Backbone Rock Tunnel and Falls

George always surprises me with a "Surprise Trip" around Valentine's Day. He knows how to 'spoil' me BIGTIME---and he knows how to plan a wonderful trip. Today I'm going to share a small piece of our trip in 2008. We left early on Thursday morning --and I just relaxed and 'wondered' where we were going. We headed east ---into far East Tennessee. I 'think' I had been to Elizabethton and to Mountain City in my younger years---since I was raised not too far from there in southwest Virginia... But--riding along all of those 'back' roads was SO much fun ---and so gorgeous!

Our first waterfall was not too far from Elizabethton in the Cherokee National Forest (in the Unaka Mountains of the Blue Ridge). This waterfall was named Blue Hole--and was really a four-in-one waterfall since it had four tiers. I will enclose some pictures of Blue Hole in another blog sometime.

Our second stop on this Valentine's Trip was in northern Johnson County, not far from Mountain City, TN (and actually closer to Damascus, VA). We drove on Highway 133--opposite Beaverdam Creek. There were rhododendrons everywhere along our route and it was SUCH a gorgeous drive in the mountains! It reminded me of my hometown area --which was not far from where we were (Big Stone Gap, VA). In fact, we found a BSG radio station in our car that day. I got SO excited!!!!!

The second waterfall was called Backbone Falls. We made the loop hike in order to see this waterfall. First, we were above it--and then we walked down some steps to see if from below. It was nestled in a small canyon filled with more rhododendrons. What a beautiful setting!!!! The waterfall itself was long and skinny---and was called a 'horsetail' by some.

After seeing the waterfall, we enjoyed checking out Backbone Rock Tunnel nearby. Backbone Rock gets its name from a spur ridge on Holston Mountain that ends abruptly at a bend in Beaverdam Creek. This huge stone ridge stands 75 feet high and approximately 20 feet thick. A tunnel was drilled through the rock in 1901 to allow railroad access between Shady Valley and Damascus, VA. After the tunnel was blasted and the track was laid, the smoke stack of the train's engine could not pass through the tunnel. SO--the top of the tunnel had to be hand-chiseled to eliminate this problem. Motorists pass through what is locally known as the "Shortest Tunnel in the World" --as they travel along TN 133.

If you ever get to this area, be sure and check out both the tunnel, rock and the waterfall. Thanks to Clare from Bluff City, TN for reminding me about this place. She lives near there --and wrote about the tunnel in her blog HERE. Check out Clare's blog. She lives in a far eastern TN in a gorgeous area. Above is a picture of Backbone Tunnel. You can see where they chiseled out the top for the train's smoke stack.

Below are five pictures of Backbone Falls. We hiked on a loop trail--first being above the falls and then hiking down some rock steps to get to the bottom. Backbone Falls is from 35-45 feet high. If you look to the left of the falls in some of the pictures (especially the 2nd one below), you'll see ICICLES along the rocks. It was a cold day in February even though the sun was out!!!

George stands on the bridge between Beaverdam Creek and Backbone Rock. Wonder who was taking his picture????? ha

George stands at the sign describing Backbone Rock Tunnel.

This was such a neat tunnel... I love waterfalls---but seeing this tunnel was totally awesome.

Here's one more look at Backbone Rock Tunnel. We read where rock-climbers climb here, but we didn't see any when we were there.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend and Labor Day. I can promise that we will NOT be 'laboring' on Labor Day!!!!! We'll throw some steaks on the grill and just RELAX. How about you?????

I'm taking a few days 'off' from blogging and hopefully can catch up on some Family History and other things around here. I'll be back on Tuesday morning. Have a wonderful weekend.

Hugs,

Elizabethton on Dwellable

A Last Look at August

Well---it's now September, and most everyone is 'thinking' FALL (including me). Except for our beautiful Roses and other summer flowers, I am NOT a Summer person. I don't like the heat ---although I was a sun-lover for many years. When comparing the four seasons, Summer is my least favorite. I guess that Fall is Number 1, Spring is Number 2, and Winter is Number 3... However, IF we get SNOW here, Winter can move up!!!! ha


Be that as it may, I do have some more 'pretties' to share with you today---from August--in and around our yard. Above is another August rose bloomer, MR. LINCOLN. This red rose along with Veterans Honor are two of my fav's. More pictures are below.









This one is NEW DAY. You may remember that our pink roses showed off in early summer and the yellows have bloomed alot in August.









This one is named ELLA.









This yellow one is named SUNDANCE.









This rose (ABOUT FACE) really ate its "Wheaties" this month... Have you ever seen a rose stem grow to be SEVEN FEET tall?????? Good Gosh!!!! I made George (who is 6'4") stand beside that rose to show you how tall it is... Unbelievable, isn't it????







Here is another view of ABOUT FACE. You can compare it with our tall flag pole!!!!! Wow!









Here is another picture of our Autumn Joy Sedum in bloom. You can see a black bee on one of the blooms. I should have done a macro--but didn't think about it at that time!!!!











I have talked about how gorgeous our weather has been lately... On Sunday night, this was the sunset---as taken from our back yard, looking up the hill. We stood on our deck and watched the sky change colors. Awesome!!!!









The sky just got more and more pink and red... Talk about fabulous!!!!!









Finally, here is our first IRIS of the Fall. Its name is AUTUMN BUGLER. We have several reblooming Irises now ---but this is the only one which has bloomed so far. George says that this one actually bloomed early, so hopefully, off and on all Fall, we should have some more to share with you.


NOW---August is OVER and Fall has BEGUN...


Hugs,