Blue Ridge Parkway / Waterfall / Road To Nowhere... Ride

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Rolled out Friday morning to hook up with Preston ( Reb ) from Illinois . I knew going in that I'd hit rain before getting back home. We met at the welcome center just north of Asheville , North Carolina on the parkway. Friday wasn't that wet it was one of those days that you put the rain gear on then take it off 10 miles down the road. First stop was Looking Glass Falls.The name comes from Looking Glass Rock, which resembles a wintertime mirror (or "looking glass") of sunlight, as water freezes on its sides and reflects the sun.The falls are open to the public and are accessible on the side of U.S. Highway 276, approximately 5.6 miles north of the intersection of 276, U.S. Highway 64, and NC Highway 280 in Brevard, North Carolina. It is an extremely popular waterfall, due to ease of access to the falls directly on the side of the road. There is a path that leads to the plunge pool.
According to local Emergency Services personnel, there have been many injuries and deaths at the falls, mainly due to individuals who rock climb near the edge of the falls and accidentally fall in the plunge pool, or persons who jump in the plunge pool. Persons who visit Looking Glass Falls should take care to respect both basic safety rules and the fragile environment that exist at the falls.

Next stop is Looking Glass Rock on The Blue Ridge Parkway.Looking Glass Rock is a pluton monolith in the Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina. The mountain is located within Pisgah National Forest about 5.5 miles  northwest of Brevard and 25 miles southwest of Asheville. Named for the way its granite face reflects the sunshine, it rises from the valley floor to an elevation of almost 4000 ft.





It got a little gnarly as we climbed in elevation toward the highest point on The Blue Ridge Parkway with rain and fog the visibility was limited in places .



The Devils Courthouse . Cherokee lore had been reported to state that Jutaculla (alternative English spelling is Judaculla; Cherokee name is Tsul'kălû'), a slant eyed giant, dwells in the cave in Devil's Courthouse. However James Mooney, the Cherokee anthropologist, 100 years earlier located Jutaculla to Tanasee Bald where Haywood, Jackson, and Transylvania counties meet. Tennessee Bald is 1.5 miles southwest.

Folk tales say that the devil holds court in the chambers of the cave.



Preston and Lizzy .




We rolled into Maggie Valley , North Carolina for the night.The Evil Twins ( Lisa and Larry , Teresa and Curt ) was staying at the same motel . Larry let me ride his F6B ... Damn what a smooth machine this thing is... Quick Joe to " The Bat Bike "     Thanks again Larry for letting me check it out 




We rolled out of Maggie with dry roads Saturday morning .



Next stop The Road To Nowhere " A Broken Promise " . In the 1930s and 1940s, Swain County gave up the majority of its private land to the Federal Government for the creation of Fontana Lake and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Hundreds of people were forced to leave the small Smoky Mountain communities that had been their homes for generations. With the creation of the Park, their homes were gone, and so was the road to those communities. Old Highway 288 was buried beneath the deep waters of Fontana Lake.

The Federal government promised to replace Highway 288 with a new road. Lakeview Drive was to have stretched along the north shore of Fontana Lake, from Bryson City to Fontana, 30 miles to the west. And, of special importance to those displaced residents, it was to have provided access to the old family cemeteries where generations of ancestors remained behind.

But Lakeview Drive fell victim to an environmental issue and construction was stopped, with the road ending at a tunnel, about six miles into the park. The environmental issue was eventually resolved, but the roadwork was never resumed. And Swain County's citizens gave the unfinished Lakeview Drive its popular, albeit unofficial name "The Road To Nowhere."










Preston and I parted ways at Hwy 28 he and Lizzy was headed for The Highlands to check out a few more waterfalls near there.He's been posting pictures on Facebook I hope he shares them here when he get's home.You can also check out more of my pictures on Facebook as well.
I made my way home by way of The Dragon . Got wet on Hwy 28 before Deals Gap but The Dragon was dry and I only saw ( 4 ) cops in 11 miles . Guees they are there now because of Pat getting killed last weekend  This is beautiful Fontana Lake from Hwy 28 .




