Fall Creek State Park - Tennessee - Photoblog

Saurabh M · 15th January 2009, 01:48

Friends, I recently had the privilege to visit one of the most picturesque State Parks around Eastern US, in the state of Tennessee. This forest is located in middle Tennessee, around 300 odd miles from where I stay. The drive to the park and back was quite uneventful and nothing to write home about, but we had a fabulous time there, hiking and photographing.

I will keep this travelogue more in a photoblog mode and provide descriptions as and when necessary. Hope you would like the pictures. While I take a little time out to sort the pics, here is the ride that we rented and the one that I had been longing to put my hands on.

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Nitin · 15th January 2009, 01:56

Waiting for the pic,Saurabh.I've heard a lot about the park,and I did try to work out a trip there last month.Hope to make a trip this year..
OT

id you like the '08 Mazda 6? How's your 3 doing?

Saurabh M · 15th January 2009, 03:42

The park is fabulous. Being winter, vegetation cover was less and wildlife sightings were very common, though there is less variety. It also has a rich bird population.

I did like the Mazda6 very much., specially the headlamp assembly of the 08 Mazda6 looked much better than the 09 Mazda6. Since I drive the Mazda3 daily, I was instantly at ease with the controls. The car is a superb handler. I threw it around the corners on I-40, the winding roads of the Smoky Mountains and those of the park. I had the Traction Control switched off and the car, not even once, lost its composure, even when taking a hairpin at around 60mph. Needless to mention, the other passengers were hanging on to their lives

Thanks for asking, my Mazda3 is doing great. Just crossed 10K miles on it last week.

Saurabh M · 15th January 2009, 04:01

We left Greenville, SC by 8am in the morning. It road was foggy at times and it was raining as well. We also got held up in a traffic jam on the I-40 around Asheville, while crossing the Smokies. Apparently, there was some accident and hence a huge queue on the road.

On I-40

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The winding forest road

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We reached the park by 2pm. We had already booked a cottage for ourselves. There is a lake inside the forest and one can opt for cottages facing the lake or facing the forest. We chose to stay in the ones that face the forest.

Our cottage

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After getting fresh, we went out for a stroll and arrived at the lake. It was late in the evening and daylight was fading. I thought of checking out the lake-side cabins and then take a walk along the lakeshore.

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The play of colours among the clouds set the stage for a breathtaking sunset.

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While our first day was coming to an end, could not resist taking the picture of this young lady sitting all by herself by the huge lake, as darkness fell. She was resting her head against the open book, held in her hands. Was she crying? Was she missing her loved ones?

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nishant_kingpin · 15th January 2009, 04:38

Cool outing this Saurabh. Sure this place is well known and some of the pics shared have set the mood for the forum as well. Wish I could head out for a relaxing trip which will be a well deserved one...

lambuhere1 · 15th January 2009, 10:25

Its too good of the place to visit. After seeing the photographs, still remembering the trip we did in 2001, walking all the way up to the peak point, smoking all the way.

Incidentally, we also started from GVL :-}

Sudipto-S-Team · 15th January 2009, 11:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saurabh M

This young lady sitting all by herself by the huge lake, as darkness fell. She was resting her head against the open book, held in her hands. Was she crying? Was she missing her loved ones?

Your post above reminded me of an old Urdu poem - baal bikhrake, tutey kabro par, jaab koyi mehzbeen roti hai to mujhe lagta hai ki maut tum kitni haasin ho.

Since I don't know Urdu too well there might be some small errors in what I wrote (and apologies in advance for that) but the meaning is clear.

Saurabh M · 15th January 2009, 22:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sudipto-S-Team

Your post above reminded me of an old Urdu poem - baal bikhrake, tutey kabro par, jaab koyi mehzbeen roti hai to mujhe lagta hai ki maut tum kitni haasin ho.

Wah Wah!! Planning to post the next set of pics by today.

@lambuhere1: Its good to know that Greenville has been host to other TBHPians. Its once of the best towns I have been in US, as far as scenic beauty and the people are concerned.

Saurabh M · 15th January 2009, 23:32

Next morning, we went out for a walk and soaked in the beauty of the crisp morning walking around the lake.

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During this walking around, we spotted quite a few birds and other animals, but more of that on the next post.

Nitin · 16th January 2009, 00:31

Florida plates on the 6?
These roads are really famous amonst bikers. I'm part of a forum for the bike I own,and those guys do 3-4 trips every summer (usually in packs of 30 or more).

Saurabh M · 16th January 2009, 01:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nitin

Florida plates on the 6?
These roads are really famous amonst bikers. I'm part of a forum for the bike I own,and those guys do 3-4 trips every summer (usually in packs of 30 or more).

The car was rented from Hertz, hence the Florida plates.

I can imagine the amount of fun that one would have biking on these roads.

planet_rocker · 16th January 2009, 13:20

as usually - superb pics Saurabh

where did you park the 3 when you rent cars and go for these drives?

how do you get time for these drives?

vnabhi · 16th January 2009, 17:03

Lovely, alluring pics. Looks so desolate and kinda private lake.
Car looks great---what make is it?

jaysmokesleaves · 16th January 2009, 17:17

Stunning and fantabulous is all I can say.
The dried leaves by the winding road side is just superb. Wonderful fotos. That empty bench by the lake.... wow..!
And the Mazda6 seems to fit in the colors so well.
I dont think you need to add any words here .... the pictures explain themselves wherever the place is on earth, it looks like heaven to me.
Read it the way i say it > TOOO MUCH GOOOD..!!
cheers:

Saurabh M · 16th January 2009, 20:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by planet_rocker

as usually - superb pics Saurabh

where did you park the 3 when you rent cars and go for these drives?

how do you get time for these drives?

