Last week we escaped to Cherokee and Bryson City for a few days. We had one day set aside for shopping and driving through the Blue Ridge Parkway. As we exited the parkway, the traffic was backed up like Highway 50 in Garner in the evenings. As we turn to head away from the traffic to head back toward our cabin, I see a flashing road sign in the opposite direction. "Elk Viewing...please get in right lane. Lane closed ahead." We were puzzled, but have also never seen elk, so we turned around and got back in line.
We were about 35 miles from Gatlinburg.
Sure enough, the right lane was closed off with cones where vehicles could pull of and view the elk in the field.
We pulled over and got out to head toward the area of the "viewing lane" where the herd was located.
When we got about half the distance toward the end, a park ranger came up and advised us not to get any closer unless we got on the road side of the cars. The bull above was staying closer to the road (there was a younger bull near the edge of the woods in the opposite direction) and the ranger said they are easily agitated and have been known to charge. He said it would be best for Bobby to stay behind or on the far side of the parked cars so he could dodge behind them for cover if the bull began to move. We decided to stay put.
The viewpoint from where we were standing.
And with my zoom lens. The building in the background was actually a historical farm museum where you could walk around and see the types of buildings and such. The apple orchard was actually fenced in to keep the elk out.
And on the way back, we ran into a smaller herd of 4-5, but the bull in this group was amazing. He was awfully close to the cars, close enough I was hoping no one was stupid enough to blow their horn.
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