Holiday USA 2010

		Day 16 : Choo choo, Train & Rail adventure
		Friday 6th August 2010

Breakfast was followed by a dash to the railway station, where we queued for our seat in the Nantahala open car on the Nantahala Gorge railway.

The first part of our journey took us alongside the Nantahala river, Our driver told us a little of the local history as we chugged along.

We passed over an impressive bridge built during the war years using 2nd hand steel tressles as metal was scarce during this time.

We discovered the thick vines you can see here creeping over EVERYTHING are a Japanese import called Kudzu, brought here in 1876 & grows up to 2ft a day!

Lake Fortuna was formed artificially to aid the earlier settlers to bring water & power to their homes.

We reached the outdoor centre where many fellow travellers would spend an hour before returning by train to Bryson City.

We & a group of white water rafters, who split off with their guide.. left the train a few miles later to join our Jeep driver , Todd, described to us by our rail crew ( Father xmas lookalike " Al ")  As Flipper cos he's on his 6th jeep & Copes very well with " Just the 1 eye" ???

Todd took us around the national park. pointing out scenic areas. We stopped at a beautiful set of falls, clambered down the rocks & spread a table cloth for a picnic, supplied by our tour guide.

Todd showed us typical properties, interesting & historic buildings in the area known as the Nantahalla community.

Todd took us to Queens lake, another artificially created lake, filled in the 1940's it acts as a giant filling tank for the river that our rafters were using.

The Lake is drained by a pipe which runs 6 miles down the hills & is open 9am-5pm supplying millions of gallons of water to the river.

On the way back we stopped to see the rafters pass under us , while we sat dry & comfy on a bridge .
1 cheeky rafter tried to splash us, Todds revenge involved dumping a bottle of chilled drinking water over the guy ,as he immerged the other side of the bridge!

Back at Wildwater HQ we awaited our bus back to the car, once home we re-entered the park to explore on our own, we stopped in Cherokee, a so called "Indian reservation" More like a money spinning mall of psudo Indian shops, a casino & some Hotels.

We went into Parkway a mountainous region of the park & photographed some views of the smokies at their best.

We found some of the grand signs somewhat baffling, Ian never did find the river in this view.

Dinner was at " Paspualino's" a marvelous Italian joint , where Ian ordered & devoured the worlds largest Pizza. ( Much to the chefs delight & waitresses amazement! )

We must go to our beds dear reader as Dolly Parton is expecting us bright & early tomorrow xx