Autumn Colors Along North River

Fall asters blooming late into the season

Autumn Colors Along North River 

Sunday  10/27/2025 

Kenny & Dana Koogler 

Photos are HERE 

North River Road Auto Touring Directions HERE 

  

  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.  

The End by The Doors-- Final Scenes Apocalypse Now

Arriving at Kurtz's Kingdom 

Above: tree with the golden bough.. almost white or platinum!  

Below is a video of the highlights of our trip. North River and all the pretty waterfalls and colors