I normally leave the 3 at home. Most of the times, Hertz delivers the car at my doorstep, otherwise, I go with a friend and pick up the car from Hertz office. Most of these drives are done on long weekends.

(I am yet to master the art of multi-quotes)

@vnabhi: This car is a Mazda6 - 2.3L, 168bhp. More pics of the car coming up.

@jay.. : Thanks for your comments. These pics are, I would say, the tip of the iceberg

Better ones coming up soon.

15th January 2009, 01:48	#1
Saurabh M BHPian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: CCU & Ontario Posts: 610 Thanked: 153 Times View My Garage	Fall Creek State Park - Tennessee - Photoblog Friends, I recently had the privilege to visit one of the most picturesque State Parks around Eastern US, in the state of Tennessee. This forest is located in middle Tennessee, around 300 odd miles from where I stay. The drive to the park and back was quite uneventful and nothing to write home about, but we had a fabulous time there, hiking and photographing. I will keep this travelogue more in a photoblog mode and provide descriptions as and when necessary. Hope you would like the pictures. While I take a little time out to sort the pics, here is the ride that we rented and the one that I had been longing to put my hands on.
	() Thanks

15th January 2009, 01:56	#2
Nitin Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 3,294 Thanked: 20 Times View My Garage	Waiting for the pic,Saurabh.I've heard a lot about the park,and I did try to work out a trip there last month.Hope to make a trip this year.. OTid you like the '08 Mazda 6? How's your 3 doing?
	() Thanks

15th January 2009, 03:42	#3
Saurabh M BHPian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: CCU & Ontario Posts: 610 Thanked: 153 Times View My Garage	The park is fabulous. Being winter, vegetation cover was less and wildlife sightings were very common, though there is less variety. It also has a rich bird population. I did like the Mazda6 very much., specially the headlamp assembly of the 08 Mazda6 looked much better than the 09 Mazda6. Since I drive the Mazda3 daily, I was instantly at ease with the controls. The car is a superb handler. I threw it around the corners on I-40, the winding roads of the Smoky Mountains and those of the park. I had the Traction Control switched off and the car, not even once, lost its composure, even when taking a hairpin at around 60mph. Needless to mention, the other passengers were hanging on to their lives Thanks for asking, my Mazda3 is doing great. Just crossed 10K miles on it last week.
	() Thanks

15th January 2009, 04:01	#4
Saurabh M BHPian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: CCU & Ontario Posts: 610 Thanked: 153 Times View My Garage	Set 1 We left Greenville, SC by 8am in the morning. It road was foggy at times and it was raining as well. We also got held up in a traffic jam on the I-40 around Asheville, while crossing the Smokies. Apparently, there was some accident and hence a huge queue on the road. On I-40 The winding forest road We reached the park by 2pm. We had already booked a cottage for ourselves. There is a lake inside the forest and one can opt for cottages facing the lake or facing the forest. We chose to stay in the ones that face the forest. Our cottage After getting fresh, we went out for a stroll and arrived at the lake. It was late in the evening and daylight was fading. I thought of checking out the lake-side cabins and then take a walk along the lakeshore. The play of colours among the clouds set the stage for a breathtaking sunset. While our first day was coming to an end, could not resist taking the picture of this young lady sitting all by herself by the huge lake, as darkness fell. She was resting her head against the open book, held in her hands. Was she crying? Was she missing her loved ones? Last edited by Saurabh M : 15th January 2009 at 04:11.
	() Thanks

15th January 2009, 04:38	#5
nishant_kingpin BHPian Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: New Delhi Posts: 335 Thanked: 4 Times	Cool outing this Saurabh. Sure this place is well known and some of the pics shared have set the mood for the forum as well. Wish I could head out for a relaxing trip which will be a well deserved one...
	() Thanks

15th January 2009, 10:25	#6
lambuhere1 BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: @ Driver's Seat @ Posts: 708 Thanked: 106 Times	Its too good of the place to visit. After seeing the photographs, still remembering the trip we did in 2001, walking all the way up to the peak point, smoking all the way. Incidentally, we also started from GVL :-}
	() Thanks

15th January 2009, 23:32	#9
Saurabh M BHPian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: CCU & Ontario Posts: 610 Thanked: 153 Times View My Garage	Set 2 Next morning, we went out for a walk and soaked in the beauty of the crisp morning walking around the lake. During this walking around, we spotted quite a few birds and other animals, but more of that on the next post.
	() Thanks

16th January 2009, 00:31	#10
Nitin Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 3,294 Thanked: 20 Times View My Garage	Florida plates on the 6? These roads are really famous amonst bikers. I'm part of a forum for the bike I own,and those guys do 3-4 trips every summer (usually in packs of 30 or more).
	() Thanks

16th January 2009, 13:20	#12
planet_rocker Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bong-land Posts: 2,323 Thanked: 426 Times	as usually - superb pics Saurabh where did you park the 3 when you rent cars and go for these drives? how do you get time for these drives?
	() Thanks

16th January 2009, 17:03	#13
vnabhi Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: DC -> DC Posts: 5,958 Thanked: 2,393 Times View My Garage	Lovely, alluring pics. Looks so desolate and kinda private lake. Car looks great---what make is it?
	() Thanks

16th January 2009, 17:17	#14
jaysmokesleaves Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Mostly Mumbai Posts: 1,702 Thanked: 1,452 Times	Stunning and fantabulous is all I can say. The dried leaves by the winding road side is just superb. Wonderful fotos. That empty bench by the lake.... wow..! And the Mazda6 seems to fit in the colors so well. I dont think you need to add any words here .... the pictures explain themselves wherever the place is on earth, it looks like heaven to me. Read it the way i say it > TOOO MUCH GOOOD..!! cheers:
	() Thanks