On World Animal Day, we left our six kitties to their cat-sitter, and drove to North Carolina...
Our destination was Bryson City, North Carolina.
We'd booked for 2 nights at the hotel, conveniently close to the Bryson City Depot.
Here we are inside the First Class Silver Meteor cabin
Nantahala Gorge on a Diesel engine train
Silver Meteor
Table C Seat 3 + 1
When booking, I'd selected our choice of lunch and it was delicious.
Great service by our hostess Conny!
Pieter standing near our train, before boarding...
Yes, we were required to wear our face mask, except for eating and drinking.
GSMR = Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
Our departure was at 10:30 and every morning in the mountains of North Carolina it was heavy fog.
Such was the case as we crossed over the Tuckasegee River in Bryson City.
You see that around noon, the fog had cleared and we had sunshine!
This is in Almond, North Carolina in the Nantahala National Forest
Near Fontana Dam and Lake
Another bridge across the river.
The vines you can see on the ground are all Kudzu, a very invasive plant that got introduced for a certain beetle but has gotten completely out of hand!
After going a bit further than this point, we came back to the Nantahala River Gorge, with its rapids.
Ziplining, whitewater rafting, and kayaking paradise!
Surrounded by restaurants, that now could not fully operate due to COVID
Such sad facts for all those, that solely depend on tourism!
This was also the place where the Cherokee Indians lived in the Nantahala Town.
The people of Nantahala Town opposed the Treaty of New Echota and after the army arrived in the summer of 1838, many hid in the dense rhododendron thickets of the Nantahala Gorge.
Those captured, got driven from here via the Trail of Tears, to Oklahoma...
There also are hidden caves, where the Cherokee used to shelter in winter time.
More Kudzu on the banks and you can also see how the front part of our train is snaking through the area.
Again, near Almond in the Nantahala National Forest
Of course we did capture this very special train ride on Relive.
This rail track through the isolated Western North Carolina area got established in the late 1800s.
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad History click link for reading more about the digging, filling and blasting for creating this track...
Husband Pieter standing on the bridge in Bryson City, overlooking the Tuckasegee River.
Such a lovely city with nice planters everywhere!
Friendly people and great restaurants too.
Hope you enjoyed traveling with us!
Video Great Smoky Mountains Railway click link
Hello Mariette, You were lucky to travel through such dramatic scenery. We always hear about the building of railroads out west, but the east has difficult terrain too. East or west it was a remarkable feat with the limited tools of the 19th century. Even those wheelbarrows to haul things seem completely foreign to today's construction sites.
ReplyDelete--Jim
Dearest Jim,
DeleteYes, one can only admire all those that worked so hard for unlocking this part of the USA to the outside world.
A great piece of history and now it is for leisure to ride it once again.
Hugs,
Mariette
What a lovely excursion! It must have felt wonderful to be away from home for a little while, particularly during this crazy time in the world.
ReplyDeleteDearest Kim,
DeleteYes, it sure felt like a dream, for breaking out of our forced cocoon.
So glad I booked this timely as it is sold out constantly, as they too are limited in seating due to COVID.
Hugs,
Mariette
What a wonderful rail trip you had! I enjoyed your photos with gorgeous views! Looks like the weather was very nice. I hope these restaurants and businesses can fully open and go back to normal soon.
ReplyDeleteI would love to take this train some time in the future and enjoy the ride :-)
Dearest Tamago,
DeleteThis was really wonderful in all!
We really feel for all that have to make a living by running a restaurant.
Let's hope and pray that this craziness will soon end!
You sure can do this as you are not that far away from Bryson City...
Hugs,
Mariette
What a wonderful holiday and beautiful photos. I am so glad you enjoyed yourselves, Mariette. Truly wonderful. Thank you for sharing your photos with us.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Dearest Victor,
DeleteYes, this was a much needed escape to the wonders of nature and enjoying great food as well. We both feel so sad for all that depend on tourism and restaurants being way too limited in seating...
Hugs,
Mariette
How wonderful Mariette, I love train trips. The Eurostar from England to Paris I enjoyed, not so fantastic in Italy. Super last shot, steam trains are fabulous 💙
ReplyDeleteDearest Grace,
DeleteYes, so far all our train trips have been wonderful, best was the Rocky Mountaineer in Canada. We've never had the pleasure of riding the Eurostar. Too bad the day for riding the steam train was completely sold out...
Hugs,
Mariette
Lovely view! I hope you had a nice trip;-)
ReplyDeleteDearest Anne,
DeleteThat was a great trip and lots of pampering. A wonderful day together in nature.
Hugs,
Mariette
Hi Mariette, that looked like a fun short break - glad the weather held and you had good views. A little early for fall foliage perhaps but at least fewer tourists I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteWe were there in Bryson City a couple of years back - and usually go to Asheville at least once a year, a favorite place to visit always. Love the mountains!
Enjoy this weekend - Mary
Dearest Mary,
DeleteYes, it was pleasant, not too crowded yet. Walking in Bryson City was a pleasure and things look so well kept and clean. Very friendly people.
