I cannot believe it has been a year since I've updated the blog...apologies. Here is a nice autumn drive/hike/walk series that coordinates with the Albums A Walk in the Woods I and II on our FB page.
Take 19/129 South out of Blairsville. Left onto Hwy 180 (also known as "the road that takes you to Brasstown Bald, Georgia's Highest Point). Stay on Hwy 180 until you get to Hwy 17/75. Hang a right. NOTICE on your left the entrance to High Shoals, but recommend leaving this for the end of the trip, because you'll be very tired afterwards.
Continue on 17/75 for approx. a mile or so. You'll see Unicoi Gap - and the AT crosses the road here. On the RIGHT is Forest Service Road 41 (gravel and NOT marked as such, but there are signs to a camping area - so you know you're on the right road). Continue 5 miles on this well maintained gravel road until you get to the day use parking lot. There is a parking fee ($3).
The signs to the falls are clear. Water volume was low when I was there (Sept. 18, 2011) owing to lack of rain in August. Photographers, light is best in the a.m.
You'll find an easy walk of 0.30 miles to a viewing platform. Before the falls you will cross a bridge over a creek that is the headwaters of the Chatthoochie River. This is a child and family friendly trail and strollers would be easily managed.
When you return to Hwy 17/75 (come back the way you went in, or you're going to be on a looooooooooong gravel drive into Helen, GA.), hang a LEFT and go back to where the turn off for High Shoals is. If you hit 180 again, you went too far. It is easy to miss.
Turning at the sign for High Shoals, you'll ford a creek (I would not recommend this road for sports cars...anyone else will be fine), and travel a total of 1.5 miles to High Shoals Trail #19. Park. The trail goes steeply downhill for about a mile. Remember you will have to walk back up this. Take plenty of water.
This is NOT particularly young-child or walking impairment/mobility challenged friendly as the trail is narrow and entirely covered by roots in some areas (i.e., you're walking on uneven tree roots.)
The trail will level out nicely for a bit and you'll stroll through some lovely camping areas. There are several wooden bridges, and then the trail resumes an up and down topography. You will see a side trail to the upper falls (there are steps that kind of bend around to the left) and the walk to the viewing platform is extremely easy.
Return to the main trail and continue to where the steps bend around again to go to the lower falls.
Photographers - morning light would provide direct lighting, afternoon the sun is behind you. I shot at ISO 100 with 0.9 NDF and f/16 to get sufficient blur/exposure times that I wanted at about 4:00 p.m. in the afternoon at the lower falls. Upper falls are shadier.
When you return to the trail, you'll see that it continues on to the left but is not as well "worn". THIS DOES NOT GO ANYWHERE WORTH GOING. It will add 0.75 miles to your hike, it's all downhill on the way and it's a major schlep back up. Do not recommend. Just hang the right at the top of the stairs and start that long hike upwards.
Total trip length purported to be 2.4 miles but it felt significantly longer to the lower falls. Just sayin'. This is a 'bring water and some trail mix' hike.
Return the way you came, hang a right out onto 17/75 and Hwy 180 is less than 1/4 miles on your left. Left onto Hwy 180 to return home via Blairsville.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Fall Color Driving Tour #1
I went out on an expedition into North Carolina today to map out a potential “nice fall foliage tour”. Here’s the route I took, which is not recommended for sports cars, but any normal sedan will do fine. Four wheel drive is not required.
Off the mountain via Katydid. Left onto Lowery, right onto Cutcane, left onto Dean Road, right onto Spur 60.
