Here it is, the new Title of Vivalavida arrived! So I’m back to Fletcher to pass technical inspection by the seller – Chris in this case – necessary for subsequent registration. I will then be able to go to Georgia where the following steps are still to be done: get proof of residence, a certificate stating that I am not “eligible” for social security, obtain my Georgian driving lisence (it will be easier since I already have a US driver license) and finally register VLV Under my name. Still many steps, hoping they will not be as long as the previous…
 
I take this opportunity to update the blog with some of the last images brought from Tennessee. I left you at the Big South Fork …
The next morning, the snow had whited the country and the clouds were very low. I went to see the Angel Falls on the Big South Fork River, flooded after two days of almost uninterrupted heavy rains. A beautiful wild atmosphere …
I saw two pileated woodpecker, too fearful that I could photograph without a tent.
 
 
1) Flooded Big South Fork River
 

 
 
3) driftwood…
 

 
 
4) Angel Falls transformed in powerful rapids…
 

 
 
I then did a bit of road eastward to explore two beautiful natural arches the next day. Arrived when the night was well fallen, I declined to pursue the trail marked on the map which was washed out and completely frozen by the ambient 16°. I stopped near a small lake to spend a night.
 
The next day, I was somehow baptized by that winter! 😉
 
First by a really frosty morning: 7° to the outside thermometer, 27° to Vivalavida’s dash thermometer, behind the front curtain. First night that the heater, set to 40° to protect the bowels from freezing, has started at 3.30 am.
 
 
5) Morning at my campsite with 7°: cold! (taken with my iPhone…)
 

 
 
In the daylight, I was able to continue the snowy trail and I stopped at the hiking trailhead. After having equipped myself for “cold” weather, with my waterproof pants, my jacket on three polar layers, I started the trail. After a little more than a mile, I discovered a river to cross! Not very big, probably 20-25 feets wide, but deep enough for the water to enter in my shoes, which was excluded given the temperature. So, no other choice than taking my shoes off and cross barefoot! believe me, it was an exhilarating experience! 😀 A beautiful baptism, isn’t it?
 
After walking a few feets in the snow to dry my feet, I puted socks and shoes again and had good warm feet for the whole hike! A little more than one hour later, I discovered Primroy Arch, beautiful in that snowy day. I don’t know if it’s because of its name but it is unfortunately widely tagged with lovers names … A shame for such a great natural monument even if the symbol is pretty…
 
 
6) Primeroy Arch
 

 
 
7) Primeroy Arch (2)
 

 
 
8) Thanksgiving decoration..! 😉
 

 
 
9) Pretty colors under the arch, portion that taggers didn’t reach…
 

 
 
I continued the hike to the beautiful “Drive’in Triple Arch”, rather sought my way through the forest, which was a little difficult to find with the recently fallen snow…
 
 
10) do you see the trail..?
 

 
 
11) end there..? 🙂
 

 
 
In fact, it was more a GPS navigation than anything else .. I also had some trouble finding the arch nestled at the bottom of a long cliff, or more exactly to access it. I made ​​several attempts to down the cliff of about hundred feet, finding me every time over a impassable sheer. In the end, I made a detour of nearly an hour to reach the end of this long cliff, then walk down of it the other way. I discovered this beautiful arch which is actually a double arch. It is a good example of how these arches appear: water seeps into cracks of the cliff and the frost breaks the rock above, the keystone of the arch preventing it from breaking below. Ice present that day highlight water infiltration.
 
 
12) Dirve’in triple Arch
 

 
 
13) ice stalagmites under the arch…
 

 
 
The return went without particular problem – in recrossing the river of course – and when I found Vivalavida at about 3PM back, the roads were still frozen by 26° ambiance…
 
 
14) winter on the raos…
 

 
 
15) narrow passage…
 

 
 
16) small Church on the road
 

 
 
I then spent two days next to an artificial lake, enjoying watching the birds. First, a large group of Canadian Geese, about 80 individuals. What a noise they make! 😀
 
 
17) Canadian Goose
 

 
 
18) this was a little worried about my presence…
 

 
 
19) an American robin
 

 
 
20) a plower killdeer, quite difficult to approach…
 

 
 
21) seagulls..
 

 
 
22) my campsite thèses two days. Nice, isn’t it?
 

 
 
At the announcement of the arrival of the Title, I took the road back to North Carolina, stopping to visit some relics of the past…
 
 
23) muddy road…
 

 
 
24) One of the first l’un des premiers weight-mill, a column of water driving a turbine. This one was built in late 19th century.
 

 
 
25) old preserved house, a relic of the 19th century (1860 for it)
 

 
 
26) construction details…
 

 
 
27) traditional barriers; durable and which don’t need nails to build..!
 

 
 
28) traditional birdhouses made ​​in calabashes and an apples house in the background.
 

 
 
29) And finally, a photo taken by Eric during our meeting in Maryville. It was he who advised me to visit the Big South Fork, many thanks to him!