Catch me if you can
Sorry folks, if you want to find me...you will have to come to the Smoky Mountains. Cuz I'm never leaving.
I have fallen deeply in love with this part of North Carolina. Who woulda thunk it? Here is how it happened. Sit back now...it's a long story.
I left Memphis and spontaneously stopped at Belle Meade Plantation outside of Nashville. I just thought it would be cool to see a plantation since I was down here in the South. Little did I know that I had chosen the historic thoroughbred horse breeders whose famous stallion sired the likes of Secretariat, Seattle Slew and Sea biscuit to name a few. This plantation had also housed important Confederate officers and had seen Civil War battle on their land. It was awesome. And all full of history which I love. I could just feel the ghosts!!
Then I headed through Knoxville towards Isis Cove, where I would be staying for two nights, about 45 minutes out of Asheville.
Now, I love Colorado. I always figured I would retire there as I am enthralled with the majesty of those mountains. The three things I love most are there...mountains, rivers and trees. And then I came here. While Colorado equals majesty, North Carolina is mystery. Maybe it is the fact that my ancient bloodlines stem from here, Cherokee and Scots, but this felt like home. The mountains, Smoky and Blue Ridge sung to me of magic and myth. I saw the huge orange moon rise over these mountains and felt such expansive joy at the beauty of it.
I drove onto Isis Cove under that full moon at midnight. I sat on the deck for two more hours drinking in the smell of the forest and the breeze on my skin. I felt such peace. The cabins are beautiful and the grounds are amazing. There is just no way I can convey the magical quality of the landscape here. I spent the next morning exploring the land and then drove around into the small towns in the area.
I visited the Cherokee reservation and it broke my heart. These people have been reduced to caricatures of their heritage and history and all for economic survival. I went to the Cherokee museum and I don't have to tell you about that American Holocaust and the Trail of Tears. I felt sick. Later I fed my soul in a little cafe with craft beer and an amazing turkey, brie and avocado crepe. My body was so happy to get a good hike and good food.
I found that the key to survival on the road is to follow what you love. It is said that you are defined by what you love. And I have found instinctively great places to find coffee, beer, healthy food, history and beauty. I tend to travel like I tend to play my video games. I like to look all around and search really well, using my curiosity and my observation skills, to choose where to land. And it has worked beautifully. I have found the most awesome little places.
Today I had a great lunch on a beautiful patio in a great historic district. Turkey and brie and sprouts and chutney with fresh lemonade.
Would it be a bad thing to simply drive through people's lives?
Now I am in Asheville sitting at a restaurant called the Lucky Otter!! drinking a great local beer called The Green Man!!! It is located in the artsy fartsy district so I am at home with the hippies sitting on this deck watching it rain listening to great 60's music.
Tonight I camp by Grandfather Mountain and then off to Virginia Beach.