Take Spur 60 to Hwy 19/129 North/East, through Murphy, and on into Andrews, NC. I continued all the way to the Nantahala Outdoor Center, only because I’ve never been there. It’s a gorgeous drive if you want to head that far, with plenty of photo ops. If not, (or if you do, back track and then) head east onto Wayah Road (if you do this directly, you’ll be making a right, if you’re back tracking from the NOC, it’ll be a left.) Wayah Road runs along the Nantahala Creek (more great photo ops) and up to Lake Nantahala. Once a few more leaves are down, there will be some stunning panoramas. Just past the lake be on the watch for Forest Service road 437 on the right – brown marker. This road is in excellent condition – 1 small tree was down, but I think even a sedan could “take it” – it was only 4-5” in diameter. Otherwise, extremely well maintained and extraordinarily scenic. At the 7 mile mark (check your odometer when turning onto FS 437) there is a house that looks like it’s going to drop down onto the road, and just before that is a nice, fairly high, waterfall on your left. At 10 miles is a lovely photo op of the creek. At 12 miles you’ve reached the end of FS 437 and will make a right onto Hwy 64 West. This is a fairly heavily traveled road, but the trees and mountains are very pretty. As you start the 9% down grade (you’ll see the sign warning the truckers), there is a scenic view pull off to the right. If you’re not traveling 90 miles an hour you’ll have plenty of time to make the turn off. I, however, missed it….
Continue on Hwy 64 West through Hayesville, and keep an eye out for Old Hwy 64 WEST on your left…it’s probably 20 miles at least from where you exit FS 437. Take Old Hwy 64 West as it winds through some beautiful farm country, and then when you see signs for the John C Campbell Folk School, take ‘em. You’ll be turning LEFT onto Brasstown Road. Stop in at the Folk School if you wish – they have a fall festival the weekend of the 3rd. There are some lovely photo ops here with old barns, buildings, etc.
Continue on Brasstown until it dead ends at Martin Creek Road. Hang a LEFT. Martin Creek Road is also very scenic with some gorgeous horse farms. It will dead end at 19/129, just on “our side” of Belleview Home Furnishings, one of my favorite stores ever! So, if it’s open and you want to check out some great stuff and great prices, make a right and it is just down the hill. Otherwise, hang a left and you’ll soon cross back into Georgia.
Couple of options here:
Option 1: Continue on 19/129 into Blairsville. On the way you’ll pass Rountree’s on your right – my other favorite shopping haunt that offers AMAZING home décor items at prices that almost make you feel guilty. Stop in and say hey to Laurel and her amazing dog, Dancer, who smiles when she gets excited. When you’ve loaded up the car with deals, make a right out of the parking lot and continue into Blairsville. Hang a right onto Hwy 515, and go 16.2 miles to Loving Road on the right and come back home.
Option 2: At the traffic light where Granny’s Cottage sits on your right (this would be before Rountree’s), make a right onto Hwy 325. Take Hwy 325 over the dam at Lake Notelly (more photo ops) and continue to Loving Road on the right (just across from the little white church – drive slow, take your time, keep your eyes peeled. If you miss it, no big deal, 325 will take you to Hwy 515 and you can hang a right and come in via Loving Road from the 4-lane). If you don’t miss the turn, enjoy the drive along Loving Road to Old Loving Road and come on back to your cabin for a delicious dinner.
Or, just buy a map and a compass and make up your own itinerary! “Give me a map and a compass, and I will rule the roads!”
Copyright 2010 Above the Rest Luxury Cabins.
Off the mountain via Katydid. Left onto Lowery, right onto Cutcane, left onto Dean Road, right onto Spur 60.
Take Spur 60 to Hwy 19/129 North/East, through Murphy, and on into Andrews, NC. I continued all the way to the Nantahala Outdoor Center, only because I’ve never been there. It’s a gorgeous drive if you want to head that far, with plenty of photo ops. If not, (or if you do, back track and then) head east onto Wayah Road (if you do this directly, you’ll be making a right, if you’re back tracking from the NOC, it’ll be a left.) Wayah Road runs along the Nantahala Creek (more great photo ops) and up to Lake Nantahala. Once a few more leaves are down, there will be some stunning panoramas. Just past the lake be on the watch for Forest Service road 437 on the right – brown marker. This road is in excellent condition – 1 small tree was down, but I think even a sedan could “take it” – it was only 4-5” in diameter. Otherwise, extremely well maintained and extraordinarily scenic. At the 7 mile mark (check your odometer when turning onto FS 437) there is a house that looks like it’s going to drop down onto the road, and just before that is a nice, fairly high, waterfall on your left. At 10 miles is a lovely photo op of the creek. At 12 miles you’ve reached the end of FS 437 and will make a right onto Hwy 64 West. This is a fairly heavily traveled road, but the trees and mountains are very pretty. As you start the 9% down grade (you’ll see the sign warning the truckers), there is a scenic view pull off to the right. If you’re not traveling 90 miles an hour you’ll have plenty of time to make the turn off. I, however, missed it….
