Nature Friday: Chimney Rock and Hickory Nut Falls

Nature Friday is hosted by my Niece Rosy and her brudders, Arty and Jakey

Following information from the Chimney Rock Brochure

Chimney Rock is a 535-million year old towering monolith and has been an iconic focal point in Western NC mountains for over a century.There are panoramic 75 mile view of Hickory Nut Gorge and Lake Lure.  It is accessible only by a 26-story elevator.  You don't so much stop at Chimney Rock...as it stops YOU. Marvel at the beauty and majesty of 404 foot Hickory Nut Falls which is one of the tallest of its kind east of the Mississippi.

First glimpse of Chimney Rock from the parking lot.

 Tunnel 

The elevator 26' shaft which was blasted through solid rock (is called Henderson Gneiss)

through the rock to the elevator which you can see at the end.

The cool 198 foot tunnel stays at a comfortable 55-65 degrees year around.

WHY because the elevator only holds 8 folks at a time and depending on the time of day/month your wait can be rather long and stuffy.

Once on the elevator your ride up 26' is 32 seconds to the Sky Lounge.

Once you exit the elevator you walk thru the gift shop.

THEN are greeted with a ton of stairs up to the top of the observation deck

Below is a photo of Opera Box observation we did not got there.

From atop Chimney Rock we were amazed to see the size of Lake Lure 

If you missed my Saturday, September 21, post it was all about walking around 

Lake Lure, NC.  

We headed down these stairs to hike over to Hickory Nut Falls

Hickory Nut Falls trail is rated moderate, it is a 1.4 mile round trip

and takes 45 minutes to 1 hour. It is a gently rolling trail and has several moderate uphills sections and a small set of stairs at the base of the falls.

Hickory Nut Falls was featured in the epic film, "The Last of the Mohicans".

There are several other trails.  The most strenuous is

Four Seasons trail has a 400' grain elevation and is a strenuous steady uphill climb.

 It was worth every single step of the 1.4 miles too.

First line on the below sign says it all

before you is the 404' Hickory Nut Falls.

Thoroughly Poetic #1 Thursday and Wacky January Holidays

  Today we join Two  SPOLED CATS 

Angel Sammy and Teddy for their poetic pictorial poem.

Here is our inspiration

HELLO

 Today I join Ranger for Wacky January Holidays

Today is Old Rock Day

Ranger thank you for starting the wacky tradition again

I'll be pawticipating in the wackiness often.

In our heart of hearts, Dad of angel Madi and I are mountaineers.  Who live in the Piedmont (which means foot hills) of North Carolina.  Our hearts come alive when we see a hill.

In the spring and summer of 2019 we spent many days traveling around to see the sights in NC

today I present 

Chimney Rock....a very very old Rock

Following information from the Chimney Rock Brochure

Chimney Rock is a 535-million year old towering monolith and has been an iconic focal point in Western NC mountains for over a century. There are panoramic 75 mile view of Hickory Nut Gorge and Lake Lure.  It is accessible only by a 26-story elevator.  You don't so much stop at Chimney Rock...as it stops YOU. Marvel at the beauty and majesty of 404 foot Hickory Nut Falls which is one of the tallest of its kind east of the Mississippi.

AND Ta Da another wacky Holiday is .......

Thoroughly Poetic Thursday #59

    Two SPOILED CATS,

Angel Sammy and Teddy find such inspiring photos for us

Here is today's inspiration

When I saw this tunnel, I immediately recalled walking thru this tunnel at Chimney Rock in the N. C. Mountains

The elevator 26' shaft which was blasted through solid rock (is called Henderson Gneiss)

through the rock to the elevator which you can see at the end.

The cool 198 foot tunnel stays at a comfortable 55-65 degrees year around.

WHY because the elevator only holds 8 folks at a time and depending on the time of day/month your wait can be rather long and stuffy.

Once on the elevator your ride up 26' is 32 seconds to the Sky Lounge.

Once you exit the elevator you walk thru the gift shop.

THEN are greeted with a ton of stairs up to the top of the observation deck

Now for my poetry

Tunnel Vision

Down the corridor we walked;

Excitement grew as our mind's eyes anticipated the

sights we'd see

Every view breathtaking from atop

Chimney Rock.

We were up high where the eagles fly;

Old Glory standing proudly

in the Blue clear skies

Fresh air with filled with scents of nature.

Beauty from the mountains to many towns 

and all around.

Awww Monday and Final Friction Friday Reminder

Hosted by Comedy Plus

Maggie...she was bringing up the rear.

The lead dog was a Harlequin Great Dane and she wasn't stopping for photos

Next 3:

 This little Tabby is the resident (out of doors cat) at Hampton Inn, Marion, NC

Beautiful markings.  She is fed every morning by the hotel staff and has water by the back door.

 Standard Tabby M on her noggin

 Light gray fur right front paw

Back paws both had gray between the toes

Wednesday September 4th we had lunch at "Over Yonder" 

in Valle Crucis, (Latin meaning: Vale of the Cross) NC. The hand you see belongs to my husband.

Just around the corner a Black Scottie was holding court with his admirers

See the silver bowls under the tea pitchers? they are for K9 diners

There was a white Poodle behind us on the other side of the porch.

This was my lunch Grilled Pimento cheese sandwich with Napa Valley Cole Slaw with almonds

Over Yonder

This pooch hiked all the way up to the falls at Hickory Nut Falls which is 404' tall

more on the falls later.

This is an honest to goodness TREE HUGGER 

Had to take a photo of her just as I reached the top of Chimney Rock.

When I reached her, I asked if she was ok she said as long as I can Hug the Tree

She asked me to talk a selfie of her and her new BFF.

More on Chimney Rock later

She was very frightened at the top which was kinda of amazing since she climbed all 

these stairs

She is hugging the tree just to the right of Old Glory

Two Rotties just coming off the trail from Mt. Mitchell

REMINDER 

This month is this Friday, September 27, 2019

click here for the RULEZ

Please join us it is such fun.

If you need a subject to write about, how about 

What I did on my Summer Vacation

Serene Sunday and Plates

 Shelley Lake

*means I could not decide on meaning

1. 5STARSHIP on a Tesla

2. TRPRVAN, tripper or trooper van?

3. REDPLAY*

4. TB6RINGS*

5. WFPKFAN, Wolfpack Fan, NC State University's mascot is a Wolf

6.TACAIR*

7.LINC2HIM*, Link to him

8.YKSHRLAS, Yorkshire Las

9. CLNAIR, Clean air

10. WSKI, water ski

 11. FINSLFT, Fins Left a line in a Jimmy Buffet song, FINS

12. FINSUP, Fins Up, another line in the same Buffet song.

click here if you are interested in hearing the song.

Many of you may not know how Jimmy Buffet but he is quite popular on the East Coast! We like him here at Manor Madi

13.  HOPELVS, Hope Loves

14. SPUMONI on a Fiat

15. SEAJEEP, 

the car had the ability to go in water.  There is a snorkel looking contraption on it.

16. SADEH2O, *

17.HLDYRHRZ, Hold your horses..I like this one!!

18. BLURUF, Blue Roof?

19. M-DUB*

20. CHMY, Chimney on a Great Smoky Mountain Plate

Chimney Rock is a big tourist attraction click here we were there in 2019.