" The Money Shot " taken just before the split at Fontana Dam . Got wet a few times on this ride however it was well worth it as I really enjoyed the company and the ride.I took a few pictures where Pat was killed however I'm not posting them unless Jim ( Slacker ) see's this and gives me the OK.

[Warlock]

Love the pictures. Would love to do that ride. Maybe in a couple months. Kathy just finished her last Kemo treatment. She still has a way to go before any long trips yet.
david

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Love the pictures. Would love to do that ride. Maybe in a couple months. Kathy just finished her last Kemo treatment. She still has a way to go before any long trips yet.
david

I wish her only the best David... I pray for a cure.

I have the Bakers that was on your bike you sold to Cory ( Lawdog ) . We traded in a quickie market parking lot 

[ragincajun]

Beautiful scenery. Nice write up.

[NC_Rob]

Great story and pics Joe Thanks.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Beautiful scenery. Nice write up.

Great story and pics Joe Thanks.

Thank You 

[Oss]

Have to say that IMHO  as you are getting older the reports

are more interesting

Now you give us both a flavor of the history as well as  directions a story and pics

Keep up the good work Joe

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

Thanks for sharing Joe.......When you gonna write a book? 

[santa]

Who is Lizzy? Tell us about her.

Santa

[donaldcc]

  very nice report and great pics.  looks like fun was had by all. 

[Warlock]

Love the pictures. Would love to do that ride. Maybe in a couple months. Kathy just finished her last Kemo treatment. She still has a way to go before any long trips yet.
david

I wish her only the best David... I pray for a cure.

I have the Bakers that was on your bike you sold to Cory ( Lawdog ) . We traded in a quickie market parking lot 

I know they will stay clean
david

[Jess from VA]

Bang up post, pics and stories Joe.  Thank you.   

[R J]

Good job there Grasshopper.

Felt like I was a ridin with ya but I staid at the Falls.    That was pretty.

[eric in md]

       what a write up dude.. ps you looking good on that space ship..    love you reports and pictures .. thanks

[Reb]

Thanks a lot Joe for everything. If we could have gave you a dime for every bit of knowledge Lizzy and I obtained you could retire tomorrow 

We are staying in London Kentucky tonight, close to Corbin Ky. Rode the dragon this morning and got a damn good go pro video ofit. Ill post everyting once we get settled into Carbondale tomorrow. Sure great seeing you again my southern friend. Cea at the Indiana Ride.

[Pappy!]

Joe - Your write-ups are first class. Love to read the history on the photos and places you share with us. It's pretty special to read them! Thanks a bunch and keep them coming. Look forward to leaving the flat land down here and coming up there and riding with you some time.

[HayHauler]

Great report!  I was following you on FB, but should have known you would report here too.

Thanks for taking the time to post buddy.

Hay
Jimmyt

[Thunderbolt]

Glad y'all had a good ride.  If we had known we would have come down to the Holiday and kicked some tires with the gang.  We are staying in an RV park off 276 N. in Maggie Valley.  Enjoying the cool weather.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Have to say that IMHO  as you are getting older the reports

are more interesting

Now you give us both a flavor of the history as well as  directions a story and pics

Keep up the good work Joe

Thanks Evan that might be the only good thing I've heard about getting old 

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Thanks for sharing Joe.......When you gonna write a book? 

Good job there Grasshopper.

Felt like I was a ridin with ya but I staid at the Falls.    That was pretty.

      what a write up dude.. ps you looking good on that space ship..    love you reports and pictures .. thanks

Joe - Your write-ups are first class. Love to read the history on the photos and places you share with us. It's pretty special to read them! Thanks a bunch and keep them coming. Look forward to leaving the flat land down here and coming up there and riding with you some time.

Great report!  I was following you on FB, but should have known you would report here too.

Thanks for taking the time to post buddy.

Hay
Jimmyt

Thanks alot men for the comments ... Good to know its not wasted time doing these reports.

[eric in md]

never wasting your time we all ride thru your rides joe... where all jealious as hell to tell you the truth dude.. i know a am .. love your reports and words .. lil buddy

[hal47]

Injoyed your report,and great pictures as well,would like to see that road to knowhere some day.

[HayHauler]

I just want to know what the temps were on the ride?  Similar to Wisconsin?
It's still hot down here in south Texas.   