Continue on Hwy 64 West through Hayesville, and keep an eye out for Old Hwy 64 WEST on your left…it’s probably 20 miles at least from where you exit FS 437. Take Old Hwy 64 West as it winds through some beautiful farm country, and then when you see signs for the John C Campbell Folk School, take ‘em. You’ll be turning LEFT onto Brasstown Road. Stop in at the Folk School if you wish – they have a fall festival the weekend of the 3rd. There are some lovely photo ops here with old barns, buildings, etc.
Continue on Brasstown until it dead ends at Martin Creek Road. Hang a LEFT. Martin Creek Road is also very scenic with some gorgeous horse farms. It will dead end at 19/129, just on “our side” of Belleview Home Furnishings, one of my favorite stores ever! So, if it’s open and you want to check out some great stuff and great prices, make a right and it is just down the hill. Otherwise, hang a left and you’ll soon cross back into Georgia.
Couple of options here:
Option 1: Continue on 19/129 into Blairsville. On the way you’ll pass Rountree’s on your right – my other favorite shopping haunt that offers AMAZING home décor items at prices that almost make you feel guilty. Stop in and say hey to Laurel and her amazing dog, Dancer, who smiles when she gets excited. When you’ve loaded up the car with deals, make a right out of the parking lot and continue into Blairsville. Hang a right onto Hwy 515, and go 16.2 miles to Loving Road on the right and come back home.
Option 2: At the traffic light where Granny’s Cottage sits on your right (this would be before Rountree’s), make a right onto Hwy 325. Take Hwy 325 over the dam at Lake Notelly (more photo ops) and continue to Loving Road on the right (just across from the little white church – drive slow, take your time, keep your eyes peeled. If you miss it, no big deal, 325 will take you to Hwy 515 and you can hang a right and come in via Loving Road from the 4-lane). If you don’t miss the turn, enjoy the drive along Loving Road to Old Loving Road and come on back to your cabin for a delicious dinner.
Or, just buy a map and a compass and make up your own itinerary! “Give me a map and a compass, and I will rule the roads!”
Copyright 2010 Above the Rest Luxury Cabins.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
You Just Can't Make Up This Kind of Stuff...
So, I’m feeling much better. We had three (3) goals for today, in this order:
1. Set up cabins for arrivals. David was on it while I took care of some other business.
2. Go check on the mares. Kachina has started locking herself in one of the paddocks…she goes in to eat the clover, manages to push the gate shut, and voila! Trapped horse.
3. Tile the second bathroom in the house that we recently tiled the first bathroom in.
Things did not go quite as panned. David & Hanker went to Dream Catcher to set it up. I get a call. “Please come pick me up at Dream Catcher”, he says.
“Why, what’s wrong with the truck?”
“Um, it is currently wrapped around a tree.”
“Okey doke – be right there.” (I felt bad later than I didn’t ask if he was okay, but thought, hey, he’s talking, this is a good sign.)
I grab the tow straps and Max and off we go. David’s sitting at the picnic table – clearly shaken.
“Where’s the truck?”
“Look down the hill.”
(Okay, Dream Catcher’s driveway is TOTALLY FLAT, so I’m thinking okkkaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayy, what hill…)
“What hill?”
“Over there” (David points down the road that continues past the driveway.)
Yep, sure enough, there’s the truck. It doesn’t look good.
“How the hell did you manage that???” (Please note – I am laughing because this is too bizarre.)
“I didn’t. I wasn’t in it.”
Now I need a full scale explanation. So here is what happened.
David goes into Dream Catcher. He is in there for 5 minutes when he hears a loud crash. He comes out, the truck is gone. He’s thinking – damn it! Someone stole my truck! Now he’s more worried because Hanker was in the truck; Hanker, his boy, his buddy, his yellow lab mix who rolls in poop and tries to become brown. Please also note that yesterday was the 3rd anniversary of the day Charlie, his best dog ever, was intentionally run down on My Mountain Road, so “Hanker Day” right next to “Charlie Day” – this would be bad.
