North Carolina Trip

“Had a quick trip left Friday at 4:00 arrived Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest 10:00pm. Got up at 5:ooam and Hiked the trails in the Joyce Kilmer then drove to Cherokee Falls to see Mingo Falls. Drove part of the Blue Ridge Parkway, then drove to Franklin NC and drove the Mountain Waters Scenic Byway to The Highlands. Here you drive by falls and rapids, and take a side hike to Dry Falls, Bridal Falls is by the roadside and a short hike to Glen Falls off 106. I left the area around 7:30pm and arived home in Decatur 1:10am. I have pictures on Webshots but don't know how to link them to Trail Talk. Gemini maybe you could help.”

“wow, you hit a lot of the nice spots.

Did you do that figure 8 memorial loop at Joyce Kilmer or some other trail?”

“PhotoPack I saw your pics yesterday I think (you're in my favs) anyway...nice areas and pics...wait, I link them to this site....

pics

that's it :-)”

“I would have liked to do a lot more but I had to be back sunday to pick up my wife at the airport. I just saw a few things and got a few good pics.”

“Thanks again with your link others can enjoy some of what is in the area. How do you like my new hiking partner?”

“very cute! looks like a husky or alaskan malamute mix? your new hiking partner eh??”

“Those big Poplars at the back of the Figure 8 are supposed to be some of the oldest trees in the Eastern US, next only to the big Redwoods out in Cali.

If thats true, those Poplars were saplings when Columbus landed.

kinda cool, huh.”

“I used to live, for about two years, just off of Santeetlah Lake and within about three miles of the entrance to Joyce Kilmer where you took that shot of the bridge.

I was happier there than anywhere else I've lived (and thats sayin something for me, lol)

Just really hard to make a decent living there, someday I'll be back though. Until then, I just have to drive a lot.”

“I know what you mean. I am from a little town outside Spokane, WA but could not make a living so moved to California for 12 years. My wife is from the North East and no one wanted to hire a older man so I ended up in Decatur. The people are Great but I do miss my mountains.”

“Great pictures Photo Pack. I've spent a little time in that area having lived in the Tidewater area for 17 years. My son still lives in Richmond. BTW, who is Joyce Kilmer? She must have hurt you bad for you to label her as an MF in all those photos. You gotta let go, man.”

“LOL snake eyes

Joyce Kilmer was a soldier in WW I and also a poet. HE ( I know strange kinda ) wrote a Poem "Trees" that is on a plaque in the area. He might have been North Carolina's poet laurete as well for a time.”

“WOW Photo..what a whirl wind trip!!! You saw A LOT for one day!!!

We went to Joyce Kilmer last year about this time..unfortunatly we didn't make it to the poplars either...someone (who will remain nameless) took a left instead of a right and we ended up back in the PL...the hubby didn't want to try again :-(

ANYWAY..glad you enjoyed the area.”

“you should go back and do it again, those big trees are starting to die now, old age. WOn't be too long till they are just real impressive deadfalls.

Really, you can't tell from the pics but the trunks of those trees are around 25 foot or so in circumference.”

“We are planning on it..and this time I'll leave the navigating to him!!

I also want to go see the Poplars at Cataloochee..have you seen those?”

“no, only been through Little Cataloochee Valley, if they were there, I missed 'em.”

“I THINK they are the Boogerman Trail...it is on the to do list as well for this summer. I'll let you know if I find them!”

“Memorial Forest see what I do when I try to hurry and shorten things up. Gets me in trouble ever time. I do want to see more of this area and do some serious hiking. My next trip will be Mt. Shuksan in the North Cascades of Washington State. The week off July 24. My son and possible my grandsons will do 4 days. Roam Around you would love this area.”