by bluewaters | May 28, 2017 | Uncategorized
With the arrival of one of our nation’s most revered holidays, we pause to reflect upon the principles that have made our nation great. We pause to remember the true cost of freedom and to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect it. The brave men and women we honor selflessly gave of themselves to defend a way of life that we so cherish: The rights of all people to determine their future, free of oppression and fear. It is because of these heroes that we celebrate Memorial Day, commemorating the selflessness and sacrifice of those upon whose very lives rests the foundation of freedom.
In his famous address at Gettysburg in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln stated, “That from these honored dead, we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion; that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom; and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
This weekend, many of us will gather with family and friends to usher in the summer season, but it is important that we never forget why we gather and remember the brave men and women who gave so much and the families and loved ones left behind.
by bluewaters | May 21, 2017 | Uncategorized
US 129 is a popular and internationally famous destination for driving enthusiasts (of motorcycles and sportscars), as it is located along a stretch of two-lane road known as The Dragon (or The Tail of the Dragon). The 11-mile stretch of the Dragon in Tennessee is said to contain 318 curves. Some of the Dragon’s sharpest curves have names like Copperhead Corner, Hog Pen Bend, Wheelie Hell, Killboy (formerly Shade Tree) Corner, Mud Corner, Sunset Corner, Gravity Cavity, Beginner’s End and Brake or Bust Bend.
Check out the video of a recent Blue Waters Mountain Lodge guest as he attempts to slay the Dragon. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYhutEeE8xY
by bluewaters | May 16, 2017 | Uncategorized
During the 19th century, an area of the United States that ran from southern New York state to the northern parts of Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi in the United States became known as Appalachia. It was a rugged and hilly region settled primarily by the Scots-Irish as well as other European settlers. Inhabitants of this region took elements of their European culture and combined it with new aspects of the Appalachian region to develop traditional music, which had elements of English and Irish ballads, African-American blues music, and other elements to create a distinct sound that became known as Appalachian music.
Appalachian music provided a beginning for what would eventually become bluegrass music, country music, and old-time music, and elements of Appalachian music can be heard in all those genres. The Appalachian style combined several different genres and instruments to create a distinctly different sound; for example, the fiddle, which came from the Scottish tradition, eventually combined with instruments such as the banjo, which was common in African-American songs. Soon, instruments such as the mountain dulcimer, which is also known as the Appalachian dulcimer, and mandolin began to become prominent in the region. Once combined with traditional instruments and the banjo, Appalachian music began to take shape as a distinct musical genre.
Appalachian music is markedly influenced by religious themes and hymns, since religion was such a strong influence on the daily lives of Appalachian inhabitants. Many Appalachian songs were traditional English, Welsh, or Scottish ballads that simply became prominent in the Appalachians. However, New World ballads — that is, ballads written in North America — became just as influential as Old World ones. New World ballads were often written about prominent issues of the day or news in the region. Protest music crept into the Appalachian style as workers struggled for higher wages and better working and living conditions, and ballads began popping up that dealt with mine disasters and workers’ strikes.
Appalachian music gained more popularity and notoriety in the 1920s when the first recordings began to appear. Recorded Appalachian artists found moderate success, but the onset of the Great Depression largely sent these musicians back into obscurity. Not long after that, however, country music cropped up, influenced directly from the Appalachian style. The recordings of the mid to late 1920s are often considered the beginnings of the country music genre. By the 1940s, bluegrass was becoming popular; this genre combined elements of both traditional Appalachian music and the emergent country music.
by bluewaters | May 11, 2017 | Uncategorized
The forests of Western North Carolina invite superlatives. “It is not possible,” wrote Maurice Brooks in The Appalachians, “for one who has visited the Great Smokies to revisit them without an upsurge of emotion. They soar, lifting the eye skyward as do no mountains….Many of their coves and slopes stand virgin, a forest as rich as our planet has to offer.”
Botanists call the Southern Appalachians the “vegetation cradle of North America”, and words like “refuge” and “sanctuary” are also frequently heard. During the Ice Age, the southward retreat of species in Europe was blocked in many instances by the massive east-west running Alps and by the Mediterranean Sea. In North America, the gentler north-south running Appalachians provided safe havens during the repeated cooling and warming cycles of the earth’s climate. Today, at least one hundred and thirty one native tree species inhabit the Southern Appalachians, compared to about eighty five in all of Europe.
Richest by far of the half dozen major forest types in Western North Carolina is the cove hardwood forest, sometimes called a “green cathedral”, which occupies the damp soils of sheltered coves and hollows at elevations between 1,500 and 4,500 feet. The internationally famous cove forests of the Smokies feature gigantic specimens of the following trees:
Most Plentiful Cove Species Local Circumference
Yellow (or Tulip) Poplar 25 feet
Eastern Hemlock 20 feet*
Yellow Buckeye 18 feet*
Sugar Maple 15 feet
Yellow Birch 14 feet
Mountain Silvervell 13 feet*
White Basswood 12 feet*
*At or near the national record for the species
by bluewaters | May 5, 2017 | Uncategorized
After the rock slide that took place on March 14, 2010 and heroic cooperation between North Carolina and Tennessee officials, the Tail of the Dragon has been open for over two weeks. Open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily, guests of Blue Waters Mountain Lodge are really enjoying having the road to themselves. Many have commented that it is like a closed track without the nuisance of local traffic. Reminder to all would-be dragon slayers, the road is still under the watchful eye of a couple of Tennessee’s finest.
To follow the progress of the rock slide clean up, see http://earthcam.com/clients/tennessseedot/. It is still anticipated that the road will re-open for through traffic before July 31, 2010.
As for the status of other roadways in our area… The Cades Cove Loop and Parson’s Branch Road are both open. Parson’s Branch provides one way access from Cades Cove to the Tail of the Dragon. As many of our guests can attest, Parson’s Branch has always been an adventure with six miles of loose gravel and several water crossings.
The traffic is once again moving through the Ocoee Gorge on U.S. 64 after two rockslides caused five months of closure entailing a massive clean up and stabilization project. The major rockslide occurred near the dam.
Finally, I-40 has also reopened after a rockslide that took place in October, 2009 causing major detours. This closure was near the North Carolina/Tennessee state line.
by bluewaters | Apr 26, 2017 | Uncategorized
Finished in 1996, the Cherohala Skyway, a scenic drive leaving from Robbinsville, North Carolina over the mountains to Tellico Plains, Tennessee. This steep and often curvy road gets its name from the Cherokee and Nantahala National Forests it cuts through during its 36 mile run.
The Cherohala Skyway is without question is one of the best roads in America to ride. Whether in a car or on a motorcycle this road is breathtaking in the joy of the drive and the incredible views. Climbing a dramatic 2630 feet in just 11 miles to the highest point 5390 feet and ending with dropping down through the Cherokee National Forest, following the Tellico River into Tennessee.
Once is not enough. Just go ahead and plan to ride it in both directions just for the ride. Then plan a couple of days to ride and stop and walk where hiking trails leading off from the skyway will take you to incredible waterfalls and lookout points. Layered clothing is a good idea as a pleasant 70 degrees can quickly drop to 30. Black bears, deer, mountain lions are abundant along with the largest oldest trees in the Eastern states.
One of the side trips is to Bald River Falls. A Forest Service road on your right will take you there. It’s about 5 miles to the falls, but well worth the trip. Bald River Falls are about 100 feet high and you can enjoy them from either a bridge next to the parking lot or walk down closer to the falls. Another is the lake at Indian Camp Boundary. If you need a place to cool off, this is a great stop.
