Chimney Rock

Quite a few pics as this was a very photogenic day. We decide to risk taking the rig up the winding road to Chimney Rock (song of the day of course Chim Chim Cher-ee).
We took the easy way to reach the Chimney by riding the elevator up a 26-story shaft which was blasted through solid granite back in the 1940's. After climbing the steps to the Chimney itself and the stunning views we climbed higher to the Opera Box and then on up to Exclamation Point where, wow, the views were awesome ! Again some of the views are very similar to our favourite place in Greece, Zagoria National Park.
Our rig at Chimney Rock

The Chimney

At The Chimney

Elevation 2280 feet

One of the views from the Chimney

The Opera Box elevation 2480 feet

The Chimney taken from The Opera Box

The Chimney taken from Exclamation Point. The views from here were awesome

Devil's Head

Some of the many steps

Steps up to The Chimney

Steps down to the parking lot

Underneath view of the steps to the Chimney

We walked the long way back down to the parking lot and had a quick sandwich before setting off on The Hickory Nut Falls Trail. Again well worth the hike, which was described as easy but having walked a fair few trails over the past few weeks we would say it was moderate and of course up hill ! The waterfall at the end of the hike is one of the highest on the east coast at 404 feet, it's claim to fame is it featured in the 1992 remake of The Last of the Mohicans.

Start of the afternoon hike to Hickory Nut Falls

Elevation 2450 feet. Falls drop 404 feet

I like these next 2. Sun sparkling on the water of the falls

We called into the Blue Ridge visitors centre on our way back to camp to get information on the closures, due to the winter weather, on the Blue Ridge. Most have now been repaired and the road reopened, luckily just one small stretch on our route which the ranger said is easily navigated around !! Oh yeah we shall see ! We have had a great day, seen some stunning views, temps into the 80's, we have thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

We are off tomorrow to ride the Blue Ridge. Not sure when the next blog entry will be as it will be a day to day affair with campsites and unsure if they will have internet connection also it seems that some nasty weather is coming our way in the shape of thunder, rain and tornados.

On the road to Asheville

A beautiful clear blue sky morning and we head down the 25e south back through Cumberland Gap (todays song is Davy Crockett, I could hum a few lines for those who don't know it. Brother John will certainly remember it as it was a childhood song of ours) from Kentucky via Tennessee into North Carolina and Asheville. A very pretty scenice route.

View from Clinch Mountain. We stopped at this overlook for a leg stretch, just us and the "chain gang" mowing and clearing up !! I wish we did this in England !!

The rig at the Clinch Mountain overlook

Very scenic lake with golf course that we passed on route

Umm very "interesting" houses along side of a lake

I like bridges as well as water towers and trains !!

Road a bit narrow in places, but very pretty

Our site at the KOA Asheville East, we are parked backed onto to the river

The Swannanoa River which runs through the camp site, plus camp site has 2 attractive fishing lakes. The railroad runs along the other side, hehe !!

Terrapins enjoying the sun, really needed the telephoto which of course I left in the rig !

Eagle Falls

Ok, this is out of chronological order as we did this hike after Cumberland Gap, if I had a brain I would be dangerous !!
Just one of the many amazing rocks overhangs on the trail, needless to say that I have loads of pics of rocks and the waterfalls !! I could bore you all for hours !

The top of Cumberland Falls from the trail to Eagle Falls

Some of the many steps

This is the trail !

Cumberland Falls

As well as rocks and trees on the trail there are many wild flowers including very pretty wild azaleas

Eagle Falls, well worth the hike

We've had a really great day, the weather has been warm and sunny, amazing deep blue sky this morning. We have hiked for 3 and a half to 4 hours up and down steps, over rock, roots and boulders and seen awesome waterfalls and rock formations. Ate our packed lunch watching the Cumberland River flow past with not another person in sight.

We said goodbye to the red beast as we move on tomorrow to Asheville to begin the next part of our adventure, driving the Blue Ridge Parkway