It was a cool foggy morning. There was absolutely no view at the Boyd Gap overlook, our statarting point to hike Brush Creek in the Cherokee National Forest. We approached our first wooden bridge, which was passable since the rangers had cut back the fallen tree. The rest of the trail was rather easy, only a few rocks and gentle ascents and descents as we passed through the forest. Tulip Poplars grew straight and tall as if standing in silent attention while the Sourwoods flaunteed their red leaves. The Ocoee river made brief appearances between the tree branches. As the day warmed, the fog dissipated, the sky becaame a brillant blue. Creatures appeared, a snail sliding across a stem, a shy black snake hustling into the brush, and a praying mantis posing for her photo op. We finished our 6.6 mile trail by crossing under the highway 64 bridge to the trailhead just west of Brush Creek as it flows into the Ocoee. We drove back to Boyd Gap and were greeted by a splended view of the Cherokee mountains. If you would like to see a few really nice pictures taken during this hike, click here.