Dam It!

Gotcha with that title didn't I?

Before we delve into our many trips to dams over the last three months, here is a little history lesson on the TVA. Not interested? That's a-okay, but the entry did help me understand a wee bit better what I have been seeing, and perhaps it will you as well.

I'm thinking that if you don't like mainly doing outdoor activities, Western North Carolina would not be the place for you because that is the focus here in the mountains. Fortunately for us, we do love being outdoors which is one reason we have been so enamored of our time here in Murphy. For example, we went on a mountain hike today that was so enjoyable, but I will be the first to admit it is not everyone's cup of tea. 

Since our second week here, we have been taking what I affectionately call, "field trips" and on many occasions that has meant visiting the nearby TVA dams and reservoirs. I will also be the first to admit that I have known next to nothing about dams these many 69 years. I have been learning however. 

Our first dam visit, and I believe I wrote briefly about it when it happened, was to the Notley Dam off Hwy 19 towards Blairsville, GA. We actually drove through town that first day onour way to Charlotte's Cottage and drove by all sorts of things that once meant nothing to us, and now do. Speaking of which, our Orlando friend, Gayle has a brother who owned a second home here in Murphy off Hwy 19 and I mentioned to her that his Murphy experience bore no resemblance to ours. Why that is my friends is because we are so close to town so participating in town activities is a breeze. Plus we have no responsibilities, so visiting dams is also a breeze. Thus we do it. A good many people we play pickleball with, probably the vast majority of them, are homeowners so have chores to do. I am almost embarrassed to report that we are foot loose and fancy free for maybe the first time in our lives? 

Anyway, back to TVA dams.  Sort of.

For the longest time I have been a reader of Southern fiction, loving many authors through the years including Lee Smith, Joe Brown and Ron Rash to name a few. We learned that Charles Frazer, the author of Cold Mountain grew up in nearby Andrews. Do you want to know how we know that? But, of course you do! The Cherokee County Museum in downtown Murphy clued us into that factoid. I found a signed copy of a Ron Rash book on the bookshelves here and could not have been more thrilled, he the author of Serena which was a terrific novel and from what I understand, a not very good movie. It is not uncommon in the above authors works to champion the unfortunate and in the case of Ron Rash, one of his novels includes the flooding of a town for the TVA. Can you even imagine your town being flooded? It's unthinkable to me but, if you want to have your heartstrings pulled a little, read this short interview with a woman whose family went through just that.

Thoughts of the lives that were changed run through my head every time we visit a dam. That said, it does make for some absolutely beautiful bodies of water. 

When we first arrived rain was very prevalent, however, more recently rain has mostly been absent from the daily forecast. On the day we visited Notely, it was grey and drizzly.

Another day we made it to the Hiwassee Dam that dams, yes indeed, the Hiwassee River that flows through this small town. 

One thing to note is that in the last few weeks, there has been an ongoing discussion in the newspaper about the restrooms at the dam which used to be open but due to Covid were closed. The poll in the paper was overwhelmingly in favor of re-opening the restrooms and I can attest to the fact that when we visited, I wished there were facilities! We also saw this which is self explanatory to those who are interested.

This is a very large beautiful dam as you can see here.

Below the dam there is a boat ramp and area for fishing where Bruce met the fellow he was talking to. But of course he is from Florida, as are so many people we meet.

I believe it was on that same day that we stopped a short distance downriver at Cherokee Lake where there was another small dam that made this body of water where Bruce is standing on the dock. I hear tell it is beautiful this time of year so we shall see if we have time to check for ourselves.

The dam was quite small,

with gorgeous water on the other side of the dam.

We must have been hard up on a rainy morning because I found a very small dam to visit, not owned by the TVA, but Duke energy instead. Located in the adjacent small area called Peachtree, we drove into the mountain and found the Mission Dam.

Needless to say, it was not a hot bed of tourism, allowing us to visit it by ourselves.

The interview linked to above is about a family's displacement to create the dam and subsequent Lake Chatuge. It is seriously gorgeous, albeit with a sad history. 

On the day we visited and walked across the top of the dam, the path which is shown above, the weather was perfect and the views incredible.

A very easy walk across the dam takes you to a charming campground.

The dam itself looks like this:

On the other side of this structure we could see an area with a boat ramp as well as picnic tables. Our handy iPad helped us find it where we had our picnic lunch with the beautiful mountain views as our companions.

Blue Ridge? Did anyone ask about the Blue Ridge dam? Yup, went there too!

Dams are everywhere around here! Pretty darn beautiful views here as well.

One of the coolest things we have done and this was maybe two months ago now, was that our friend Debbie told us about a dam release when tons of kayakers take to the river challenging the big water. The Cheoah dam opens, and the kayakers partake. 

To witness this we drove to the Tapoco Lodge in nearby Robbbinsville. Wowza! 

Having no real idea what to expect we arrived early, snagging a table for lunch riverside. The food was fantastic and the action amazing. 

Here are a few from that day although you can well imagine I took a whole bunch more than this! Actually I have been dying to show you but, well, other stuff just kept happening!

Yikes!

You have to either crazy or brave, not sure which is more appropriate! Probably a little of both!

We were so close!! In the lodge parking lot, we happened to notice a fair number of Miatas, a car I once wanted many years ago. We took note. Driving back along the river, we stopped at a turn out and saw a few informational signs that explained more.

More dam info, in larger print. It was while we were looking at this signage,

that we struck up a conversation with two young couples, both of whom had Miatas in the parking area. From them we learned that there was a Miata club gathering at nearby Fontana Village with 1,400 Miatas from all over the states converging on the tiny village. We also learned that they were waiting it out while a crash was cleared on the "Tail of the Dragon" drive where there had been a head on collision. Yikes! Can you imagine being excited to get on that road, especially, get this--a Miata went off the side of the road a day earlier!! I am all for adventure, but definitely not that kind!  Anyway, I bet the sight of all those Miatas in one place was something to behold.

We popped in one other place and the river was raging there as well.

What is so interesting to me is when I asked what it looked like without the dam release I was told it was mostly rocks, somewhat like what the Hiwassee River looks like now here in town.

That is a wrap on dams for now, although we actually have one more, the biggest of them all, Fontana Dam to visit, but for now, we have taken up a little hiking. And grocery shopping, playing pickleball, trying all of the local restaurants, going to church, cooking, sleeping and of course there is the gym and just general walking. Blogging goes without saying. 

Ten more days here and we hit the road for Florida. It goes without saying we won't be visiting dams there!

What will we think when we arrive? 

your friend,

Gail

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