SW USA 2024: The Canadian Coddiwomplers*

 *Coddiwomple: “to travel in a purposeful manner towards a vague destination." 

Cades Cove

Cades Cove was a farming community in the 1830s and by 1900 there were about 125 families living there.  I expected to see water of some kind since to me a cove was like a bay on a lake or by the sea but a cove in Smoky Mountain terms is a flat valley between mountains of ridges.

There is an eleven mile loop around this historic area and many of the old buildings have been preserved.  On Wednesdays, the park closes the Cades Cove Loop to vehicles and people can ride or hike the loop.  We read about the popularity of these Wednesdays and how you need to get there early to be able to get a parking spot.

We started out dark and early our first Wednesday there and headed through Gatlinburg to the far side of the park and Cades Cove.  We arrived at 7 a.m. and the main parking lot was already full!  Fortunately, we found a site in the picnic area not too far from the entrance.  There are several volunteers at the entrance and at each historic site to help and to ensure everyone obeys the rules.

We had three great rides and explored the cabins and churches along the way.  There is a lot of history there and the views were incredible.

There were many churches in the Cades Cove Settlement.

Many of the historic homes were similarly built.

An Unusual Barn.

Another Church ... I think there were four.

Half-way around the one-way loop, there is a Welcome Centre/Gift Shop and a grouping of historical buildings.  It's called the Mill Area.  We stopped for lunch here.  One of the interesting buildings is an old mill that is still operating.  Park volunteers grind corn and wheat into flour that is sold in the gift shop.  Yes, of course, we bought some. We also tried some sorghum syrup and purchased other local products like Sour Tree Honey.

We saw deer, lots of bears, and wild turkeys galore each time we rode the loop.

Jerry thought I was too close!

At one stop two park rangers had a display of hides of the animals that can be found in the park.  

We also crossed the bridal path that weaves through the park and encountered a riding tour and a horse drawn carriage tour.  There is a stable close to the campground near Cades Cove.

It was great to have the opportunity to ride this loop.  We had hoped to ride in the park but the roads are very narrow, do not have shoulders and they are BUSY, so bicycling is discouraged.

Cades Cove is a lovely place with magnificent views and so much to see.

After our ride on the second Wednesday, I wanted to swim in the river at the area they call the "Y" where lots of people swim and the road branches off towards Townsend.  The water was cold.  Not as cold as Muncho Lake in BC but cold enough.  I didn't stay in for long.

We enjoyed the Cades Cove ride so much, we went every Wednesday while we were there.

Take Care Everyone,

Jerry, Elizabeth, Misty, FJ (Flat Jesus), the Guys, Miss Adventure Too and Clifford the Big Red Truck