Nine weeks after some pretty extensive foot surgery I decided to test out the new improved left foot to see what it was capable of by visiting some favorite haunts and Western North Carolina waterfalls.
First test was getting the hiking boots on; that worked! Hurrah, looking good far 😉
Number 1 daughter and I set off as soon as “the boy” and his new fiancé (!) left for the airport and their journey home. Resigned to sitting on the I-75 for the next 5 hours we blasted some good old country music and sang/shouted away to our hearts content! We stopped overnight just before Atlanta, rested well and were up and on the road again by 8:30 the next morning, both excited to get our waterfall fix started!
Four hours later, the excitement was mounting as we turned onto my most favorite stretch of road. Starting just east of Franklin, NC, this stretch of Hwy 64 is an exhilarating 18-mile scenic drive along which can be found 7 waterfalls and 2 good hikes.
~ Here is a page that details them all, along with links to each waterfall/hike; Highlands Road, Hwy 64.
The first waterfall kind of comes at you unexpectedly. Except that I must have ventu this road at least 50 times now!
The spectacular 250’ Cullasaja Falls were in fine form for us as we pulled over to the small parking area. Full flowing and powerful, the noise of the Falls was invigorating!
Having been a snow storm just a couple of days earlier, a lot of the areas still had some great ice formations dangling from the sheer cliff edges.
Waterfall adrenaline rushing, we both jumped out and got ready to grab some great photography. Here came the bad news…
Number 1; the new tripod that I ordered for our upcoming Europe trip was a doozy. Big fat fail. Just wouldn’t stay up. Couldn’t hold the weight of the camera, and I don’t have one of the heavy DSLRs.
Number 2; said, lightweight camera, FAILED. I have no idea what the heck has gone wrong with it. But, suffice to say, I will be hot footing it to Best Buy when I get back home. I’ve only had the dang thing since August when it performed brilliantly during our trip to Ecuador. I have barely used it since and neither I, or Miss Clever Pants, (who’s been a photography buff since she was 13), could make it produce anything near a decent picture.
Thank the Lord for iPhones!
Bust Your Butt Falls is a crazy fun place in the summer. Not so much in the winter! Far too icy cold for that game. Still worth stopping at for some pics though!
Next stop was a bit of a debate. We weren’t going to but are super glad we did!
Dry Falls is another powerful falls but is extra cool because you can actually walk behind it across to the other side! However, the walk behind was closed off due to the intensity of the falls and the icy conditions, (see the icicles)!
Neither did we stop off for Ranger Falls. The hike would likely have been a little harder than either my foot or Beth would have managed. Given the recent rain, snow and freezing weather I imagine that the trail may have been a little dicey in places.
Our next stop was Lake Sequoyah Dam Falls. Always an amazing spot to photograph and a great Falls to showcase my newfound iPhone camera skills of getting those gorgeous silky waterfall shots 😉
Clambering down grassy banks and over rocks was not necessarily conducive to good recovering foot care but whatever, the pics were worth the discomfort!
Next on the list was Glenn Falls. Not strictly on Hwy 64 but only two miles from the turning off, this is a hike that takes you to a triple waterfall. The first you come to is a gentle but still pretty falls. As you move down the water flow increases and the falls become more interesting.
After enjoying our treats we had a little bimble around the town and got back in the car ready to head to Asheville where we were staying with my pal, “Mad Stefany” (as opposed to “Normal Stephanie”)!
Originally the plan was to go via Graveyard Fields Trail and Falls which is along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Beth and I had been together once before but took the wrong trail and never found the falls! I have been back since, found them easily and wanted to take Beth as they are too good to miss. Sadly though, the recent weather conditions had caused the Parkway to still be closed.
We did manage to squeeze in one last spectacular place before our day ended.
Looking Glass Falls, (new page coming soon) can be found along US 126, close to the town of Brevard and is really easily accessible. A little further on is Sliding Rock, another fun place in the warmer weather but we did not get there this time!
The next day we had a more leisurely start before heading to DuPont State Forest for some more waterfall chasing!
Parking at the Hooker Falls parking area, we first took the short hike to Hooker Falls and then started up the longer, and very much steeper, trail to view Triple Falls (new pages coming soon!)
Back on the trail again, we headed back to Triple Falls and I kind of hop/jumped down the steps, feeling a tad foolish but whatever!
I never fail to be amazed by these falls. They really are just stunning in all seasons.
~ I will be doing a web page with ALL of the pics from these waterfall shoots. If you want to be notified of when it’s published, please like my Facebook Page; Bikes, Hikes and Waterfalls and watch for updates 😉
Europe 2018
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Follow our posts as we prepare for our 13 week tour of Europe that starts in May 2018!
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