Below: A yellow
"walking man" mailbox - photo taken from the moving
car. |
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Below: Some of the flowers
outside of the Visitor Center. |
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Below: Two
Barn Swallows up above the doorway of the Visitor Center. |
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Below: The two RV Gypsies drove 3 hours to go to Sliding
Rock Falls and slide down the giant rock. But it was closed when they
got there due to high water levels. Lesson learned. CALL AHEAD
OF TIME. (828.257.4200)
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Since the sliding rock was closed, the two RV Gypsies decided to visit
several other waterfalls in the area. Nearby are Looking
Glass Falls, Moore Cove Falls, Daniel Ridge Falls, Log Hollow Falls,
Cove Creek Falls, Pink Beds Hike and the Forest Discovery Center at
Cradle of Forestry. The two RV Gypsies got to Looking Glass Falls, but
had trouble finding the others, but maybe they will try again in the
future |
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Below: LOOKING GLASS FALLS |
Looking Glass Falls is one
of the most popular and beautiful waterfalls in North Carolina. It is
one of the few accessible roadside waterfalls, making it perfect for
folks with mobility and walking challenges. It is located along U.S.
276, Forest Heritage Scenic Byway, near Brevard in the Pisgah National
Forest. The name "Looking Glass" comes from Looking Glass Rock,
where water freezes on its sides in the winter and then glistens in
the sunlight like a mirror or looking glass. Looking Glass Creek, which
flows past the rock, is also named for the impressive natural structure. |
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 When
the two RV Gypsies got out of their car to see Looking Glass Waterfall,
Karen Duquette changed from her regular shoes into her water shoes because
she wanted to go into the water. One of the shoes felt like there was
something in the shoe, so she checked, and it was two $10 bills. Surprise!
She did not remember when or why she put the money there and will never
do that again.
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Below: Lee Duquette did not
want to go into the cold water, but of course, Karen Duquette did. She
gave the clothes she was wearing over her bathing suit to Lee and told
him to keep them dry, so he tucked them in his shirt. |
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Below: There
are a few steps and viewing platforms on the way to the 60-foot waterfall. |
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Below: There were a lot of
big rocks to climb over, both before entering the water, and also once
Karen Duquette was in the water. It was not easy walking. Karen watched
several younger people fall while trying to step over the rocks. They
did not get hurt. So Karen decided to bend over and hold onto a big
rock for stability while carefully stepping over other rocks. It made
for a lot of butt shots, but was worth it, not to fall or get hurt.
Other people were providing photographers with butt shots too, as shown
below. |
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Below: When Karen Duquette
first got into the water, she reacted to the cold water by looking back
at Lee Duquette and making a face. But soon she forgot the water was
cold because she was concentrating on maneuvering through the rocks. |
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Karen Duquette got really
close to the waterfall, but discovered that with each step she took
the water was getting deeper, so she did not get directly under or behind
the waterfall. She did not want to suddenly sink under the water. Nobody
else was near her if she should need help. People are supposed to be
able to walk behind the waterfall, but Karen did not think it worth
the risk. A couple of people tried walking on the rocks attached to
the cliffs, but they did not make it behind the waterfall either. |
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Karen Duquette had a waterproof
camera with her so she took a couple pictures up close to the falls.
But her footing and the rocky ground under her was mostly too unstable
to take a lot of photos. |
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Below: Leaving Looking Glass
Falls, the two RV Gypsies stopped for a picnic lunch by Looking Glass
Creek. Karen Duquette walked down by the creek for photos while Lee
Duquette set up the picnic table. |
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Below: There was an injured
butterfly on the ground. Karen Duquette was careful not to step on it.
It wiggled around on the ground for awhile, and eventually flew into
the air, but did not get very far or high into the air. But it seemed
to be OK. |
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Below: While eating, a different
butterfly (plus a fly) flew onto Lee Duquette's back. After taking a
photograph, Karen Duquette chased the fly away, but let the butterfly
stay there long enough to take more photos. (Karen thinks the tag on
the outside back of Lee's shirt is ugly and unnecessary - but his shirt
WAS worn correctly). |
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Leaving Pisgah National Forest, the two RV Gypsies continued on to nearby