Waynesville, NC - last week in September

It starts out with the annual craft show and sale.  Small participation this year, just the organizer, Vicki and I.

It was a beautiful day so I think most people were out and about before the rain we supposed to get from Helene arrives.

We finish up dog and house sitting.  Tucson gets brushed and we gain a dog.

The foal at the bottom of the road has grown and turned brown.

And Tucson is happy to be an only child again.

There was one last gathering for the campground and after we stop at our friends to help celebrate Pat's Birthday 

The creek is starting to fill from the rain.  The tree stump is usually in dry land.

We should be safe, it's a good way up from the tent area to us.

When we wake up the next morning it is has created into the tenting area and close to the road

It then reaches the top of our stairs up. 

Then we are surrounded on all sides by water

All rows of the campground are flooded

Our neighbor across the road brings his Spyder over to our site to park it under the nose of the 5th wheel, his is nearly under water

Gary surveys the area

The office had over a foot of water inside plus mud.

Search and recovery team came through looking for bodies in the creek.

We helped our neighbors clean up

The large brown shed used to be next to the green shed

The force of the creek was scary

This what the creek usually looks like

We were luckier than most.  No damage to our 5th wheel and we only lost power and water for a short time.  Those in Asheville (35 miles away) and Mountain communities are without both.

Waynesville, NC -3rd week in September

We Start out be house-sitting and dog sitting for friends in Maggie Valley.  Their dog Joey is enamoured with Tucson.

We take a day off and do a ride on the Cherohala Skyway which runs between NC and TN.  A scenic byway.  46 miles with up to 12% grades, and 15-20 mph turns.

I

It starts out foggy

With lots of road construction 

After 100 miles We make it to the starting point, Robbinsville and gas up.

We fill up by the giant rooster

Gary points out 10 more miles to the Cherohala 

Higher elevation the leaves are turning

Stop at some overlooks

We get to Tellarico and have lunch

We make the return trip

Approximately a 300 mile ride - worth it.

 

Waynesville NC - 2nd week September

I have never been to the Pisgah Inn, so we stopped there in our ride up the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Beautiful views off the back

It's been awhile since we've been to Cades Cove it's a beautiful day so we take the Spyder for a ride there.  One tree is getting a headstart in Fall.  Cades Cove is a scenic valley in Tennessee surrounded on all sides by mountains south of Townsend, Tennessee. 

We stop at Newfound Gap Pass for a quick break

Then then the road gets interesting 

And very pretty 

Finally the turn off for Cades Cove, still 30 miles to go 

We follow the Little River

Pass through a tunnel 

And make it to the 11 mile Cades Cove Scenic Loop

There are historical cabins along the road 

It's a beautiful ride

Some horses in the woods 

There are quite a few turkey around

And Baptist Churches

No Elk in the fields, too early

There are some hiking trails along the way

We turn into the Cable Mill Historic Area

The Visitor center 

The Cable Mill area contains many of the buildings typical of remote Appalachian farmsteads. The grist mill is on its original site. Other historic buildings in the complex were brought from elsewhere in the park. 

The barn

Gregg-Cable house built in 1879. This is the first and only remaining all-frame house in Cades Cove

We continue on the loop road

The loop road is closed on Wednesdays to motor vehicles, only bicycles allowed

Gary pulls over so I can take a picture 

And we reach the end of the loop 

Back along the Little River

Then back in the main road through the Great Smokey Mountains National Park 

Some Elk in the fields here

A beautiful ride and day