July 2007

More Vacation

Yesterday, we took what the local tour information calls a "roundabout," which essentially is a trip that makes a big circle. Creative, huh? Well, we took a ride north on state route 209, stopping in the Rocky Bluff Recreation Area of the Pisgah National Forest for a picnic. We were also going to walk a trail, but the less adventurous half of our couple decided that since the trail was not paved or at least graveled, he didn't want to get lost. (One of us would have braved the wild unknown of a marked trail anyway, but such is life.) We rode on 209 as far as Hot Springs, an area in the 1800's that had a "reputation of debauchery, drunkenness, murder and prostitution." No evidence of that now - it appears to be a quaint camping and fishing community on the French Broad River. That's me standing on the bridge while Gary is standing in the middle of the road taking the picture. Guess he is more adventurous than I thought!

Leaving Hot Springs, we turned on to US 25/70, where we crossed under the Appalachian Trail. Pretty interesting to think that a bridge was built for the trail. Guess that saves hikers from having to cross the highway. :)
Heading back toward Ashville, we had to stop to get another picture of the mailman in front of yet another post office. Main Street of Marshall, NC is very picturesque. It looks like they are investing lots of time and money to make the community a tourist attraction. So much is still under construction, but we enjoyed the walk through town - the lone tourists on the road definitely less traveled!
Finally, one last picture in front of the Madison County Courthouse in Marshall, NC. The roundabout drops you in Ashville and leaves you to find your way back to 209, which wasn't terribly difficult, but by then somebody was getting grumpy from all the sightseeing. Oh well. It was a beautiful trip and might have been even more spectacular if the sun had been shining! But, this appears to be the vacation when the sun doesn't shine. At least it was fairly warm - notice no jacket!

We finished off our day with supper at the Maggie Valley Pizzeria - very tasty pizza - followed by a good long walk to digest the very tasty pizza. Life is good!