This Monday Anne worked at the clinic and Chuck mowed the lawn and took guests to the Town of Cherokee to visit the museum and shops. The work at the hospital continues to go well. The garden is growing. The corn will be knee high by the fourth of July.

On Saturday we hiked again, this time along Sassafras Creek in the Snowbird Mountains. There was still a climb, but instead of reaching a peak we passed three waterfalls. We also encountered several fly fishermen after brook trout. One told us that the stream was special because it was a large stream without the introduced brown and rainbow species. He showed his catch of lovely brookies.

On Sunday our guests arrived and we drove into one of the back corners of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Cataloochee Bottom was settled in the early 1800s and its population peaked at about 1200 in 1920. Lumber, apples, and tourists allowed it to prosper in the 20th Century, but the land was purchased by the government after the park was established in 1928. By 1938 the valley was vacated and today much of the farmland and orchard has returned to forest. Only a few of the structures, some farms, a schoolhouse, and two churches remain. They provide a snapshot of community in this remote valley that ended some time ago. Elk have been reintroduced here and the views of the high mountains surrounding the open flat land provide wonderful serenity.

Our hosts have departed for New Zealand. We have established a relationship with the pups, cats, and horses. There will be occasional difficulties, but we anticipate a wonderful time here with more walks, canoe runs, and explorations of this mountain land.