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| Our WONDERFUL Friends, Patti and Neal ---at Lake Logan |
On October 22, 2014, George and I plus good friends Neal and Patti took a wonderful vacation together to the Maggie Valley, North Carolina area. One of our days together was spent driving on a scenic back road, Highway 215. IF you missed Monday's post ---scroll down to the post below this one and read it first. In that post, I gave some links and also gave some information about this area and this beautiful back road.
Today I will share more photos of our experience on that scenic road. Be sure to click on the photos for enlargements...
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| I have been fascinated by this type of bridges. This historic arched stone bridge (also called the High Arch Bridge or the One Arched Bridge) was built in 1937. This bridge is located at the Waterfall on the West Fork of the Pigeon River (also called Sunburst Falls)...This area and waterfall -where we took a picture of the four of us in Part I's post-- (waterfall is located to the left of this photo) was one of my favorite waterfalls of our day/trip... |
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| Three Arched Stone Bridge |
About a mile south of the One Arched Bridge was the Three Arched Bridge on the West Fork. I enjoyed seeing both of these bridges --built by the CCC. We just don't see many bridges that look like this these days, do we?
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| Another picture showing the gorgeous Autumn colors in the mountains |
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| I just couldn't quit taking pictures of Fall along Scenic Highway 215 |
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| Changing Maple leaves along our way; Don't you just love all of the colors? |
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| I love to stand under the trees and show you the colors --while looking up to that blue sky! |
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| Neal, Patti, George, Betsy --at Mill Shoals Falls at the Living Waters Retreat |
On Monday, I showed you a picture of French Broad Falls (which is to the left of this waterfall). This area is so unique since the North Fork of the French Broad River combines with Shoal Creek here. In the picture above, you can see part of an old mill.
Here are a couple of links for you: for more info and more pictures of the waterfalls in this area, click
HERE. For more info on the Living Waters Retreat, click
HERE.
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| I loved hiking in the Living Waters Retreat area... There were several cascades between the 'twin' falls, French Broad and Mill Shoals. We stopped to check out all of the cascades. I would love to come back here in the Winter or early Spring when there is much more water here coming over the falls and cascades. |
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| We finally made it downstream to Cathedral Falls (also called Bird Rock Falls)... I like the original name, Bird Rock Falls, since the Purple Martins used to nest along the top of this HUGE rock cliff. But I don't blame the Christian Retreat Center for renaming that waterfall. The towering rock cliff surrounding the falls does like like a cathedral! Gorgeous! |
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| I took several pictures of this gorgeous red tree --as we hiked at the Living Waters Retreat. I'm partial to RED trees in the Fall. |
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| Talk about a perfect place for a RETREAT!!! I loved sitting in the 'cathedral' --just thinking about what a marvelous place this is. I envy anyone coming to a RETREAT at the Living Waters Retreat Center. |
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| This beautiful tree --and the blue sky was taken on State Road (forest road) 1322 |
After leaving the Living Waters Retreat Center, we took a forest service road --searching for another waterfall, Diamond Creek Falls... We found the waterfall --but I couldn't get a good picture of it since there were LOTS of trees/shrubs in the way. Guess we need to go there in winter, when the leaves are totally off of the trees.
Well---that's my 'report' from Scenic Highway 215 in North Carolina. George and I want to come back since there are several more waterfalls along this road to see. We did see the Bubbling Spring Branch Cascades (from a distance) and we also saw the bottom part of the Lower Waterfall on Bubbling Spring Branch... AND--we tried to see Courthouse Falls --but the road was closed. SO---that's why we need/want to go back sometime!
As you can tell---we saw so many beautiful things along this back road (beautiful lake, lots of waterfalls and cascades, AND beautiful Autumn Colors)... This is why this area was definitely a highlight for us.
Hope you enjoyed these two posts. I enjoyed sharing them with you!!!
Have a great day.
Hugs,
