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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Weekend Fun

Many years ago there was an excellent television program called "Friday Night Lights" starring Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton that we fell in love with. I will admit we were late to the party as Jonathan and Alissa had extolled the virtues of said program for a couple of years before we actually began watching and watching we did! Binge worthy for sure. As probably many of you know, the Friday night lights in the title refers to high school football and in this case set in Texas where it is really BIG. As we were to find out, it is really big in Murphy too! 

Before we go to the actual game, which we finally did this past Friday, I feel I must share what apparently is a tradition in Murphy. Unfortunately, we did not go to Homecoming, but after seeing this in the current edition of the Cherokee Scout, I am kicking myself!

Previously the girls that made up the homecoming court were all pictured wearing street clothes in a full page spread, however, that was then and this was now. Or a week ago, but you get my drift. At first I was super puzzled, thinking that all of their dresses are essentially the same, but a few days later we were to learn that it is a tradition that no one wants to break despite the crazy expense of those gowns. Looks like lavender/purple wins the color contest? I have it from a reliable source that the dresses cost as much as $1,000! 

Our desire to actually go to the game on Friday night was further stoked when someone at pickleball on Friday morning remarked that it was going to be a good game between Murphy and Hayesville. Just the push we needed so we stopped by the high school to ask questions; as fate would have it, the woman I asked happened to be the football coach's wife! Obviously, she had all the answers.

Let's just say, it was good. 

From the moment we parked and felt the town's excitement as they made their way to the field, we were smiling from ear to ear. 

As to those Friday night lights? They lived up to their billing.

The packed crowd was attentive throughout the entertaining halftime.

as well as the band. 

I believe that there are about 400 students at Murphy High School and it looks like only a handful are interested inbecoming members of the band, whereas the cheer squad was both busy, cheering nearly all night long, and there were a bunch of them.

Come to think of it, seems as if the band and the cheerleading squad are about the same size.  The game began with introductions and the team running through the bulldog's mouth onto the field.

We have read that there is a shortage of referees for high school sports, not only in Murphy but nationwide, but it seemed like they were fully staffed for this game.

That would be the enthusiastic Hayesville crowd pictured behind the players. Lots of the Murphy fans brought their own chairs, sitting adjacent to the bleachers on the ridge overlooking the field making the fan base much larger than the shot of the stands would imply. We had a blast and if not for the lack of jackets, we would have stayed until the end. As it was, we were able to listen to it on the radio both in the car, and when we got home. Bulldogs Win!!

Thank you to the town of Murphy and all involved in our first "Friday night lights" experience in decades. The television show was so good, but in person was even better. 

Last Saturday morning, before the epic Florida State game came on, we went to a quilt show held in Blairsville and what a nice treat that was. Driving there the fog was crazy thick.

Finally it lifted and the venue was both super easy to find, and so nice.

It has taken us some time to get the hang of driving to these other towns to do things because they are all between 12-20 miles away, however, as folks here point out you can drive there in about twenty minutes whereas in, say Orlando, some of these trips would not only take at least twice as long, but more often than not, be filled with frustration. Here you just get in your car and go. As soon as we got out of the car we heard the familiar sound of a pickleball court. Turns out it was adjacent to the center and wow, were we impressed.

In true pickleball spirit fashion, it wasn't but a few moments before a woman came up to greet us asking if we wanted to play. On this day, we had to say no, but maybe another time.

The show was put on by the local guild represent three counties of quilters. A few friends from pickleball are part of the guild, one of whom we saw there on Saturday. A super cool idea below...self portraits done in fabric.

What a joy to wander through the quilts, especially when I know first hand how much work they require. Kudos to everyone!

Generally I do love colorful ones, but the red and white does look mighty good. Talk about a lot of work!

So many beautiful quilts, so little space to share because there is more fun to be had!

For at least a month I'd not emptied one of my camera cards and when I did so I came across some from an earlier First Friday Art Walk we attended, this one involving chain saw artists which I felt I needed to remember in this space. 

It was very warm that evening, but the turnout was still pretty good. 

You might note pictured on the top left is a sign designating Main Street America, a designation that our very own special landlord Laura made possible. According the newspaper article explaining why she was chosen as Citizen of the Year, she guided the town through the process to receive the funds that accompany that designation. Should this subject interest you, read about it here. 

Another of an artist and his creation in process.

Really pretty amazing watching someone carve a log into a shape with a chainsaw. All sorts of people exhibit on these art walk nights, another of which is coming up this Friday.

Back to the present, we joined a group playing mini golf on, maybe Thursday and while I was pretty terrible, a man assigned to Bruce to keep an eye on, Bill, aged 90, got a hole in one!!

The group was comprised of people who have participated in another nationwide movement called National Senior Games that you can read about HERE. Basically, seniors aged 50 and over, which is sort of weird thinking 50 is senior, but anyway, folks compete within their age group in all manner of things from cornhole to woodworking. I am totally simplifying things, but maybe Bruce and I will give it a go next Spring. Anyway, the mini golf was way more fun than I was anticipating. The wonderful weather helped.

As to my score, 72 is nothing to brag about, but there it is nonetheless. 

Saturday we headed to Andrews for their Octoberfest which if I am honest was a little underwhelming. At least there were people on the streets so that was a positive.

The thing is, I think Andrews has more natural beauty than Murphy sitting in the valley as it is, but they have a long ways to go to catch up to Murphy when it comes to businesses. Perhaps they need a Laura? That said, The Blue Stage is a fairly new business there where they have been hosting this summer's wildly popular competition dubbed, "Andrews Idol". It is really exciting to read that they felt so good about it that the auditions for season two are happening now.

There were booths with crafts along with food trucks, one of which was so large Bruce is seen here photographing it.

Bands were playing all day and the beer was flowing from several local breweries. They even had a winery there as well but seeing as it was a warm and sunny day, this blogger was happiest going indoors to the beautiful Sage restaurant, the prettiest business in town.

Since they opened earlier this year they were only open for dinner,  however recently as it Saturday,  lunch is now being served which made us very happy indeed. I can't even remember if I wrote about visiting the restaurant for an early dinner about six weeks ago, but if I did not, we absolutely loved the experience which the chef terms, "an elevated dining experience". For sure! Our only worry is how they will survive on that main street. 

My pork belly sandwich was fantastic, as was Bruce's shrimp and grits with andouille sausage.

The somewhat deconstructed creme brulee with the crispy phyllo dough was perfection.

As we were leaving we saw this! Who remembered that the windshield pushed open? That orange!!!

October seems to a busy time in Western North Carolina with multiple festivals happening most weekends. Next up is the folk school coming up this Saturday where John (landlord) will have a booth, well two booths actually with his furniture to sell. More weekend fun in the mountains to come!

P.S. The leaves are most definitely changing. Will produce photographs next time.

your friend,

Gail