When I awoke the next morning, I was amazed that nothing felt sore and that I had complete mobility. So I bandaged everything up and headed out as soon as I could, ecstatic for the day ahead. The skies were crystal clear and the temps warm. I thought the traffic for the drive out to Cades Cove would be heavy, especially with its recent reopening, but thankfully it was light. I would be heading up by way of Anthony Creek, for the last time I traveled to Spence Field via Lead Cove.
Early on there were a lot of crested dwarf iris, foamflower, false solomon's seal, showy orchis, catesby's trillium, thyme leaved bluets, and yellow lousewort. The trail has numerous stream crossings, but this hiker greatly appreciated all the footbridges. A ways past Campsite #9, I stumbled upon a couple of deer staked out in the middle of the trail. Oddly enough, they wouldn't budge from their position, even as I proceeded to move closer and closer. I tried talking, then shouting, then quick movements and they just tilted their heads, stared, and probably laughed. Finally with the clanging of my trekking poles, they politely decided to move a few feet off trail and let me pass. One of them I could have reached out and touched if I wanted to, but figured it was best to just move on by. I kind of wondered if they had ever seen a person before since they were so tame.