Weekly Photo Challenge: Depth

Wooden sluice, Cades Cove TN

One of the joys of driving the 11-mile loop through Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is stopping to watch the old mill wheel spin. Looking down the wooden sluice gives depth to the years-old process of funneling water down to the wheel.

Water turning the wheel in Cades Cove TN

As the outside wooden wheel turns, a heavy stone mill wheel inside grinds yellow corn into meal. Or at least that’s how it used to be.

Water wheel, Cades Cove, TN

Deep thinking just occurs, I guess, when you stand and reflect on the way it was: Nature and man working hand-in-hand for another fine day of mountain living.

For more entries in the WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge: Depth, click here.

About Oh, the Places We See

Met at University of Tennessee, been married for 47 years, and still passionate about travel whether we're volunteering with Habitat Global Village, combining work at Discovery with pleasure, or just seeing the world. Hope you'll join us as we try to see it all while we can!

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17 Responses to Weekly Photo Challenge: Depth

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yprior1 says:

February 3, 2015 at 11:47 am

G R E A T take ont he wpc – especially that first shot

- Oh, the Places We See says:
  
  February 3, 2015 at 12:10 pm
  
  Thanks so much. The first shot is really the only one with depth. But I just love those water wheels!!! Thanks for commenting!
  
  - yprior1 says:
    
    February 3, 2015 at 12:17 pm
    
    well and by giving us a few it really gives us a better feel too –
Tina Schell says:

February 1, 2015 at 4:52 pm

Definitely food for thought! Great examples.

- Oh, the Places We See says:
  
  February 1, 2015 at 6:14 pm
  
  Thanks so much. We love Cades Cove. If you ever get this way, put it on your list. The best time seems to be early morning before the traffic hits. But any time is good.
  
julieallyn says:

January 31, 2015 at 7:15 pm

Great photos AND commentary!

Curt Mekemson says:

January 31, 2015 at 6:20 pm

My ancestors on my dads side were millers, first in Maryland in the 1770s and then in Kentucky in the 1790s. I’ve visited both sites. The sluice provided an excellent depth photo. –Curt

- Oh, the Places We See says:
  
  January 31, 2015 at 9:17 pm
  
  Thanks for the compliment, Curt. You were fortunate to have had millers — strong, sturdy, contemplative folk, or one would think. Did you inherit any mill wheels? I think that’s what you call the stone ones. They are fantastic in a garden.
  
Judy @ newenglandgardenandthread says:

January 31, 2015 at 3:46 pm

The depth of our predecessors’ common sense is still amazing. They thought simple but it worked.

- Oh, the Places We See says:
  
  January 31, 2015 at 5:09 pm
  
  You are so right. And we always buy that cornmeal. It just tastes better, for some reason!
  
whichwaynow101 says:

January 31, 2015 at 3:18 pm

Nice way of attaching the keyword ‘depth’ to your lovely photos!

- Oh, the Places We See says:
  
  January 31, 2015 at 5:08 pm
  
  Thanks! I just love the first shot because I had to get on my knees. And it’s even harder to get up now!!!
  
Amy says:

January 31, 2015 at 2:36 pm

Great take on, Rusha! Nice to see how the old mill wheel works.

- Oh, the Places We See says:
  
  January 31, 2015 at 5:08 pm
  
  Thanks so much, Amy. We love going to Cades Cove. But because it’s in “our back yard,” we don’t go as much as we should. Always peaceful!
  
cindy knoke says:

January 31, 2015 at 1:59 pm

Rustic & beautiful!

- Oh, the Places We See says:
  
  January 31, 2015 at 5:10 pm
  
  Thanks, Cindy. You would love taking pictures here! So restful.