Summer of 19 - #23 -Nantahala Outdoor Center, River Kayakers, Critters!!!!

Thursday September 19th, 2019
We put the new traps out and the mice have ignored them.  They're the sort that they go in, and then can't get out.  Nope, they're not falling for that!!!  We still have them, as when we put peanut butter in the other trap it disappears without them triggering it.
Bryan went fishing here at the campground, but didn't catch anything.  It's the last day of his fishing license so he probably won't fish here again.  A lot of the campgrounds we are due to stay at on our way back to Jacksonville are on lakes, so he will have opportunity just not sure if he will have time, as I have some outings planned!! 😉

Friday September 20th, 2019
We needed to fill up our fridge and food cupboard before we head out next week.  We really don't need much, but as we will only be staying for an average of 4 days at most of the campgrounds between here and Jacksonville, we don't want to be spending time in Walmart.  Never fear, I have no doubt there will be at least 2 or 3 more trips to Walmart, before we get back at the end of October.

We went to a different Walmart this time and the drive included a windy, uphill, downhill road.  That's a novelty, ha!!ha!!  It was gorgeous as usual though.

Saturday September 21st, 2019

We don't usually go out on weekends if we can help it, but we wanted to go to a flea market, and military surplus store that is near here.  The flea market only opens on weekends.

I took this picture of an old double decker bus near the flea market.  It's advertising rafting on the river here.  Thought it was cute with the cardboard cutout people sitting in it. 

We bought some jam and homemade pecan brownies.  I haven't tried the jam yet but the brownies, oh my!!!!  Yummyyyyyyyyy.  Strange, as I'm not usually a lover of brownies but these were not to rich, and just melted in your mouth.  I think Bryan was quite disappointed that he had to share them. 😋. We didn't see anything else we had to have!!!

Sunday September 22nd, 2019

We stayed in, watched sports and did laundry.  I worked on the blog and places to visit at our next campgrounds.

Monday September 23rd, 2019

I think we've done most of the things we wanted to do in this area, and we're both exhausted from long days out sightseeing!!  What a life, eh!!! 

There was an area that we had driven through not long after we arrived, but couldn't stop, as there had been a landslide a few days before and they were still clearing up. It opened up again a couple of weeks ago so we decided to go and take a look.

We started by driving to the Nantahala National Forest.  I had read about this area where there was a chance you could see kayakers and rafters putting in for a float down river.

We arrived at Ferebee Memorial Picnic Area & Launch Site.  The parking area and bathrooms were still closed after the landslides, but we found an area to park and walked over to the river.  

 There were people attempting to fish from a raft and a couple of guys preparing to launch kayaks.

The first kayaker in the water.  He paddled against the flow for a few feet, before turning and paddling with the flow.

We moved the car and parked on the opposite bank, so we could get better pictures.

The flow was very strong and there were some rapids helping them along the way.

After taking a few pictures here we left, and drove back along the river.  We stopped at another "put in/take out". We were the only people there.

I stood at the bottom of the ramp and took a picture of the rapids upriver.

It's amazing to me how the rushing water, suddenly breaks up over the rocks and different levels, and becomes calm.

I'm still standing at the bottom of the ramp but the water behind me is calm.

Calm water downstream

Bryan standing at the top of the ramp.

Beautiful

There was a picnic table there.

After taking our pictures and sitting for a few minutes listening to the water, we continued on our trip.

Next stop was the Nantahala Outdoor Center.  They have accommodations here, and many activities including kayaking, whitewater rafting, ziplines and will also train you, if needed.

Four members of the Nantahala Outdoor Centre made the team for the Olympic Games in 1996.  The whitewater slalom event for the games was held on the Oconee River, about an hour from here.

The Founders Bridge is used to cross the river and is part of the Appalachian Trail.

                           

The following pictures were taken from the bridge.  First up river.

Kayakers coming downstream

Looking downriver from the bridge we saw the slalom course.  

There was training going on.  

I think one of these was the trainer and one the student.

They were practicing what I would call "flips" but I'm not sure what the correct term is for them.  Bryan took a series of pictures showing the movement.

Going into the rapid.

Teaching the next step

Flip

Back upright!!

A few minutes later I took this VIDEO of two of them doing individual flips.

That was quite interesting to watch. No way could I have flipped like that and got my face wet, ha!!ha!!

 I had considered trying to do a tube ride down river a couple of weeks ago with Bryan.  I would have chosen a smoother river, but I found out I couldn't do it, as they don't allow it if you can't swim.  Probably just as well as I might have had a heart attack if I'd got water on my race, or worse still tipped over!!!  The one we saw the first week we were here, where the tubers were floating down the river, past the waterfalls, did look like fun though.

We finished watching the kayakers and went back to the car to head back home.  I took some pictures of the scenery on the ride back.  This emphasizes the Kudzu weed, which you can see grows everywhere. It's definitely a ground cover and a tree and bush cover!!!!

We reached Bryson City and I took a picture of the flowers lining the streets.  It's a pretty little town and has everything you could need, apart from a Walmart, ha!!ha!!

We stopped at a layby, on the  opposite side of the river from the campground, to take some pictures.  Unfortunately we couldn't see Lily as she was hiding behind the other campers.

It certainly is pretty here.  

Meanwhile back home,we hadn't seen anything of the mouse(s) and the covered traps hadn't been entered or the bait taken.  We weren't convinced that the mice had gone though, and unfortunately Bryan found some mice droppings in one of our cupboards tonight.  Needless to say we had a late night clean out, of cupboards. 

We have also been getting a flat oval bug that can fly, although usually just lets you catch it in a tissue. It even sits long enough for you to get a tissue and return to get it.  I think they are stink bugs, although they don't make a stink when I squash them.  There hasn't been a lot of them, but they are becoming a nuisance as well.  Tonight I found one under my pillow which didn't go down well with me.  Where's that mouse when you want him, why isn't he eating the bugs???  Tomorrow, we will have to work hard on getting rid of these mice and bugs.
Keep tuned!!!!!!