Grotto Falls

Taken on 26 September 2014 at Grotto Falls in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee.

We saw a couple of salamanders thanks to another hiker who showed them to us.  Otherwise, we wouldn't have spotted them on our own.  They were tiny and their colors provided a perfect camouflage.

A Dog, a Bird and a Snake

We're now camping in Sevierville, Tennessee near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  Not all our morning walks are as exciting as this one.  Taken in September 2014.

Along the Little Pigeon River

Great Blue Heron

I was busy taking pictures of the heron when something suddenly moved near where I was standing.  It was a Common Garter Snake (later identified as non-venomous, whew!).  This is the only photo I was able to snap for it was quick as a bunny. I startled the poor thing as much as it startled me. 

Little Pigeon River

Laurel Falls

The trail that leads all the way to Laurel Falls is the very first paved one I've been on.  It's an easy 2.6-mile hike (round trip), immensely popular and, therefore, very crowded! And yes, dogs are not allowed :(

Taken on 23 September 2014 at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee.

Fall is slowly creeping in.

Great Blue in Great Smokies

Taken on 15 September 2014 at Gatlinburg Trail, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee.

Great blue heron

Great Smokies

Taken at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee on 10 September 2014.

Walking with Dinosaurs

Taken on 29 August 2014 at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC.

Or in my case, photographing the dinosaurs.

Meanwhile, I had myself homo 'neanderthalensisized' at the Human Origins Exhibit.  I'm not sure how they captured my early morning look in the afternoon ... ha!

Race Point Beach

We were camping in Bellingham, MA but we just had to go back to Cape Cod even if meant driving for 2 hours / 100 or so miles.  We visited another dog-friendly beach called Race Point in Provincetown.  We came prepared this time ... with our brand spanking new sportbrella.  How bout them apples???

Taken on 26 August 2014 at Race Point Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore in Provincetown, Massachusetts.

"Where are you going, Mommy-moms?"

"Where is she going, Daddy-dads?"

Surfers' Paradise

Taken at Marconi Beach in Cape Cod National Seashore in Wallfleet, Massachusetts on 25 August 2014.

Named after the Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi, this is where he "successfully completed the first transatlantic wireless communication between the U.S. and England in 1903."

Great white sharks live in these waters and so do seals.  According to a local lady Pete chatted with, one would occasionally witness a great white prey on and devour a seal.  Ergo, enticing as it may seem to swim with the cute blubbery mammals (they are pretty close to the shore!), I think it's wise to heed the National Parks Service's warning to stay away from them.

Aside from its pristine powdery sand, I love this place because dogs are allowed outside the lifeguard-protected areas.  We could've stayed here all day had we been armed with a proper shading equipment, not so much for us but for the Baby Booboos who was panting endlessly.


Humans enjoyed riding the big waves:

This is Kenny, a friendly local surfer who had to sit it out after being hit by his board on the side of his head.  The board was damaged but thankfully he didn't have any cuts.  He was feeling weird though so he decided to rest.  He and his buddies were planning to go the Philippines to surf (mentioned after learning that I'm Pinay) :)

Ditto the pinnipeds: