Thanks to Jackie I’m Adventuring Again

June 19 – 27, 2022                                             Most Recent Posts
Riverbend RV Park                                             Off to a Good Start and Then . . .
Lake Toxaway, North Carolina                         Finally Back on the Road

Today is July 6 and I am nearly 10 days behind in this blog.  Doing so many days at once makes the posts too long I fear so I am going to post this one and one more covering several days and then do them each day (hopefully) so they will be shorter.   For now, I hope you’ll just settle in with a cup of coffee, sit back and relax with my words, pictures and videos.

I can only go out in the mornings since it rains in the afternoons nearly every day here.  Also after 10am all the other tourists, also seeking relief from the heat, are out and it becomes too crowded for me.  So each day’s travels are somewhat controlled by those two things.

Back to June 19. . . .

Ruby’s refusal to start was on a Saturday.  Not sure why everything that happens to me is on Friday or the week-end but it seems to be the case.  Thus I couldn’t go anywhere until Tuesday.  And it turns out that was a good thing.

On Sunday, Riverbend had a breakfast in honor of Father’s Day.  One of the fathers honored was Captain Gary who will be 90 this year and has been coming to Riverside for many years.  I hope I look as good as he does at age 89.

On Monday, I called a recommended auto repair service in Brevard and made an appointment for the next day.  I hadn’t tried to start the car again since I got back as I wasn’t confident that even if it started at the park, it would start again wherever I went.

On Tuesday I went out to start it well in advance of my appointment 30 minutes away so that if I had to call them to tow me in, I’d have time.  Smart garage to have their own tow truck to tow you to them.   When I went out to start Ruby, two men were there to see how it went and give me a push if need be.  These are VERY nice people.  But Ruby, of course, started right up.  Just like when you make a medical appointment, on the day of you feel fine.  But she went to the doctor anyway.

What a great old place Jackie’s Auto Service turned out to be.
It’s been in business for 45 years, father, son, grandson.  They diagnosed a faulty starter and with an O’Reillys auto parts store right next door, had me back on the road in just over an hour.

This wasn’t exactly how I had hoped to spend my Summer Solstice but “stuff” happens.  So instead of some wonderful outdoor adventure, I took myself to The Square Root Restaurant in Brevard for lunch and an incredible piece of coconut cream cake.  Big enough for two with a price to match.

I laughed at this car parked near the restaurant.  An anglophile no doubt celebrating the 50th Jubilee.  Poor Charles, he may never be king.

On Thursday I set out waterfall hunting.  I stopped first at Toxaway Falls on the Toxaway River for whom the town is named.  Unfortunately a developer bought up the property on the river including the falls, created a lake and made it totally private unless you own property there which of course I do not.   This video shows it all much clearer.

My only view of the falls was the one above and from the side of the road on the bridge going over the river at the top of the falls.  No doubt there is a much better look from below.

From there I headed into the Pisgah Forest to see Looking Glass Falls.

A short trail leads down to the falls where clearly you can go swimming in the very chilly water if you wish.

Such a beautiful falls deserves a video of its beautiful sounds.  Click this link if you’d like to see and hear it.  The video is shorter and more lovely than Toxaway.

From there I headed up to Sliding Rock where despite the early morning, lots of people were sliding.   Check out the rules and see if they were abiding by them.

From another sign post I learned that -
Approximately 11,000 gallons of water PER MINUTE cascade across sliding rock.  The average temperature of the pool at the base of the rocks is 55 DEGREES.
The depth of the pool at the base of sliding rock is 8 feet.
Sliding Rock’s granite surface is 60 feet in length
The most famous star to visit Sliding Rock wasn’t a person.  It was Lassie in 1966 for an episode of the classic television program.   Anyone old enough to have seen it??

Sliding rock from above.  Wait in line, one at a time.  It’s early enough that the line is not tooo long.  Can’t imagine in the afternoon of a hot day.  $5 to park a car all day if you like.  When the lot is full, that’s all.

The life guards in their “hut” half way down.

Here they come down. Look closely and you can see the person just over half way down on the right.  It’s all clearer and the fun apparent in this video.  If you haven’t watched the other videos, do see this one.  You’ll wish you were there.  But doesn’t it look like they are bouncing off the dips onto their butts?  Tailbone injury anyone?  Or am I just an old worry wort?

My smallest falls of the day was the most difficult to get to.  Slick Rock Falls. Not the hike which was, unfortunately for my step count, no longer than the earlier ones.  But the drive on National Forest roads was hard for poor Ruby who isn’t a Jeep with her low clearance.  But she took me just the same.

For those who loves waterfalls, here’s a very short video of this one.  Compared to the others it seems small in volume and in height at only 35 feet.  But there isn’t a waterfall that’s not beautiful and unique.

On the last Monday of the month I returned to Gorges State Park to hike to the only relatively easy falls I’d missed.  Bear Wallow Falls.  There is a short way, and a longer way to reach the falls.  I took the longer way.  I needed the exercise though I think it was only 3 miles at most

I started in the visitor center parking lot and followed the Bear Wallow Valley Trail through the woods to the picnic area where those who want the short trail park.

All of this land was once owned by Duke energy who has its towers here and later sold the land to the state for the park.  Rather ruins the beautiful distant mountain views.

I am so happy to see the rhododendron on almost every trail I hike in this area.

At the picnic area, I crossed the road and the leisurely stroll down here ended and the real, but short, hike began

See the blue Bearwallow Falls Trail on the map.  You can see my entire hike starting at the red star at the visitor center and going to the amphitheater, the picnic area and then to the falls.

The beginning of the Bear Wallow Falls trail.

The trail dead ended at this viewing platform which was a long distance from the falls.  I wonder how they will be able to keep the view from being blocked by the growth of the forest.

Bearwallow Creek is the largest creek in the park and after cascading over these falls it flows south and east and joins the Toxaway River.  From there the waters continue their journey to Lake Jocassee and ultimately to the Atlantic Ocean via the Savannah River.   It’s wonderful to know the path this water travels to the sea.  I think we all should know where our water comes from and where it goes.

A little closer view.

How I love my  great zoom lens.

Leaving the platform I climbed the steps back up and saw the beautiful rhododendron I did not notice on my way down to the viewing platform.  I was so focused on seeing the falls.

Even the rhododendron buds are beautiful.

 

In case you are tired on the way back.

Blackberry snacks will be available sometime in July.

Last picture of the hike, a woody avenue.

Let me know if you enjoy the videos.  I take one of every falls I am near enough to hear but I certainly don’t need to post them all.