday morning we'd get up and go out to Gobey. The weather had cooled down a lot making it a great time to hunt for off trail stuff. We'd had rain so the original plan was find Boogs Den cave then go over to Devonia and hunt waterfalls. We set out at a decent time Saturday morning. It felt great to be actually carrying out a plan instead of merely talking about it. It was nice too that it wasn't such a long way from home. We parked, unloaded, stowed all our gear in the RZR and set off. The temperatures were in the upper thirties. The weather was calling for a clear day that should warm up some.
We had to cover some of the same ground today as we had our last ride out here. Kenny pulled up Lifetime Maps and showed me the way we needed to go. He suggested taking a slightly different course to find the cave. It would run us by Shroom Rock which we had never visited.
We realized Friday night we had also never visited Gobey during Autumn. We were to find out we were indeed late to the party.
We started enjoying beautiful Autumn colors almost immediately. The climb up to Shroom Rock was pretty and fun. It wasn't a long ride until we got arrived at Shroom Rock and got out of the machine to see it for ourselves. It indeed looks like a giant mushroom made of stone.
above: I liked the bright red leaves against the blue sky
Below: the trail we rode had large rocks all along it.
Below: Shroom Rock was impressive
Below: the climb up the mountain to Shroom Rock was pretty
Below: partial view on the ride to Shroom rock
above and below: spot we stopped to look around at Shroom Rock. Kenny with our RZR.
Next we pushed onward along the Rock Ledges Trail toward the next thing the map program indicated. It pointed out "Home Site" and "Graves 1858". We enjoyed the crazy climb and jostling around among golden leaves. Towering rock bluffs and mountains made it enjoyable also.
Below is a video clip of that section of our ride
We did find the "home site" and I found one possible grave stone. A fellow on Facebook showed me a photo of one of the for sure graves. Just before that spot we passed the big turn with the three crosses and a nice view.
Below: a pretty view from three crosses in Fall
Below: three crosses for three dead men
Below: this is what sat at the homesite. a flat area where a house may have stood. This is all that remains.
Below: backed up to give a broader look at the home site
Below: what may be a grave marker
Below: asters blooming late into the season
We kept going along Rock Ledges Trail and began to see familiar terrain where we needed to stop to hunt for Boogs Den cave. This is as good a place as any to include a snippet about where it got its name. It was named for a man who lived in the area called Boog Davis. He hid in the cave during the American Civil War. He did not want to fight on either side. Barbara's book outlines the specifics as to what his reasons were. Tennessee seceded the Union by only one vote. It was split almost down the middle in sentiments for and against the war. Mr. Davis found himself caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. God will have to be his judge as to whether he did right or wrong. I think it is possible many East Tennessean's had the good sense to see that there is no such thing as a winnable war. Everybody loses in one way or another. We followed a side path that led up to the rock ledges. We began to hunt for a cave.
Below: view from the top of Rock Ledges
Below: I am standing on one part of Rock Ledges and you can see Kenny in his orange on another part.
Below: at one point I thought the cleft in the rock face might be the cave. It wasn't but we were getting closer.
Below: I am working my way along the base of Rock Ledges toward the sound of Kenny's voice. He was yelling to me that he had found it!
Below: looking up at the bluff from its base as I work my way slowly along toward Kenny
I was encountering lots of briars and vines and hitchhiking seeds. It made me glad we had seen wisdom of waiting for colder weather to make this attempt. I kept going toward Kenny and sure enough there he stood in front of a cave entrance with a tree growing near the mouth of it! Just as described in the book! We were thrilled to have found it. We spent longer than we realized exploring the area. We found NO graffiti and only one piece of human trash. A long mashed plastic gallon milk jug. It was not 100% pristine, but nearly so. This lets me know that the folks who are aware of it and visit here are good stewards of landforms and history.
Below: the mouth of Boogs Den cave. It is formed in an interesting way. Bryan told me it is made this way because it sits on the Tennessee Valley Divide. It is cleft from the top upward. The tree grows near the base of the bluff and if you look up through the split you can see its upper limbs bend over the top entrance to the cave.
Below: Looking out the mouth of Boogs Den. I liked the layered look of the rock.
Below: you can really see the split where the cave is on the divide line & the tree bending over it.
Below: I am looking up through the split in the cave ceiling
Below: sunbeam illuminates the cave all the way to its back parts
Below: Kenny looking of the cave mouth for scale!
Below is one of my doodles of how the cave seems to be. I want to go back and check it out from the top next go round.
Below is a video of Boogs Den Cave
Eventually we snapped out of our trance and realized that if we were going to see anything else today we had to get on with it! We went back to the machine and had a quick lunch and something to drink. We motored onward. The next part of the ride was fun, but repetitive since we'd seen it before in June. I did take some photos, but not many.
