It was raining and the valley was full of puddles. I didn't think this would hinder the elk from venturing down from their daytime refuge in the forest but it did, at least while we traveled through. To arrive in the valley, you must negotiate a winding road with narrow spots and steep drop offs. Once in the valley you are treated to some great scenery like this shot above. This is the meadow I hoped we'd spot some elk but we saw only rain.
Here we are in the hayloft of a barn seeking shelter from the rain. Calaloochee Valley is Cades Cove's counterpart in the GSMNP. Cades Cove sports log building with a few churches. Cataloochee showcases later homes with clapboard siding as well as a church and schoolhouse.
The Beech Grove Schoolhouse above was built in 1903. Not revealed in park literature is the tale of how this school came to be. The earlier structure was too small to serve the area. Three local fellows traveled to Waynesville to request a larger school be built. County officials in Waynesville turned down their request. The three returned to Cataloochie accompanied with a bottle of whiskey. The next morning revealed a burned schoolhouse with all the furnishings removed for safekeeping. The three returned to Waynesville with a more urgent request and were successful. The last to die revealed their secret before passing.
Gorgeous setting along a creek for this church.
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