My Road is Worse Than Your Road!

March 27, 2002- Wednesday- Day 152
11:30am- I am moving good this morning, some days are better than others, for sure. Me and the little guy are on the other side of Highlands, due to another friendly Tarheel. Just outside of Cashiers, we were looking up at this road and the terrain just kept going higher and higher. It went on forever and the thought of this hike was already hurting and we haven't even started yet. A car pulled up and said that if I wanted to avoid the torture that lay in front of us, hop in. All the way to Highlands, I took note of what would have been the worst walk in my life. No shoulders and everything seemed to fall off the end of the earth. Up and up, when will this country flatten out? I have no idea, and was very thankful for the ride. The kind gentleman dropped us off at the town Bi-Lo, which gave me a chance to get Skil's some food for the road. I can't depend on getting a ride everytime the road gets to be a chore to climb. This part of US64 could be considered a man-killer rather than a scenic highway.
4:30pm- Leaving Highlands I kept noticing signs concerning 'Bridal Falls', now I know for a fact that 'Bridal Falls' are in Yosemite in California. So, what is going on? I passed a road directing folks to 'Dry Falls' (dry falls? how is that possible?) True to my information signs I have been seeing, we are at 'Bridal Falls' Me and Skil's took a break here and explored the falls some, we went behind the water and I was thinking what a neat place to pitch my tent. Probably not a good idea, and I for once, heeded my own advice. It was to early to even think about stopping. I have no knowledge of the road ahead, and what lies between here and Franklin, NC. Which is my target for today, whether we succeed in making it that far, I don't know. But we'll be really close.
Leaving the falls, I passed a Goverment truck with one occupant eating his lunch. We did our good-afternoons and I went my way. A half-mile down the road my G-Man friend stopped and said come on and ride to Franklin with him. He was telling me this is the worst section of US64, I am starting to believe that each town wants bragging rights for the most terrible section of road. The last ride told me the same thing about his section between Cashiers and Highlands. This is getting comical. I would never try to impress someone with a miserable stretch of road. The weather, mountains, peacefulness, anything but a trecherous uphill torture chamber. These people need to get out more!
Great!, we have arrived safely and not to tired in the booming metropolis of Franklin, NC. My Goverment guy brought us right into this Hick-Town and dropped us near the Wal-Mart. Of course, he had to get out of his truck and lead me and Skil's in prayer. I'm getting use to it now, it bothered me at first, but seems to be the rage outside of Florida. This would make at least a half-dozen times, that I have stood out in the street in broad daylight while some holey-roller prayed. I always come through like a champ though, I can throw my arms up and holler "Praise The Lord" as well as anybody. It would only seem out of place if I tried that on Bird Road. I am going over to the Wal-Mart, and then we will look for a place to set up our condo for the night. I see a sign that puts Murphy at the 55 mile mark. Should make it by the week-end. I have Bill and Margerets phone number, I'll give them a call when I arrive, maybe I can beg up a shower. I am curious if they opened another Bil-Mar up here in the Smoky Mountains. "The Smoky Mountain Bil-Mar" We serve SweetWater! This altitude change must have addled my brain.Ha Ha!