Below: This is a view coming off the back of the mountain toward Pilot Mountain. Below: a snapshot of fiery red sumac leaves and puffy gray goldenrod gone to seed
Below: We passed through this stand of pine trees on the ride off Pilot Mountain.
We got down off Pilot Mountain and back round to Gobey Road. We headed outward to the end past the gates. We began seeing lots of rigs parked for folks to ride. Then we began seeing riders! Lots of nice people had the same idea, but despite that it was not crowded and we only saw them along the main road. We didn't encounter anyone on the trails themselves.
We did see a coal storage bin today on the ride up to the mountain top at the end which we had never noticed before. Something to be said for every season. The colors out here were amazing!
above and below: pretty colors looking off the mountain top near the end of Gobey Road
Below: a trail intersection today
I asked Kenny where we were going? He told me we had to get to a big intersection near the mountain top. It didn't take too long until we got there. He stopped and showed me on the map program where we were. He then proceeded to show me what we needed to do to get where we were trying to go look for waterfalls. He looked at the map and then at me and said "It's a long ways." You may believe me when I say I can control my mouth. I didn't say a word, but my face gives me away every time. Kenny took notice of my horror and then began trying to back pedal. "Well, it's not THAT far. " which was followed up by a lot of wild equivocating. I call it "talking out of boths sides of yer mouth."
Then I had my second epiphany of 2025. I recognized that Kenny had the rabies again! He loses his mind and gets over ambitious like a beagle on the scent of game in the woods. I don't do the chasing rabbits thing too often. It was already four o'clock pm. The day had darkened and was turning cooler. The long established pattern over the years of misery trips in the RZR where the ride got too long to suit me. The conditions got too uncomfortable. I bucked up and said "Oh hell no!" Not doing that today. " Kenny knew better than to test my resolve so he began heading back off the mountain.
He did not go without a bit more equivocating. He doesn't mean to lie to me, but he lies to himself and believes it so he is crazy. One of us has to remain sane and reasonable. That would be me!
I convinced him that the trip was too ambitious for a short Fall day. It needed to be two trips instead of one. I did not want our good day to become a misery trip. Let's instead go back down the mountain enjoying the scenery and hit some of the good spots on the way. He agreed that was a fine plan. I actually got it on video tape him admitting that he was glad I had sense to talk him off the ledge. We enjoyed seeing the Emory River and its historic railroad bridge ruins and Fall colors.
We stopped in Oliver Springs and got groceries for me to cook us a nice hot meal at home. We arrived home tired and dirty, but in good spirits. Not exhausted and me angry.
It was a far better plan. We will return and hunt the waterfalls we wanted to see, but we will try to find a parking spot closer to them or head there first.
above: Emory River and a set of railroad bridge abutments
Below: a cascade across the Emory River
Below: second set of bridge ruins on the Emory River
Below: close up of leaves on the river
Below: colorful red leaves and a small cascade at the second set of bridge ruins
I leave you with a short video clip of the Emory River, bridge ruins, cascades and beautiful colors.
Gobey is pretty in Any season and as Kevin Crites put it "Now you see why I spend so much time up there!" Indeed I do my friend. You are a wise man. There is hope for me yet. I am learning how to manage my sweet, but overzealous husband and his trail rabies.
We got back from the beach on Oct. 11 and the weeks that followed were filled with clean up, catch up, and health problems for Kenny. I accompanied him to the orthopedic surgeon to get his MRI results of his left knee. The doctor showing it to us and then saying well I could do this, but it will mean that pretty soon after that you'll just turn around and need a knee replacement cause me to involuntarily laugh. He turned to look at me and said " Oh. She's been through it before."
I was sorry to hear it, but relieved he was sensible enough not to recommend a partial knee replacement or arthroscopic surgery. Kenny's meniscus looked like the tattered edges of a very old worn out rug.
He is not bone on bone yet except for one sliver in the middle, but getting close to it. The more concerning problem was that on his drive home today to this appointment he began having extreme sciatica. He has a history of back trouble with two lumber discectomies. He sent him home with a medrol dose pack to relieve the swelling and pain, a referral to Dr. Epps to evaluate his back, and rest, rest , rest. So the rest of Friday and Saturday he rested. He was like a touch me not. Kind of pouting and feelng sorry for himself and fragile. I tried talking to him about it to no avail.
Sunday morning I got up and made coffee and retreated to my downstairs office and went to work.
I stayed down there until he called for me. I came upstairs and he said "I'm bored and I'm feeling better. Let's go do something." Instead of my usual grin and "Let's go!" I wrapped a blanket around me and slumped on the sofa. "I dunno bout that." He wanted to know why? I answered him that while I was sympathetic to his health problems I really didn't appreciate his coping mechanisms.