We both love mountains more than beaches...
Hugs,
Mariette
It is lovely that you have managed a few days away, a break really helps to shake off this crazy world. All of the trips that we have enjoyed this year have returned us home feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. It makes a lovely change too not having to think about buying food or preparing meals.
ReplyDeleteIt looked to be a great trip, and riding on an old steam train is always an added bonus.
Dearest Rosemary,
DeleteThis was a wonderful break away and perfect sunny, even warm weather!
Our hostess at one point was struggling for keeping the cabin cooled... it took a while till the system responded. But we were fine as we were not active; she was very active!
The meals were great and with the highest courtesy for this crazy time. We really feel for those restaurants that are forced to offer only limited seating...
It was not the steam train as that was completely sold out. On the above tickets you can read Diesel... You're inside the cabin anyway and cannot notice any difference.
Hugs,
Mariette
Muchos alicientes encuentros en este viaje. Al regresar a casa, te estarás esperando esos 6 gatos, que seguro que serán encantadores.
ReplyDeleteBesos
Querida Antónia,
DeleteEsos dÃas estaban llenos de encuentros agradables, excelentes vistas y buena comida. Bueno, nuestros gatitos fueron alimentados dos veces al dÃa por nuestra niñera de gatos pero muestran que te extrañan aferrándote como un imán a nosotros cuando llegamos a casa...
Abrazos,
Mariette
Such a lovely post that I so enjoyed
ReplyDeleteDearest Jo-Anne,
DeleteHappy that you enjoyed traveling a bit with us...!
Hugs,
Mariette
Beautiful photos and I like the last train very much.
ReplyDeleteHugs Britt
Dearest Britt,
DeleteThank you! It was not possible for us to ride on a steam train, completely sold out... But we went anyway.
Hugs,
Mariette
Dat was een mooie trip Mariette.Prachtige natuur! Goed om ook stil te staan bij de geschiedenis. Fijn weekend, lieve groet!
ReplyDeleteBeste Willy,
DeleteJa, het was echt heerlijk om die natuur zo te kunnen zien.
Zo had ik van de drie dagen ook een dag om enkel te genieten en kijken, de rest was het er toe en weer naar huis rijden. Toch is het maar 400 km van ons vandaan maar geen autobaan.
De geschiedenis is nogal donker... dat werd ons in de trein niet zo verteld! Vond deze video en ook andere info en Pieter heeft het gisteren samen met mij nog eens gekeken. Triest...
Liefs,
Mariette
As I read this post, I could not stop the chills rolling through me. Rail travel is my absolute most favorite way to go. It has been far too long and now I am motivated. Bryson City is over four hours by car from my son in Raleigh .... if ever we can return to NC, this would be a must excursion. Thank you for sharing .... and thank you for reading my poems.
ReplyDeleteDearest Helen,
DeleteLet's hope you will be able to return to NC! It would be quite a thrill for you to enjoy such a train ride. Your poems are always so in depth and thought provoking; a joy to read.
Hugs,
Mariette
Hello Mariette,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed seeing and reading about your adventure and this is something Steve and I want to do. I would love this. Would like to have the lunch also.
There is a train I need to check out in West Virginia at Christmas time. Can stay over night in a village that has shops and restaurants. I do want to take grand children.
Kudzu is flourishing too well here in Virginia. It's terrible how it has taken over some areas. I just wish there was some way to control it.
Happy Sunday to you, Betsy
Dearest Betsy,
DeleteYou and Steve would no doubt enjoy such a ride and it is so relaxing for being able to take in your surroundings.
The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad also does the Polar ride for children around Christmas.
In Georgia it looks like they got the kudzu more under control.
Hugs,
Mariette
Your train is amazingly long. I remembered the long train I got on from Shanghai to Beijing 20 years ago. I had the same experience as you to see the train snaking. Rail travel brings us special fun. We can see changes of landform, natural environment and land use. After the train travel, we would have another point of view to the country and people.
ReplyDeleteDearest RTC,
DeleteGuess it was around 24-26 cars and indeed quite a length! There were many curves where you could see it snaking around. You did quite a stretch by train back than! It is amazing. Husband Pieter did a lot of train travel while he went to China, Hong Kong and Taiwan as part of a Citizen Ambassador group.
It sure is an eye opener for getting to know the land.
Hugs,
Mariette
Oh, Ihr konntet noch reisen? Wie schön! Hier geht es innerhalb des Landes teilweise schon nicht mehr! Eine Katastrophe! Aber Masken sind bei Euch wohl auch Pflicht?
ReplyDeleteViele liebe Grüße auch hier
Sara
Liebe Sara,
DeleteJa, Gott sei Dank konnten wir das machen. Nicht ganz frei, denn kein Frühstück wurde serviert und auch im Restaurant waren die beschränkt aber einmal zum mitnehmen und das andere mal an der Bar war auch super und beides besonders lecker mit den lokalen Forellen. Ja die Masken sind Pflicht und für Pieter mit Brille und 'hearing aid' fast unmöglich!
Liebe Grüße,
Mariette