Cumberland Gal Cover Photo and Updates
Current Cover Photo is from a previous year about this time. It is the mouth of Slickrock Creek where it empties into Calderwood Lake. Slickrock Creek is the boundary between the Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee and the Slickrock Wilderness in Western North Carolina. We paddled up the mouth of it from Magazine Branch boat ramp and hiked from there to Lower Falls. It cuts the hike down from 7 miles round trip to 3 miles round trip. This year it is hot as Hades with temperatures in the 90s forecast all this week. It wouldn't be a fun time to make a seven mile hike, but a three miler might be okay. One thing for certain is that if you jump in the river at Lower Falls you WILL cool off immediately! You'll come out red all over looking like a boiled lobster it is so cold!
.jpg)
Current Cover Photo is of Fall Branch Falls off the Cherohala Skyway from this past Saturday Aug. 8, 2026. Trip report posted from this camping trip
New Blog Post Around Home Summer 2026
Trip Report Posted on Norris Lake
Below is a photo of a pretty cove on Norris Lake
Future Trips
It is Pumpkin Spice Season in East Tennessee even if the weather is 90s all week! It is a brisk 88 degrees presently! I have dragged out the Fall decorations and been putting them out this evening. I had my first cup of pumpkin spice coffee this morning! We attended church at Seymour Heights with Jared, Lydia and the children. It was quite good! Never been there before. We had lunch at their home afterwards. A very nice day.
Kenny booked our Fall Foliage train ride on the Hiwassee Loop for Oct. 18th.
One of the decisions Kenny and I made last Fall was we are NOT going to the beach for Fall break for the 2026 season. We felt we missed too much leaf color and the other seasonal fun we enjoy by being at the beach. Plus we've worn out PCB lately. I am very much looking forward to lovely Autumn colors and all that goes with Pumpkin Spice Season!
Hearing from Readers of My Blog
I get emails or text messages from readers now and then. I always enjoy hearing from them. I've made some good friends. I've gotten ideas that have greatly improved Cumberland Gal. I am happy to help with directions to places. I answer all emails. You never know what we could come up with together! I welcome suggestions, corrections, and do my best to be helpful. Thanks to all who check out my blog writings. I am delighted and hope it proves useful in planning and executing fun travels for you. Here is a link to the Contact Me Page
Below is a video of Teddy Swims singing "Mr. Know It All". A song about the self sabotage of believing we already know the outcome of a relationship before it is even begun. A self fulfilling prophecy for sure.