Well, to make a long story short, David left Hanker in the truck, with the A/C on, as he has done a million times before. Hanker lays down on the seat and waits. Now we don’t know if a deer, a bear, or what passed in front of him, but apparently Hanker got excited. Or maybe he just thought “Hey, here’s my chance! I’s always wanted to drives, but they’s never lets me.” (Insert Hanker’s voice).
Hanker knocked the truck out of park and into drive. The truck moved forward, gaining enough momentum to cross over a small ring of rocks (we don’t know if Hanker was actually accelerating at this point or not…) and then wham! Made a perfect path between two rows of trees and doggone nearly made it out onto the gravel road. Except for that one, solitary, EXTREMELY LARGE oak tree, which the truck collided with, with sufficient force that (a) it got shifted back into park, AND (b) the emergency brake was on (it’s on the floor – so we're thinking Hanker hit the floor after hitting the gear shift) BUT, to Ford’s credit, was still running when David got to it. Hanker was shaken up but fine.
Oh, if you could have seen the guilty look on this dog’s face. It was pitiful. The truck? Yeah, it may be totaled. The tow driver said he’s seen things totaled for less damage and it is a 2004, but it only has 50K on it.
Now, all evidence to the contrary, we’re pretty fond of that truck…so we’ll see what the adjuster says tomorrow.
Needless to say, tiling got a later start than anticipated. David hooked up the wet saw, and the pump wasn’t working. I told him to take my Pathfinder and go check the mares. In the meanwhile, I took the pump apart and fixed it. By the time he got back, I had 2/3 of the floor laid out and edge pieces cut. It was still a long day – 5 hours. Floor looks great.
Man, we sure do hate when our dogs try to drive…but this will always go down in history as the day Hanker totaled Daddy’s truck. It just never ends…
1. Set up cabins for arrivals. David was on it while I took care of some other business.
2. Go check on the mares. Kachina has started locking herself in one of the paddocks…she goes in to eat the clover, manages to push the gate shut, and voila! Trapped horse.
3. Tile the second bathroom in the house that we recently tiled the first bathroom in.
Things did not go quite as panned. David & Hanker went to Dream Catcher to set it up. I get a call. “Please come pick me up at Dream Catcher”, he says.
“Why, what’s wrong with the truck?”
“Um, it is currently wrapped around a tree.”
“Okey doke – be right there.” (I felt bad later than I didn’t ask if he was okay, but thought, hey, he’s talking, this is a good sign.)
I grab the tow straps and Max and off we go. David’s sitting at the picnic table – clearly shaken.
“Where’s the truck?”
“Look down the hill.”
(Okay, Dream Catcher’s driveway is TOTALLY FLAT, so I’m thinking okkkaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayy, what hill…)
“What hill?”
“Over there” (David points down the road that continues past the driveway.)
Yep, sure enough, there’s the truck. It doesn’t look good.
“How the hell did you manage that???” (Please note – I am laughing because this is too bizarre.)
“I didn’t. I wasn’t in it.”
Now I need a full scale explanation. So here is what happened.
David goes into Dream Catcher. He is in there for 5 minutes when he hears a loud crash. He comes out, the truck is gone. He’s thinking – damn it! Someone stole my truck! Now he’s more worried because Hanker was in the truck; Hanker, his boy, his buddy, his yellow lab mix who rolls in poop and tries to become brown. Please also note that yesterday was the 3rd anniversary of the day Charlie, his best dog ever, was intentionally run down on My Mountain Road, so “Hanker Day” right next to “Charlie Day” – this would be bad.
Well, to make a long story short, David left Hanker in the truck, with the A/C on, as he has done a million times before. Hanker lays down on the seat and waits. Now we don’t know if a deer, a bear, or what passed in front of him, but apparently Hanker got excited. Or maybe he just thought “Hey, here’s my chance! I’s always wanted to drives, but they’s never lets me.” (Insert Hanker’s voice).
