The usually smooth hills of the Blue Ridge begin to grow steeper and sharper as U.S. 64 twists toward the Cullasaja Gorge. Temptation lures my attention to the rockface cliffs and glimpses of tumbling waters below, but the road demands my concentration. This section between Highlands and Franklin, North Carolina, holds a special allure for motorcyclists given the stunning … [Read more...] about Waterfalls, museums and twisty roads: Exploring the spirit of Franklin, NC
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What’s new is old in the New River Gorge
The New River Gorge is bass-ackwards. Carved by one of the world’s oldest rivers (number two in the world next to the Nile, local folks claim), it hosts the nation’s newest national park. Yet it’s called the “New” River! The New is an East Coast river that flows north. But what’s most askew is the nature of the park itself. Consider that most of the national parks, … [Read more...] about What’s new is old in the New River Gorge
Gorge-ous outings: Chasing cascades through Western NC
The Cherokee named it Nantahala, which means “land of the noon-day sun.” Here the namesake river runs through a shaded gorge with little direct sunlight through the largest of North Carolina’s four national forests. In summer, when the earth’s tilt allows for more of the sun’s rays to hit the river, kayakers and rafters fill the chilly waters following through the valley. In … [Read more...] about Gorge-ous outings: Chasing cascades through Western NC