Hay
Jimmyt

[R J]

JimmyT, we have fluctuated from low of 71 to a high of 98 this past week.   So far this week has been great, mid 70's.

Waitin on September.

[BIG--T]

Joe, Beautiful Cool mountain pictures  and thanks for posting! That F6B looked so you....so when ya gonna pull da trigger? I seen that grin!      

[Rocky Top Tim]

Hello Joe evan though I dont live far far from you Benton Tn. I could never ride with you because I am also fighting cancer.But when you ride and take the great pics and give the history of the area it is like I am on the ride with you.
Why dont you quit your job become motorcycle tour guide I love your post please. Ride safe and please dont stop these great post.

[Evil Twin Lisa]

We enjoyed sitting on the porch with all three of you Friday night.    Here is the pic I got, sent it to your email also.

[Michael K (Az.)]

Dang Joe, every time I see your ride reports I get homesick for the green! I like it out here, too, but I guess I just have to figure out a way to be in 2 places at once 
Good stuff, thanks for posting!

[BIG--T]

Dang Joe, every time I see your ride reports I get homesick for the green! I like it out here, too, but I guess I just have to figure out a way to be in 2 places at once 
Good stuff, thanks for posting!

Michael, I see some green shrubs behind you!  . Your neck of the woods has it's own beauty, just different. 

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

We enjoyed sitting on the porch with all three of you Friday night.    Here is the pic I got, sent it to your email also.

Thanks for the picture Lisa ( I save it ) 

Too cool of Larry letting me ride his new F6B ... I loved it .... I only wish it came without payments and I'd own one... Enjoyed the company you folks are good people and I'm proud to call you friends.

[Michael K (Az.)]

Dang Joe, every time I see your ride reports I get homesick for the green! I like it out here, too, but I guess I just have to figure out a way to be in 2 places at once 
Good stuff, thanks for posting!

Michael, I see some green shrubs behind you!  . Your neck of the woods has it's own beauty, just different. 

Yep, much beauty in the S.W.
For those of you who haven't been here, there's a lot more green than you would think. Oh yeah, gonna be 110 here tomorrow. Where I'll be it's 75, INSIDE! (Sorry for the jack, Joe)

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Dang Joe, every time I see your ride reports I get homesick for the green! I like it out here, too, but I guess I just have to figure out a way to be in 2 places at once 
Good stuff, thanks for posting!

So where is " home " that you had green ? I'd love to come ride in your world its the getting out there and back that sucks .Maybe someday I'll be able to just chill and stay off the slab and take " awhile " getting out there.

[Hollyday]

Thank you for posting pics.. we will be in the area Labor Day week!  First time to be in that area.. can't wait!!

[Michael K (Az.)]

Lived in the Daytona area for about 10 yrs. Hit the hiways and byways in your neighborhood as often as I could. We bumped into each other at Swoppies deal, Johnson City Inzane, maybe even Paducah, can't remember if you made any of those. Be good to go for a ride or two if you can ever make it out. Take care!

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Lived in the Daytona area for about 10 yrs. Hit the hiways and byways in your neighborhood as often as I could. We bumped into each other at Swoppies deal, Johnson City Inzane, maybe even Paducah, can't remember if you made any of those. Be good to go for a ride or two if you can ever make it out. Take care!

Someday ... Good Lord willing 

[Flrider]

Joe

Excellent report and pics.

Makes me want to go back

Thanks for sharing, when I grow up, I want to be like Joe and share some great reports

What kind of camera do you use?

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Joe

Excellent report and pics.

Makes me want to go back

Thanks for sharing, when I grow up, I want to be like Joe and share some great reports

What kind of camera do you use?

All the pictures was taken with my Iphone... I got the PM from you see if you got my reply sometimes this old computer works sometimes it don't 

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Hello Joe evan though I dont live far far from you Benton Tn. I could never ride with you because I am also fighting cancer.But when you ride and take the great pics and give the history of the area it is like I am on the ride with you.
Why dont you quit your job become motorcycle tour guide I love your post please. Ride safe and please dont stop these great post.

I wish you only the best ... I pray for a cure . If you can get out maybe we could hook up for lunch someday.