Chau Ram Park - May 2025

 May 1st....I was the May Day Queen in kindergarten!  And, I remember it well.  Don't know how/why I was chosen, but I knew it was an honor.  Over 70 years later, I'm headed with Bob to Chau Ram, a local county park for a picnic.

The park's name is another portmanteau...a combination of the Chauga River and Ramsey Creek.

Our area didn't escape from Helen either, but the damage wasn't as extensive as in NC.  Trees downed in the storm collected at various spots along the river.  The bridge across Hwy 76 just a few miles up from the park was washed out causing travelers headed north towards Clayton, Ga to take a rather long roundabout detour.  The repairs were completed just this past June, and the road is again open.

A suspension bridge crosses the river.  On the farther side is a beach where it is safe to swim.

  
Across the bridge there are several hiking trails.  You have to stay steady when walking on the bridge.  It sways quite a bit.

Along the paths throughout the park are beautiful flowers.

Heading east from the bridge are the falls at Ramsey Creek.

I think cousins Carol and Nelson will remember their visit here.

Five years ago during covid, in addition to the informative sign about the blue heron, there was another reminding people to keep 6 feet apart, the same distance as the heron's wingspan.  Thank goodness those days are over.

Mid May, we went to Calabash, NC,  and once again met up with Plish and John who were dog sitting for their niece, Lisa.  Although P&J sold their condo  there, they still will be going for visits, especially since Lisa has now bought a home there.  We stayed at The Wishing Well campground, as we have been doing for at least 15 years.  One night we had a cook out there with P&J and Paul, the next meatball subs at Lisa's and the last night pizza at Paul's.  No photos of the trip...same folks, same scenery as so many past posts, minus one very special person. 

 

Rosman, NC - April 2025

 Five years ago today, April 13th, we were awakened at 3: 13 am   by a "take shelter NOW" tornado alert.  Our property vista changed overnight, but our house, vehicles, boat and most importantly, ourselves, were spared.  Today we are going on a 3 night camp stay at the Lazy J in Rosman, NC, approximately 45 miles from us and another 45 to Asheville.  We camped here many years ago, and were glad it was still in operation after Helen. 

The entry to the camp is across an old trestle-like bridge over the Broad River.  This was one of the rivers that flooded as a result of Hurricane Helen and caused extensive damage to North Carolina.

The campground is in a wooded area.  Our spot isn't very big, but we will be spending most of our two 

days sightseeing.

 

The next day we drove to the Pisgah National Forest, noted for its many waterfalls.  Most of them require a hike to reach, but Looking Glass was right along the road.

If we were more adventurous (translate "younger"), we would have walked down the long stairway and maybe even gone into the water.  But, we were content to have a closer view through the zoom lens of the camera.  

Along the river throughout the forest, downed trees still remain from the flood...

Hard to imagine how much damaged was caused considering how low and calm the river is now.

And this is just one of many piles of dead timber that was cleared away.

Tuesday, we drove into the town of Brevard, about 15 miles east of Rosman.

We drove onto the campus of Brevard College, probably most noted for its white squirrels.  However, none were in sight today.

Perhaps they were on their way to visit the cows.  The folks here don't have to wait for the cows to come home!!!

In another part of town is Silvermont Park and Mansion.  The house, built in 1917, was owned by a prosperous tanner and lumberman, Joseph Silverstein, who willed the estate to the county in 1972.  The downstairs is now a Senior Center.  Upstairs still has a few rooms that typify the early life there, but it wasn't opened while we were at the park.

There is a playground and garden on the property, and an oak tree that grew from the propagation of the original Charter Oak in Connecticut.  Acorns from the original tree were preserved and planted in various states, and cuttings made from these were distributed for planting elsewhere, such as here.

.

The town folk are blessed to have such a beautiful park, as were we to visit it.

 

Some "One Offs"

 Thought I'd post some photos that aren't linked to any "adventure" per se, but you might like to see:

Home made "no knead" cheese bread, but ah, you do want it!!  Yummy!

"The Zoo"...a whimsical metal arts place outside Blue Ridge, GA.

Poochie.  She doesn't usually play with toys, but she did take a bit of interest in "Lambchop"

David and Amanda paid us a short visit at the end of March

Bob and I went to Hartwell, GA, to have grouper for lunch at a lakeside restaurant.

The hydrangea at the pool deck really took off this spring.