I felt like a dog that has been kicked one too many times. I don't want to approach lest I get kicked again. I told him he could go by himself. Well, he didn't want to do that. I raised my eyebrows and said "Look, you can either face your problems with support from me, or you can face them on your own. " It's up to you. I don't run hot and cold and I don't appreciate those who do. You may not like me, but you get the same version of me erry single day. I can isolate myself too. He got the object lesson and apologized. It was already late in the day to be making plans. We finally decided to drive down toward the Skyway and have a good lunch at Bert's in Madisonville. Then we'd move on to the Skyway to see the new Bald River Falls bridge and overlook. He wanted to drive North River Road and get away from the crowds. I was all for that.
Lunch at Bert's didn't take too long and was good as always. We turned onto the Skyway which started out to be not bad. We turned onto the River Road which was still not bad. As we approached Bald River Falls and the new bridge I had my cell phone out to grab a photo. I had a full blown Paul Gamble Episode. I was NOT having it. It was revulsion and rage all rolled into one. They have fixed the pedestrian vs. vehicle problem, but not the problem of finding a parking space. It also has not remedied the notion in folks heads that Bald River Falls is the ONLY damned waterfall in the Cherokee National Forest. I couldn't get away from there fast enough. I did good though. I did not jump out the window and bite a single person on the laig.
Up the road we went and passed by the secondmost visited waterfall Baby Falls. It was packed beyond belief as you might guess. Get. Me. Out. Of. Here!! We continued our drive until we turned onto North River Road at the first opportunity. It was like magic. The crowds disappeared much to our delight. The scenery was beautiful, but up here you could actually enjoy it. You could find a spot to pull over and park and get out. You could amble around and take pictures and soak it in. It was a great relief to me especially.
North River is a series of beautiful pools and cascades all along it. We did see too where the bridge over North River by the Donnelly Cabin has warshed out and they fittin' to replace it with a steel I beam like the one across Sams Creek in the Smokies! (Paul, if you are reading this I'm making an effort to use my proper grammar. )
Below: the steel I beam bridge across Sam's Creek . This is now the North River wooden bridge will be replaced in time.
We pulled over at the first good set of cascades along the river to our left. It was glorious. The stream was like a mirror reflecting all those beautiful oranges, reds, yellows, golds, greens, bronze leaves! At first the water looked like a black mirror, but upon getting closer it turned into a deep, rich chocolate brown tone. I was tickled that my photos captured at least some of the scene.
Above: a view of the fiery reds, oranges and golds on the opposite bank
Below: Looking at a rocky section of the stream. Water levels are still a little low.
Below: I am standing at the base of a very moss covered low cascade. Probably at times it is possible to walk right up this, but today was too chilly for me to attempt that.
Above: side long view of the colors and the stream.
Below: a pretty 9 foot cascade on North River.
Below: I walked upstream and got to the base of this pretty cascade. It is my skinny dipping hole.
It is not real big, but is deep enough and cool enough to be a fun place to swim.
Below: You can see the stream and the golden and bronze leaves above North River cascade. You can also just make out some pot holes in the creek bed here.
Above: Looking out over the jeep hood at the pretty scene
Below: another low cascade on the creek
Above & below: Meadow Branch Falls. It is a steep climb down over the bank, but doable. Just no trail and a little slippery.
We enjoyed all the colors and falls and cascades. The rain set in just as we climbed back up to the road from Meadow Branch Falls. It continued to strengthen so we headed back toward Tellico Plains and on home. We managed to have a nice afternoon despite a rocky start to our weekend. Going through one of those spells of being what I call "snake bit". Just one thing after another.
below: this photo if you look carefully is starting to have water droplets on it where the rain is beginning. Time to load up.
Below: This little tree grows just at Meadow Branch Falls main drop. Its leaves are such a pale yellow they really stand out. They are nearly white they are so pale. It reminded me of James G. Frazer's book The Golden Bough. It was shown briefly in Apocalypse Now as being some of the literature Colonel Kurtz had read. It is a study on magic and religion as it relates to man's evolution over time. I think the next step in that progression has been Science and Intellect. Magic~~>Religion~~~>Science~~>Intellect Here is a link to a couple of the ending scenes of the movie. The one shows the book. The other shows Martin Sheen's character, Captain Willard entering the territory of Colonel Kurtz who the Montagnards have declared a God/King.
Do NOT watch these clips if you are sensitive. It is harsh stuff and not fit for children.
The Golden Bough was used to figuratively show that the further up river the troops went toward Kurt's "kingdom" amongst the Montagnards the further back in time they were going.
