Colors are fading

Monday, October 29th, 2007
Bradley, Tennessee to Asheville, North Carolina

210.9 miles
COLD and sunny

Folks in this part of the country took the lessons from Katrina seriously – there are ‘evacuation route’ signs everywhere! Since there’s no need for speedy evacuation, I’m instead able to enjoy the very good Tennessee roads!

Scenic too – with trees in the medians, unlike Arizona which cuts down everything in sight, ‘for safety sake’, making the roads very boring! And as far as I’m concerned, I’d rather see a run-away vehicle hit a tree than drive head-on into a car load of kids!

Scenic with glimpses of ranch lands, pleasure horses, cattle and goats. Lovely countryside!

Criss-crossed the Watts Bar Lake, which looks considerably more like a river than a lake, with signs indicating dams, but I never saw them. Also saw signs of wineries and vineyards which also are in hiding somewhere!!

Gonna have to miss several turkey shoots planned thru the area over the next couple weeks.

The TVA, the Tennessee Valley Authority, still exists – signed into effect on May 18, 1933 by President Roosevelt - http://www.tva.gov/abouttva/history.htm - has been one of the more innovative agencies created by the government…“a corporation clothed with the power of government but possessed of the flexibility and initiative of a private enterprise.”

Sevierville already has its streets decorated with holiday lights!

I’m reminded why autumn is not my favorite season – after all the spectacular fall colors I’ve enjoyed on my travels the last few weeks, the trees here are turning brown, with dry falling leaves, so the vista is of lifeless naked trees. I’ve never been fond of naked trees, and now even less so because of the previous marvelous colors. Depressing to me. Just my opinion.

Heading east, there are more signs of the drought this area has suffered. River beds are dry…crops dead in some fields. Mama Nature has not been sharing her wealth this year!

Big deal about the Biltmore Estate hereabouts – turns out to be understandable! “Biltmore House is a French Renaissance-inspired chateau near Asheville, North Carolina, built by George Washington Vanderbilt II in September between 1888 and 1895. It was the largest privately-owned home in the United States, at 175,000 square feet. Still owned by Vanderbilt's descendants, it stands today as one of the most prominent remaining examples of the Gilded Age.” Pretty fancy! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biltmore_Estate 


Taps RV Park
1325 Tunnel Road
Asheville NC 28805
828-299-8277
www.ashevilletapsrvpark.com