North Carolina Stop

Mickey and Cora's Bay Star

July 20, 2011      Marrying up with our friends, Mickey and Cora, in Dillard, GA, we drove in tandem to Cascade Lake Recreation Area in North Carolina.  The spacious 160-site park offers a swimming hole for kids, but Cascade Lake was the focal point for our trout and bass fishing.  Skunked by the rainy weather the first two mornings, Alan and Mickey were finally able to go out in the kayaks to try their luck.  In spite of enjoying their outings, they struck out on the first two trips but on the third trip, Alan caught one crappie.

       

The rain put a damper on our activities but with temperatures in the 60’s, we were all delighted.  Nearby Brevard provides a variety of shops and galleries, so we took advantage of a rainy day to go into town to explore.  Getting the inside word from a local tackle shop, we decided to try trout fishing on the Davidson River.

 Heading out with our gear, we arrived at the “perfect” fishing spot and spread out in different directions to find the best trout holes.  After an hour or so, the 55-degree water was beginning to numb my feet, and I had not had the first nibble.  Alan had caught one and I noticed at the same time that Mickey had run back to Cora to leave his rod and get some help.  As Cora was departing she said he had fallen and lost his sunglasses and hat.  Alan followed her back up the river while I stayed behind to keep an eye on our rods.  A few minutes later, a hat went floating by on the opposite side of the river.  Now I’m thinking,” How many hats could be floating down the river?”  This has to be Mickey’s, so I went running across the river trying to grab the hat with the swift current repeatedly taking it out of my reach.  Finally, the hat stopped for a moment in a trout hole, I reached and it slipped away.  Now I am fairly well drenched but determined to get the hat.  In the next trout hole, I was able to retrieve the treasure and then went to the shore to await the return of the others. 

First, Alan shows up soaking wet; then Cora, wet; then Mickey, wet.  The popular Slippery Rock of NC is located on the Davidson River (but not here.) As is turned out, all three of them found their own personal slippery rocks.  Hot showers felt mighty good on our return to camp.

A distinctive animal lives in the Brevard area, the white squirrel.  Originally from an island in Hawaii, they were part of a carnival traveling through north Florida in 1940.   Following an accident, a couple of the unique breed (they are not albinos) got away and wound up thriving in the nearby pecan trees.  A pair was brought to Brevard, NC as a gift.  Eventually, the squirrels were released and started breeding in the area.

On Sunday afternoon, we ventured out to the Cradle of the Forest to listen to the Songcatcher Series that takes place weekly throughout the summer.  The talented duo, Rhonda and Sparky Rucker, provided traditional American folk music coupled with stories for our entertainment in a covered outdoor auditorium.

Cascade Lake

On our final morning in the park, Alan and I took off at dawn to kayak around the lake.  The placid waters provided a serene outing with ideal images of the trees and sky reflected in the lake.  Mountain Laurels dropped their flowers, which floated, like water lilies on the water and formed flowery carpets under their trees along the shore.  What a beautiful way to start the day. 

Mickey and Cora decided they were ready to head home but we are moving to another spot in NC.  Next stop, Carolina Hemlocks Recreation Area along the South Toe River.