Hanker knocked the truck out of park and into drive. The truck moved forward, gaining enough momentum to cross over a small ring of rocks (we don’t know if Hanker was actually accelerating at this point or not…) and then wham! Made a perfect path between two rows of trees and doggone nearly made it out onto the gravel road. Except for that one, solitary, EXTREMELY LARGE oak tree, which the truck collided with, with sufficient force that (a) it got shifted back into park, AND (b) the emergency brake was on (it’s on the floor – so we're thinking Hanker hit the floor after hitting the gear shift) BUT, to Ford’s credit, was still running when David got to it. Hanker was shaken up but fine.
Oh, if you could have seen the guilty look on this dog’s face. It was pitiful. The truck? Yeah, it may be totaled. The tow driver said he’s seen things totaled for less damage and it is a 2004, but it only has 50K on it.
Now, all evidence to the contrary, we’re pretty fond of that truck…so we’ll see what the adjuster says tomorrow.
Needless to say, tiling got a later start than anticipated. David hooked up the wet saw, and the pump wasn’t working. I told him to take my Pathfinder and go check the mares. In the meanwhile, I took the pump apart and fixed it. By the time he got back, I had 2/3 of the floor laid out and edge pieces cut. It was still a long day – 5 hours. Floor looks great.
Man, we sure do hate when our dogs try to drive…but this will always go down in history as the day Hanker totaled Daddy’s truck. It just never ends…
Monday, July 12, 2010
This Week at The Swan
At the Swan Drive In:
Showing Friday and Saturday, July 16th and 17th, Double Feature-Two Movies for the price of one 9PM "Inception", Rated PG13 Starring Leonardo DiCaprio 11:15PM "Eclipse", Rated PG13
Showing Sunday thru Thursday, July 18th thru 22nd, One Show Only 9PM "Inception", Rated PG13 Starring Leonardo DiCapr...io
Showing Friday and Saturday, July 16th and 17th, Double Feature-Two Movies for the price of one 9PM "Inception", Rated PG13 Starring Leonardo DiCaprio 11:15PM "Eclipse", Rated PG13
Showing Sunday thru Thursday, July 18th thru 22nd, One Show Only 9PM "Inception", Rated PG13 Starring Leonardo DiCapr...io
Monday, June 14, 2010
This Week at The Swan
Coming June 30th, "Eclipse", Rated PG13
Showing Friday and Saturday, June 18th & 19th, a double feature-two movies for the price of one.
9PM
"Toy Story 3" Rated G
10:45PM
"Prince Of Persia", Rated PG13
Showing Sunday thru Thursday, June 20th thru 24th
9PM
"Toy Story 3" Rated G
Showing Friday and Saturday, June 18th & 19th, a double feature-two movies for the price of one.
9PM
"Toy Story 3" Rated G
10:45PM
"Prince Of Persia", Rated PG13
Showing Sunday thru Thursday, June 20th thru 24th
9PM
"Toy Story 3" Rated G
Monday, May 10, 2010
This Week at The Swan
Coming May 21st, "Shrek, The Final Chapter", Rated PG
Double Feature Friday and Saturday, May 14th & 15th-two movies for the price of one
8:45PM
"Iron Man 2", Rated PG13
10:45PM
"The Backup Plan", Rated PG13
One Show Only, Sunday, May 16th
8:45PM
"Iron Man 2", Rated PG13
Double Feature Friday and Saturday, May 14th & 15th-two movies for the price of one
8:45PM
"Iron Man 2", Rated PG13
10:45PM
"The Backup Plan", Rated PG13
One Show Only, Sunday, May 16th
8:45PM
"Iron Man 2", Rated PG13
Sunday, May 2, 2010
This Week at The Swan
Double Feature Friday and Saturday, May 7th & 8th-two movies for the price of one
8:45PM
"Iron Man 2", Rated PG13
10:45PM
"The Backup Plan", Rated PG13
One Show Only, Sunday, May 9th
8:45PM
"Iron Man 2", Rated PG13
8:45PM
"Iron Man 2", Rated PG13
10:45PM
"The Backup Plan", Rated PG13
One Show Only, Sunday, May 9th
8:45PM
"Iron Man 2", Rated PG13
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