The name "Smoky" comes from the natural fog that often hangs over the mountain range and presents as large smoke plumes from a distance. Often the plumes are a single column that appears to be smoke from individual campfires.
The fog is caused by the vegetation exhaling volatile organic compounds, chemicals that have a high vapor pressure and easily form vapors at normal temperature and pressure. (Wikipedia)
The weather here has been rainy for the past week and we have thoroughly enjoyed it. We didn't experience any real rain showers the whole time we were in south Texas. Daytime temps have been running in the low 70s, nighttime temps in the upper 50s. Mission accomplished: We found cooler weather!
We are having a wonderful time with our friends here at Roan Creek Campground. I have a new appreciation for the work that goes into running a successful campsite; they are busy all the time. But when there is downtime, it has been fun catching up and playing rounds of, Do you remember when...? and, Whatever happened to...?
We are headed out shortly to visit one of many local wineries. The temps are cool enough the pups can go along for the ride and wait in the truck for us. After the winery, we plan to go to Roan Mountain State Park for a short hike. In June 1947, the park began hosting an annual Rhododendron Festival. The festival has been cancelled for 2020, another fallout from the Coronavirus, but the rhododendrons are still there and they are blooming. We met some campers here that recommended the hike. They said not only are the rhododendrons in bloom, but there are blueberries and strawberries ripe for picking. I'll catch you up later on how the day turns out.
On the stereo: Paolo Nutini, Pencil Full of Lead
On the TV: The Ghost and Mrs. Muir
Currently reading: The Child in Time, Ian McEwan
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