Don't Go Chasing Waterfalls - Asheville, NC

Friday, May 1st

It's a gorgeous day and we're in the mountains, so time to try to find a hike.  Looking at the All Trails app, there are a TON of hikes within an hour of us.  Unfortunately, many trails appear closed due to covid, but we're sure we'll find something, so we set out towards the Blue Ridge Parkway with a few in mind.  We get to the Parkway and the road is CLOSED!

Now what?  There is a parking lot and some cars parked here, so we pop out and look around.  We see some people walking along the Parkway.  Walk the Parkway?!  Talk about turning lemons into lemonade!  We have a wide paved road (perfect for social distancing) with amazing views that normally we'd be taking in as we zipped by at highway speeds. Wow, actually this is almost better than a regular hike - how unique!

Hamilton enjoying the view

Hamilton did not like the tunnel, especially when Neil yelled out "Buddy boy" and it echoed 

Hiked about 3 miles to Funnel Top (Neil called it Muffin Top) overlook near Mt. Pisgah (and then 3 miles back)

Apparently, this stretch of the Parkway is known for black bear sightings... no bears (or cars) today.

Hamilton say cheese!  Not pee... cheese!  

This is "the cradle of forestry" in the US, where we learned about modern forestry practices

Back at the car, Neil has found a frisbee golf course that is on the way home, so we decide to check it out.  It's a nice 18 hole course that winds through a large public park with a stream running through it.  Neil only has to fish his frisbee out of the stream twice. Thank goodness that the water isn't too deep! It's been a long day, and we realize that we probably need to make a shopping trip on our way home, so we only play 9 today. Neil only whines a little, and we both don our masks to make a trip to the Publix. We have both become fans of Publix on this trip - they are quite clean, well stocked, and just a good operation. Even though people are having A VERY DIFFICULT TIME understanding how a ONE WAY grocery aisle works. Oh well, let them get their stuff - and just wait for them to leave...

Score!!  

Since we have this amazing patio at this RV site, we have to finish the evening with a campfire and s'mores. Especially since we are the only high-rollers with a patio site at this KOA right off the highway. It's a great spot, but it literally sounds like trucks are driving through our bedroom. Good thing we aren't light sleepers! First world problems I suppose.

Saturday, May 2nd

It's another beautiful day and today we have planned to check out the town of Asheville, which has been on Anne and Neil's bucket list. We figure the best way is by bike, and Neil has found a few good rides. We strap the bikes to the car, pack a picnic lunch and head into town.  We park along the riverfront and hit the bike trail.  With the river to our left and the arts district to our right, we are loving this trail! .. For about 1/2 mile, until it suddenly ends.  We turn around (1st time) to see how far it goes in the other direction.  Another 1/2 mile or so and another abrupt end.  It looks like they are working on expanding it, but not yet.  So, we turn around (2nd time) to head back toward the other end and bike the road for a few miles.  This isn't too exciting either, so we turn around (3rd time) and decide it's time for lunch.  We saw a 'Cider to go' sign and that seems like a perfect addition to our packed lunch.  We buy 2 ciders and turn around (4th time) to head back to the end where we had found a quiet spot along the river with picnic tables.  After our lunch, we turn around (5th time) and head back to the car. Not exactly the ride that Neil thought he found, but definitely a beautiful day - and the riverfront of the French Broad River is great on a day like this. And we managed to get 6 miles in along Riverside Drive when all was said and done.

Don't mind if we do!

Cheers!  Oh no...the camera is falling!  We need a bit more practice with our selfie stick tripod!   

Asheville says "Stay Home", but we figure exercise is a good exception.

We drive to downtown Asheville and decide to bike around checking out the cute restaurants, breweries and shops that will surely be closed. Asheville seems like it would be a really fun, cool city in non-covid times.

Loving the architecture here (art deco perhaps??)

The Blue Ridge Parkway goes from North Carolina, through Asheville, all the way to Virginia, so we decide to see if it's open over here.  We get on the Blue Ridge Parkway outside of Asheville and go about 5 miles before we see the sign that the road is closed ahead. Neil says he has the perfect way for us to cope with the closure - DISC GOLF! Ok, disc golf it is.

After a quick stop at home to pick up Hamilton, we head for the course. Neil has found an 18 hole frisbee golf course at a community college near us.  Great course, but A LOT of trees!! On the app we use it said "lightly wooded". Neil calls BS on this, as it is literally through the woods. Although it is through the woods, at least it is pretty short, the holes are well marked, and the bugs are actually non-existent. Phew. All in all, it's a great little course at a local Community College.

