WATERFALLS

Busy day at English Chapel, the little independent church which is nestled within the Campground.  Also busy with folks packing up.  We will be quite alone by this evening.





We visit with Chris at his 1961 Aluminum “Yellowstone” with wooden screen doors.  So much Aluminum goodness.

After a quick loop around the “exercise path” and Andy’s Cove trail –- imagine having hemlocks and waterfalls on your morning walk -- we acquired our waterfall directions and we’re off.  

We have seen several of the 295 waterfalls in Transylvania County North Carolina, but we fear all waterfall pictures start to look the  same to our loyal readers. “You just have to be there.” is more true when you have walked up to “Twin Falls” and been rewarded with a “Bonus” waterfall because of the season.  Our fulsome guide, herself an adventure racer, estimated two hours for the journey, but she failed to calculate ole timers time.  We made it in four hours but enjoyed it immensely.  Other falls are roadside and others so well hidden that a guide is necessary.  Jim put us on to the  one at “Living Waters” which comprise five different falls and a really dramatic gorge all on private land.

HIGH ADVENTURE, FINE DINING AND ROMANCE

We were very tired after our waterfall ventures and a hot shower felt good.  I then promised my comely mate “High adventure, fine dining, ….”  So we cruised up beautiful Forest Scenic Highway 276 in the late afternoon, cresting on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Wagon Wheel Gap. In summer, campers and other romantics gather here with lawn chairs and a beverage to watch the sunset. Still too early in the day and the season, so we proceeded onwards toward the famed Pisgah Inn operated quite elegantly by your National Park Service.  We waited for a window table and were thrilled to see a Peregrine Falcon (fastest bird in the world) cruise by at eye level then sweep up over the crest.

Dinner was excellent.  We watched cloud tops for the predicted thunderheads, but only saw cartoon figures and sundry other apparitions. (It takes very little to entertain us.)  Mountain Pork Chops (really?) with Apple Chutney, Squash Medley, KILLER Silk Pie “All the Way” (with ice cream, strawberries and almonds).
With a little bit of luck, we would reach Wagon Wheel Gap for the last rays….. but the sun set BEHND the big, building clouds, rimming each with gold.

There was romance.  What, you wanted details? 
Then a long, slow, sweeping descent  back down 276 just as darkness settled. Paul Winter was playing “Sun behind the…”

Davidson River

Davidson River near Brevard NC is one of the 100 Top Trout streams in America, near a vibrant college town (with a trout stream flowing into its city limits), at the foot of the most spectacular part of the Blue Ridge Parkway (from which many, many trout streams flow), a town packed with great places to eat (trout), and site of an extensive National Forest Campground WITH A TROUT STREAM RUNNING THROUGH IT.  

Our easy tow over here was through the Nantahala Gorge (trout stream), past Al’s favorite restaurant (views of trout stream, kayakers in neon wetsuits and, quite honestly, the best food you are ever likely to eat while dripping wet.) We once deplored the Great Smoky Mountain Expressway, but now find it breathtaking and SMOOTH. We finished with 35 miles over the highest part of the BRP.

We think we will submit this one to the Airforums thread “What’s out your Airstreams door?”

Looking Glass Rock from the Blue Ridge Parkway at Log Hollow Gap.

Down the scenic Highway 276 (beside the famous Trout stream), we entered the campsite to a friendly greeting from Jim and Mary.  After the circle dance of site choosing and registration, we ate a quick supper and hit the river about seven (in the stretch Mary told us about) where we fished downstream of Jim and Patty trounced both of us.  Will this abuse never end?

Bing ..YOU HAVE BLOG!

Yes, without much preamble, Patty and Al are loose on the road again. Our interlude in Montgomery was blessed with great weather, way too much yard work, some nice family time and great visits from Yankees migrating North from their winter roosts. 

On the anniversary of last year’s tragic Tornadoes, we were loading, polishing Lotti, shivering and cheering at night softball games.  Go Sliders!

Al has a new Ipad and tried to bring our Fourteener along as operator/instructor but multiple engagements precluded this.  She is available for electronic consultation, and this is deeply appreciated.  Thanks, Em.

NO BIKES:  Patty’s shoulder is still troublesome and painful after a round of chiropractic for the pinched nerve.  The nerve is better, but the underling ..itis has limited her range of motion, so we are leaving the bikes at home, icing the shoulder at intervals and doing a few recommended exercises. I missed the picture last evening of Patty leaning against a tree, fly rod in hand, doing her ”exercises.”

Editorial note: As I try to get the blog caught up  on the morning of our fourth day on the road, there will be a slight pause, because the lady of the house WANTS TO GO FISHING! Can any man be so lucky?

Our first day we towed to Fort Mountain State Park near Chatsworth Georgia staying clear of Interstate highways, trying to learn to navigate on an Ipad.   Mountain is the operative word here as the road climbs rather directly up to 2850’.  The digital transmission temp gauge was showing numbers we had never seen before; sometimes we get just too much information. 

The Campground is really well designed to fit into uneven ground near a mountaintop lake.  The construction is solid and everything well maintained.  We chose ours from nearly a hundred empty sites because  our new neighbors, P.O. and Debbie, gave a friendly greeting. Sharing a campfire with them was a real treat.

Next morning we were off to see the “Fort” part. There is an 835’ stone wall near the military crest of the hill and theories on the origins range from ancient white “moon eyed” people to Welsh explorers in the fourteenth century.  Paths circle it and we theorized along with the professionals.  Winds on the sturdy overlooks were near 30 MPH on the west side, but the winds dropped as we circled the peak and explored the wall and the Stone Tower built by the CCC’s.

Once again we find ourselves in the mountains before the Rhododendrons begin, but we may just wait them out this time.