Day 69 – North Carolina Countryside

If you like this article, please share. Thanks!

Day 69 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

I started the morning with another home cooked meal…quiche, pound cake and berries!  It’s getting harder to leave good company and houses, but my journey continues.  Today, the dogs and I began a two day loop through the North Carolina countryside, beginning and ending near Asheville.  Just outside of Asheville we stopped at a sports complex for a short walk with the dogs, as a long walk wasn’t in the itinerary until the afternoon. There was a cache nearby, but also people, so no luck for picking up a North Carolina cache yet.

Cherokee Indian Trading Post

Our next stop was at a Cherokee Indian Trading Post right off the highway.  I meant to take a picture and forgot…oops!  I browsed through the store and found a few trinkets for two of my nieces and one of my nephews.  I hope to come home with one trip treat each for the little ones to find under the Christmas tree.  The older ones, I’m certain, would rather have iTunes gift cards!  We’ll see if I’m successful.

Nantahala Outdoor Center

After my short shopping spree, the dogs and I hiked part of the Appalachian Trail across from Nantahala Outdoor Center, where kayaking and rafting are the activity of choice.  As the kayakers honed their skills on the river’s rocky course, ducks bathed on the river’s edge.  The ducks may have been more entertaining.  They reminded me of a dog…dunking under the water, scratching their head with their webbed feet, and then flapping their wings and shaking their tail feathers to dry off.  They were an active bunch.

• 

• 

• 

Hiwassee Dam

We moved on to the Hiwassee Dam.  The mutts and I were trying to find a decent place to hike as the hike up the Appalachian Trail was steep so we only walked a short distance.  We found a beautiful lake with picnicking spots and learned the history of the Tennessee Valley Authority that controls the area, but we weren’t successful in finding any trails.

Tennessee Valley Authority

The headwaters of the Tennessee River are located in the mountains of Tennessee, Georgia, Virginia, and North Carolina.  The 41,000 acre area receives 52 inches of rain a year.  The Tennessee Valley Authority, by damming the river in several locations, is able to control floods, improve navigation, and generate electric power.  In fact, through nine main dams and associated locks, the TVA has created a navigable channel of 650 miles from Knoxville to the Ohio River. The channel serves as an important arm of the Nation’s inland waterway system connecting 20 states.

Overall, I think today was a bit of a bust.  The area is geared more to summer-time water enthusiasts.  Given Scout, Petey, and I were visiting at the end of November, we spent most our time driving or making the most of small parks.  Even my attempt to find a local place for dinner and Sunday night football in Murphy failed.  Tomorrow is another day! ETB

Map of My Road Trip Across the USA

For a summary about my road trip across the USA, click HERE. For the interactive map, see the below link.

Other Articles About North Carolina You May Like

• Day 70 – North Carolina Countryside Part 2
• Day 71 – Blue Ridge Parkway (North Carolina)
• Day 72 – Blue Ridge Parkway (North Carolina Part 2)
• Day 73 – North Carolina’s Outer Banks
• Day 74 – North Carolina’s Outer Banks Part 2

Shop

Check out the photographic note cards and key chains at my shop.  Each card has a travel story associated with it.  20% of proceeds are donated to charity.

If you like this article, please share. Thanks!