Oct 2, TN to NC - Cherohala Skyway

 Friday, October 2

48 degrees this morning, so we fire up the hot chocolate and coffee first thing.  A short walk and then we enjoy some breakfast tacos before leaving Rhea Springs.  

 We are off the highways now, heading into the mountains and hills of southeast Tennessee.  Greg says it is time to throttle back and slow down and enjoy the ride.  We wind in and out, up and down the mountains to Tellico Plains, TN where we pick up the Cherohala Skyway, a sinuous mountain road that is a favorite of motorcyclists and sports car enthusiasts. Some brave cyclists, as well.

 What a beautiful day and beautiful drive – though Greg had his eyes on the road much of the time, handling those S curves, switchbacks, blind curves and steep grades - slowing down isn't an issue!  The name of the highway comes from the two National Forests it goes through – the Cherokee and the Nantahala. 

And we are into the land of Kudzu, that crazy creeping vine that is taking over parts of the south!

   

We take a side road with a sign that points to Bald River Falls – waterfalls are one of the things we are looking for.  The road follows a  swift-flowing, rocky river for several miles and we stop now and then to get a closer look. The sounds and smells are terrific.

 

 These guys were just beginning a whitewater canoe and kayak jaunt, so we watched for a while.

And here is Bald River Waterfalls.  A dozen or so people, wearing masks and keeping their distance we are happy to see.

Then back to the Cherohala and higher elevations.

Except for the Amazon,  the Southern Appalachian Mountains represent the richest and most biological diverse ecosystem on earth!  Who knew?  But it hasn’t been without problems as commercial logging in the early 1900s nearly wiped out the forests. In 1911 President Taft signed the Weeks Act, which authorized government acquisition of private lands in much of the eastern US to protect forests and watersheds.

 

We pass through the Tellico Bear Reserve, 28,000 acres meant to protect black bears. Each bear can travel a 25 square mile territory and a healthy bear population is indicative of a healthy forest.   Hoping to spot one (from the car), but no luck.  Still a few summer flowers hanging on...

 

We cross into North Carolina and stop at Whigg Cove for a picnic lunch at 4570 ‘ elevation.  A short while later we  stretch our legs on the Huckleberry Trail, which is at 5300’. 

 Lots of “Balds”, “Gaps” and “Knobs” in this area – rocky bald spots in the forested  mountains, low areas between mountains, and tall rounded knobs above the trees.  This is the view from Haw Knob.

The mountains go on and on. 

At the end of the Cherohala Skyway we find a campsite at Horse Cove National Forest Campground, near the Joyce Kilmer Forest.  "I think that I shall never see a poem lovely as a tree."   Salmon and baked potato dinner.  Greg made a fire, but it was difficult due to mostly wet wood.  This area is very moist with lots of ferns and moss.  Part of the campground was closed due to a water problem, so the open part  (about 10 sites) was filled by dark, but no socializing except for a neighbor looking for D batteries.  (He is one of the many motorcyclists we’ve seen today.)  Chilly night! We are near a noisily rushing river which provides perfect white noise for a peaceful night’s sleep.