Monday walk - Rosary Info

For those who wanted information of the YouTube channel we used on the walk while praying the Holy Rosary see below. I have found the meditations very helpful and unlike many they are always different. I have been watching this channel each day FOR FREE and have yet to hear the same meditation. They often include the litany to our Holy Mother Mary at the end.

 Click here to watch the 11/19/2024 episode (Sorrowful Mysteries)

If you search on YouTube for "the catholic faith rosary today" you will get to the current day's episode.

The YouTube channel name is "The Catholic Faith". If you go to that directly it asks if you want to join for a fee; I have never done that.

Saturday Hike - Laurel Falls Portion of the Cumberland Trail

 

A crisp fall morning and plenty of sunshine greeted us at the trailhead. Luckily we got there early as this is a popular spot.

This "Pocket Wilderness" area was established in 1970 by Bowater Southern Paper Corporation and Hiwassee Land Company. At the time an action unprecedented in commercial forest management. 

The history of the area however dates back to 1887 with the establishment of the Dayton Coal & Iron Company. Which, at it's peak, operated 7 major coal mines, 17 miles of railroad, 375 coke ovens, 2 blast furnaces and homes for 200 employees. Remains of the infrastructure are prevalent in the first mile of the hike as it closely follows the stream.

 

Although there are occasional encounters with hikers and climbers one gets a deep sense of solitude, worldly concerns drowned out by the rushing stream. We took the opportunity to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet

After one and a half miles we turn east leaving the stream ascending up a steep set of switchbacks. Numerous rock outcroppings and caves dot the landscape. Journeying up the ridge we measured our expectations about the falls, recent reviews reported it was but a trickle. Even so we thought the sheer walls would be dramatic enough to justify the effort.

You don't get bored on this trail, the route has some interesting surprises.

 

Thanks be to God the recent rains provided sufficient volume for a stunning finale.

Veterans Day on the Riverwalk

 Remembering our those who served on our Monday morning river walk.

 

Sunday Rosary Walk

Perfect afternoon to honor our Holy Mother in a public way.

 

 

Gathering at the north end of the Walnut street bridge.

 

Praying the Glorious Mysteries we crossed the bridge catching the attention of many curious onlookers providing an opportunity to spread seeds of the faith.

Afterwards fellowship at a picnic lunch and of course a ride on the Coolidge Park Antique Carousel.

Sunday Hike - South Soddy Creek Gorge of the Cumberland Trail

 Driving the the serpentine Mowbray Pike, climbing the 880 feet above Soddy-Daisy to the trailhead my excitement was in high gear. A scan of the topo map promised epic views of the valley below since the trail looked to contour along the face of the escarpment. Waiting at the trailhead it became evident I was going to do the hike solo, perhaps due to the overcast skies or change from daylight savings time.

 

 

Being a reverse, this is not my favorite type of hike. I find coming uphill on the return when excitement has ebbed and muscles tired a bit dispiriting. Encouraged by the radiant fall colors and perfect temperature, however, I set off.

 

 

The myriad of interesting rock formations have made this area a favorite for technical rock climbers practicing at lower heights. They carry portable pads placed at the bottom of sheer faces for when they fall ... and they DO fall.

 

Early on it became evident that any hopes of solitude, mental prayer or The Rosary would be drowned out by the ever present road noise, bellowing train horns and wailing sirens. My interest waned after 45 minutes and 1 1/2 miles. The face of the mountain as it turns out, is steep but not sheer with any vistas being totally obscured by foliage. Winter, when leaves are absent, may lend more drama to this trail. The only view to that point was just a quarter mile from the parking lot!

 

 

The melancholy atmosphere combined with gymnastics required to go over, under or around frequent trail obstacles I elected to abandon the hike and return to the car. 

That's the thing with exploratory hikes; often one encounters memory making gems but sometimes it's just beer-thirty. Perhaps I should have taken this gentleman's hint right at the trailhead!