a river runs through it
Pictures from Saturday:
Saturday morning. Almost the whole second day’s crew seated in front of the general store/gas station where we refueled. From left: myself, Jeremy, his fiancée Luanne, Aaron, Q, Hao, Elizabeth, her boyfriend Joel.
A snake in the trail. A small crowd of kids and parents gathered ’round this and were fascinated/repelled by the animal, which seemed unaffected and content to go about its business of crossing the trail.
Hao and Q. Q has just succeeded in getting Hao to turn around for the picture.
Elizabeth and Joel at the Linville Falls overlook.
The falls. They’re at the head of the gorge, which runs north-sound with high ridges on either side.
Looking south.
More of the falls. People were scaling the rock face and swimming in the river.
Looking south down the gorge again.
The lovely Q, tree hugger.
The whole crew (minus Heather’s mom and Chloë, the puppy). Top row, from left: Hao, Q, Jeremy, Luanne, Heather. Bottom row: Me, Joel, Elizabeth, Aaron.
Wiseman’s View, on the western ridge. A dirt road misnamed the Kistler Memorial Highway (although it certainly was high) ran along the top of the ridge.
Looking south down the gorge from the overlook.
We drove further along the road, found a campsite up top, settled in, backtracked to a parking area, and hiked down into the gorge. A 35-minute, 900-foot hike down, Aaron and I tackled it in 29 minutes coming up. But before that, we had fun in the river.
Aaronski removing shoes…
Downstream. I went swimming in the big pools. The water was brisk, but not unbearable. I slipped and hurt my hand very close to here.
After the hike back up, Aaron goofs off. I’m busy taking the picture and trying not to think about the fact that that’s the pot in which the steak is to be cooked later…
After the steak & jumbalaya dinner, we relaxed, sang, and smored it up. Joel plays the guitar and sings a Radiohead song. I brought a blowtorch attachment for a propane tank that worked wonders for starting the fire.
Smore furnace.
No one planned on rushing back to attend church Sunday morning, and we knew that the pastor’s sermon text was to be the Song of Solomon, so we decided to break out the Bible and read the book, passing it around and reading a chapter each. Elizabeth brought a very useful head-light.
Joel reads.
Hao takes a turn.
We sat around and talked for a bit before heading to bed. No one slept very well, and it rained Sunday morning, so we packed up and headed back fairly quickly. Saturday was certainly the highlight of the trip.
awesome pics :)
I especially like the one with Aaron with his head in the pot, haha.
(btw, why do you call him aaronski in one of the earlier shots?)
I’m jealous that I couldn’t hang out with you guys on another holiday, it was good fun last summer (sigh)
Thanks :) “Aaronski” is just a nickname (no Russian connections implied).
We missed you…but you were in Bangkok not too long ago, for heavens’ sake… That’s like 50 times as exotic as Linville Gorge :)
How fun!
I love the Linville Falls area. I think I want my ashes to be spread there if I die. Take note. :-)
I’ll remember that…just in case I ever find myself in a position where I have to communicate your last wishes :)
that was all so pretty. i’m homesick.
hey now, I never said that I hadn’t “moved on” but ya know…
:)
and wow thailand was fab, but it is nice to have a big group of people to hang out with and explore new places
David here
Sucks to have dial-up now :-/ I’ll look at them when I can leave the computer be for a while.
great photos!!! :)
looks like fun!
Aren’t you going to be back in this neck of the woods fairly soon? Or are you already? I heard rumors from Elyse earlier this month…
i’ll be coming august 9-17, tho i won’t have time to go anywhere near the mountains.