Cherohala Skyway

Today our goal was to drive north-east into the Appalachian Mountains.  We packed up and left our Airbnb to a local breakfast place called :Aretha Franensteins just a few blocks away.  Their decor seems to be Halloween all the time.  We drove from Chattanooga heading east until we came to Ocoee, then headed north on 411 which is close to the mountains.  We wandered through some of the back roads in the Cherokee National Forest.  We stumbled across this gas station which contained the US Post Office for Reliance, TN for 67 years. 

According to the gas station owner, who you can see below talking to Mike, the only reason the post office was closed is that it was run by his sister and they just couldn't get along!

A lot of his family history is here as well, only a tiny portion on display.  He also collects antiques.  The crock below is much smaller than the one my Mom had to make pickles in.

The three woven Indian baskets below are from the late 18oo's.

We continued wandering around and came across this church - Springtown Baptist Church est. 18187

With a farm just next door.

Then we headed to Tellico Plains, TN for lunch at the Telicafe.  There were a lot more motorcycles there than cars!  We are headed into The Cherokee National Forest on the Cherohaha Skyway scenic road.  And there are a ton of cyclists here enjoying the curves of the roads.

This is the old town area of Tellico Plains

And now into the forest.

A glimpse of the forest in another dimension.

Fall Color season is a little late.  We had to go real high to catch even a little of it.

We ran into this couple at an overlook.  They were also touring the area, but with a really cool automobile.

There a ton of dams all over Tennessee and areas close.  They apparently were part of the Tennessee Valley Authority projects.

A last view of the mountains.