First days in Murphy

On Wednesday, we left the Linville area and headed on to Murphy, where we will stay through the eclipse.  We drove down the Blue Ridge Parkway and picked up I-40 near Asheville, and then highway 74 toward Murphy.  We're staying at a KOA just outside of town.  We have been warned there may be gas and food shortages, so we stocked up.

On Thursday, we were picked up by Jim and Bonnie whom we know from Sun n Fun, and they showed us around this area where they live.  We rode in their jeep (no doors!) up to Bell Mountain Park where there's a fantastic view of the TVA lakes.

Pat and Kirk arrived later on Thursday, and today we took them back into the Nantahala Gorge where we watched the rafters going down the river.  We ate a great lunch at the restaurant at the outdoor center and saw the train make its stop there.

Mountains poking out of the clouds

View of Lake Chatuge from Bell Mountain

Bonnie and I walked up the steps to the top.

Jim & Bonnie's jeep with no doors!
Apparently, it's a tradition for the teenagers to paint the rocks here.

Looking in the other direction

This cow got loose and was walking down the road!

We watched this woman launch down the Nantahala!

Nantahala Outdoor Center

And, she made it all the way down!
We wondered whether she stood up all the way.
This was 1.5 hours later!