I slept in this morning and decided to ride Tsali’s Left Loop the recommended direction, then turn around and ride it race direction as a negative split. I then rode Right Loop as a cool down, before taking the fire road back.

Fontana Lake is low….

After riding, cleaning up and packing up I did some exploring. First was the tunnel on the Road to Nowhere…. I was disappointed, first it is a short hike, the tunnel isn’t long enough to need a light, but it is still a cool story. I wanted to hike further down to a waterfall, but I misread the description, not a 5 mile round trip, but 5 miles each way…. opps!

Tom Branch Falls in the Great Smokey Mountain National Park.

Juney Whank Falls

After a quick bite in Bryson City I drove around a bit looking for primitive camping, but gave up and started home. A great weekend!

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March 31, 2018

A day on the water. We headed back to Falls Reservoir, the bit of water between two dams on the Yadkin River, because it is always quite and very few motorboats. The waterfall was flowing nicely – I can not find a name for it, before the dams, the area was known as The Narrows.

We paddled towards the northern dam, but there was fast water and since I flipped a boat in a release here we turned back and had lunch on an island. We found remains of previous visitors!

One more look at the waterfall and headed home!

Jan. 7, 2018

I woke up with no plan for the day, as I ate breakfast I decided, look for frozen waterfalls. I looked at mountains in Boone or Highlands, but decided Hanging Rock State Park.

I started at Window Falls, because I knew I could walk behind it.

Self timer behind the falls.

Window Falls through the window.

The front view.

Photo of me by my student Khadejeh at Lower Cascades.  I ran into a couple of students on my last waterfall of the day… when I think back to my college days and all the chasing I did for photographs (and I still do) I am thrilled when I see students doing more than just my assignments. PS like the hat? Deb knitted for me!

After the waterfalls, I mountain biked the trails at Moores Spring (MST) what a fun ride!

 

Dec. 29, 2017

Today was the planned hiking day. My first goal was Crabtree Falls.

It was as pretty as I hoped, and I loved the ice.

We stayed so long, the dog started shivering….

it is funny watching other people, several walked up, looked at the waterfall, took a selfie and left.

But at least they are not in my way!

Next up was Roaring Forks Falls

We had this one to ourselves!

All about the details.

We ended the day at Setrock Creek Falls.

The “least” pretty, but again we had the scene all to ourselves!

You needed at least one picture of the truck.

Dec. 28, 2017

Sam and I headed to the mountains. I needed to get my hike #52 of the #52hikechallenge and hoped to snowshoe and sled.

They had no snow, so we went to Hawksnest Snow Tubing

since we had some time we hiked to Otter Falls.

Nov. 5, 2017

Hike #48 #52hikechallenge

Hanging Rock State Park

Really thought the fog would burn off.

The edge of Hanging Rock

Window Falls

Oct. 30, 2017

Good Morning Blowing Rock…. snow!

Hike #47 – Cascades of Falls Creek and icicles!

I have visited these in the past, and this is more water that I have seen.

 

Oct. 29, 2017

James and Elizabeth drove down from Fredericksburgto camp, cheer (heckle) me during a cross race and hike. Due to some odd USA Cycling rule, I was not allowed to race with a one day license, so no race for me…. what to do?

Hike… #45 of #52hikechallenge –  I read about English Falls, the hike directions said from a guardrail on the Blue Ridge Parkway, head east and butt slide down the cliff race… listed as a 9/10 beauty rating if it has rained. I think it was a 10/10

After lunch, we hiked the back side of Linville Falls.

No color left, but a lot of water. Hike #46

Wiseman View, 1500 feet above the Linville River and a great view of Hawksbill Mountain.

Riding along the Blue Ridge Parkway, we saw this waterfall, even backtracked to the Chestoa View Overlook, but I can not find what waterfall it is…. it is big!

Back on dirt roads and pictures of Tacos.

One more of English Falls

Oct. 15, 2017

A sign along a morning bike ride on gravel and dirt roads.

Then off to find a waterfall I looked for before, but didn’t get to.

Thunderhole Falls – Hike #42

The trail to the falls is unmarked and requires a little bush whacking.

But worth the effort.

This is only the top, it has a lower fall section too.

Remember the bushwhacking part? This is the climb up, I don’t know if we could have made it without the rope!

after the hike we went driving looking for color and dirt roads. Old NC 105 follows a ridge and includes this overlook of Linville Gorge at Wiseman’s View.

 

Oct. 14, 2017

Taco and Silvervale Falls.

Hike #41 Bass Lake

Sam finds her inner Ansel.

waterfowl