Here are the new front porch steps and landing Bob built.

In May, he began clearing a new planting area on our "north forty".

We will later add perennial flowering plants for some color.

February 2025 - Back to Morganton Point, Georgia

 One of the reasons we go so often to the campground at Morganton Point is that it is "home base" for our playing tourist in that area.  Another reason is that it is on Lake Blue Ridge and is probably the nicest campground around there, and with our America the Beautiful Senior Pass, the nightly fee is very reasonable. We were just about ready to head out, but when Bob tried to close the slide-out, it wouldn't go in.  After a few hours and lots of curse words, he managed to jury rig it closed, but  until we got back home when he could trouble shoot the problem, he had to manually crank the slide in and out.  Good thing he has muscles.

We were able to get Site #5...our favorite because of the view of the lake. But this time, we decided to explore a different area.  We headed up to Tellico Plains, Tennessee, via Ducktown (a "quacking good place " according to the road sign) and Turtle Town (no sign there).  At Tellico Plains, we took the Cherohala Skyway to Robbinsville, North Carolina.  

The skyway's name is a portmanteau of the Cherokee and Nantahala national forests it goes through... over 43 miles of scenic country passing along the Tellico River, over an old wagon train trail, the Joyce Kilmer National Forest (named for the poet who wrote "Trees"), and up mountains reaching over 5000 feet in elevation.

Here at the Obadiah overlook it is  3740 feet.

And somewhat bleak looking on a late day in February, despite the sun.
l

Near the end of the skyway, outside Robbinsville, we found a small park.

The next day, we drove back to Robbinsville via a different route to have lunch, following in part The Trail of Tears which passes by the historic site of the Chief Vann property. 

We took a tour of the house and property on a trip a few years ago.  There is a post entitled Anniversary Trip in the  April 2021 listing on our blog.

Back at the campground, we enjoyed a beautiful sunset.

Happy New Year - January 2025

 January brought us a very light dusting of snow...best kind...here today and gone in a day or two!

And looks so pretty. 

At the end of the month, we went on a day trip to Sautee Nachoochee, a small town near Helen, Georgia.  There is a tremendous amount of early history here about the Cherokee and settlers. 

  

If you click to enlarge this photo, you'll see it recounts DeSoto's visit to the area in the 1500s and discovery of the Indian mound.

The mound is an ancient Indian burial site

Not far away is a roadside picnic stop at Stovall Bridge.  

The single span 33 foot long bridge was constructed in the 1800s for access to a sawmill which was later destroyed by a flood.

This is the second time we've gone to Sautee Nacoochee, but we would like to learn more on another visit.

Catching up on 2024 in June 2025

 Been a long time since I updated the blog.  Sometimes it doesn't feel that there is much that is "blog worthy", but I do like having the photo-journal, so here I am again.  We did go to Watstadler Campground again in August, but it was quite uneventful other than my enjoying our new hammock...actually I think the first we ever had.

But what was quite eventful was the birth of another great-grand, Fisher.  His big sister, Saylor, is very happy, as are mommy and daddy, grandparents and great-grand ones, too.

In September, we made the long drive to Sunset Beach to see Plish, John, their niece Lisa, and Paul.

We ladies enjoying the sun near the pier

And John and Bob who sought shade under the pier

But, with news of a storm heading to SC, we cut the trip short and headed home.  I-85 was at a standstill with trees downed and blocking the road.  This storm became Helen, which caused massive destruction especially in North Carolina.

In October, we went back to Morganton. GA, and camped at Morganton Point.  We like going to the shops and restaurants around Blue Ridge and Blairsville.  We also went to McCaysville, GA and stopped at The Folk Collective.  

The collective is a long-time family owned farm.

 

They specialize in herbal teas, remedies, homemade jams and jellies and a variety of other goodies.

In October, we drove to Ohio to visit with Bob's family.

                                           

Julie's big lug, Lucca, loves loving company.  Although Poochie is happy to see everyone again, she hopes we won't leave her there!

                           

Fozzie Bear loves Poochie, but doesn't want her to stay either!  Fozzie enjoys being Numero Uno.

In December, Julie, Tony, and Fozzie spent a few days with us.  They bought our boat and would be towing it back to Ohio.

Fozzie and Julie enjoying a mimosa.

               

And Tony & Jules enjoying a pre-Christmas libation.  Ho! Ho! Ho!

    

God bless us everyone!