The obligatory selfie at the beginning of the course - some have better info/signage than others...

This was one of the few holes without any trees.

A view from Hole 1 - before the wooded adventure began...

We finish the evening with an amazing steak dinner and bottle of rose and some game/zoom time with friends. A great way to finish the evening at our new home!

Sunday, May 3rd

Don't go chasing waterfalls.. or do! Anne finds an article for 6 drive-by waterfalls and so we decide to chase waterfalls today, and hopefully we can find a hike or 2 along the way!

Waterfall #1 is Looking Glass Falls in Pisgah National Forest.  We can tell we must be getting close because there are a lot of cars parked along the highway.  We find a parking spot and cautiously walk along the path.  There are a lot of people here!  We haven't seen a gathering like this since pre-covid times.  We can't believe that this is still open.  We navigate the crowds, maintaining 6 feet distance for the most part and holding our breath the once or twice when someone passed by. (Does anyone else do this???)  We head to the next one and hope it's a lot quieter. 

Taking a photo while we wait for people to climb the stairs.

No people over here - great spot to enjoy the waterfall

Definitely the best view is from ankle deep in the river!

Waterfall #2 is Moore Cove Falls Trail.  As we drive through the National Forest, we come upon on pull over with a few cars parked and according to google maps its a trail head to a falls.  Score!!  We hike about 1 mile up (only crossing paths with one group of people - whew!) and find the falls.  There's something about hiking up a mountain and coming across a waterfall - all that hard work, paying off! Of course, Neil needs to get as close as possible - even taking his hat off and letting the cool water shine his bald head... Ahhh refreshing!

Worth the climb!

Surveying the scene to find the best way to the waterfall.

Must touch the water!

Ahhh... so refreshing!

Waterfall #3 is Toxaway Falls. Without the article, we would have driven right over this 200 foot waterfall without knowing it.  The article says that so many people drive over this waterfall at the base of Lake Toxaway without even noticing. We park along the side of the road and peak over the edge for an amazing view of this waterfall.  

Shadow selfie at the falls. Don't lean too far on the flimsy fence!

Waterfall #4 is Bridal Veil Falls.  We continue along the "waterfalls" byway a few miles  enjoying the views to the next waterfall.  This one is right on the side of the road - there's no missing this one.  There's only 1 other car here - Sweet!  And you can walk behind it - Sweet!

Quick stop to take in the views between Toxaway and Bridal Veil

This was one of the most spectacular overviews we found so far!

No hiking required for this one

Behind the falls!

Waterfall #5 is Dry Falls.  Continuing along the "waterfalls" byway, we get to the Dry Falls (named that because you can walk behind it and stay dry).  Walking behind 2 waterfalls in 1 day?!   There are only a few cars in the lot - just what we like to see. We begin hiking down the many steps to the falls. We turn the corner and wow, we have certainly saved the best for last!!  It is one powerful waterfall!  And we took a million photos - so, see below for the full 360 degree tour of the falls.

Turned the corner and wow! Now that's a waterfall.

Getting closer - the water is so loud

Even closer - view of the stream below

Behind the falls!

Staying dry behind the falls

The other side - everything is so mossy and green.

The other side, even further.

On our way out, we notice this sign... Get out the reading glasses! Does it say "closed due to covid"?? The parking lot is open. The walkway is open. The exit is open. We feel like it's ok.

It is getting late after a long day, and Neil is lobbying for takeout food because we doesn't want to grill (or do dishes). We have seen a million Bojangles restaurants on our drive which Neil has been wanting to try, so we head towards one on our way home.  We put in our order for a 2 breast meal and they tell us they are out of breast meat and it will be 20 minutes. 20 minutes for fast food? Not a great first impression, Bojangles. We decide to skip the chicken and grill out burgers instead. After a small amount of whining and grumbling, Neil begrudgingly grills the burgers, curses Bojangles everywhere, and decides that we probably would have gotten food poisoning. 

It's a great last night in Asheville, and we try to hit the sack early, as we have decided to head to Pigeon Forge, TN in the morning to see if we can find some fun near the Smoky Mountains... It's only 1.5 hours of driving, so we hope to have a travel day WITH activities!

Thanks so much for reading, and until next time...