We started our trip to DC, on 02/20/2013 by arriving at Casey’s Jones Campground in Lake City, FL. We then moved to Southern Trails Resort in Unadilla, GA for one week. On 03/06/2013 we drove to Jones RV Park in Norcross, GA. We visited Fort Yargo State Park in Winder, GA on 03/10/2013. Built around 1792 Ft Yargo has been part of Winder history for over 200 years and still is a working part of the town. In its day it has been a place of legends, of protection, a home, and even a rental until around 1945 or so. Today it is a place to learn of the people who lived here after the Creek and Cherokees were removed. In 1792 the Humphrey brothers built four forts for protection from Indians, Ft. Strong at Talassee, Ft. Thomocoggan at Jefferson, Ft. Groaning rock at Commerce, and Ft. Yargo at Beadland. In 1794 the long-awaited company of 127 men, women and children arrived at Talasee. Twenty-seven went to Beadland. Snodon and Ft. Yargo could now muster a fighting force of 98 men and half that many dead shot women. In 1794 parties of Indians were traveling through the settlements. It was learned that this was part of a plot to kidnap Helen Draper, but the plot was foiled. A brother of a murdered Bohuron chief set war parties to avenge his death. Notha and Tata Neva learned of the plans and went to Snodon/ Ft. Yargo with warning. Umausauga brought to the defense 21 of the whites’ Indian friends. Josiah Strong was elected commander in chief. The whites were divided into three companies one each under Joe Lavender, Abe Trent and Ed Damron. Umausauga led the 22 natives and Ocean Scupeen (born in route to this land, hence the name) was one scout. Helen Draper called Powder, another legend of Ft. Yargo history, took charge of the women. In 1810 Ft. Yargo and 121 acres were sold at auction for $167.00 to John Hill who lived there for a number of years. The family cemetery is near by in the Ft. Yargo park. The picture is of the Block House of the Fort.
The picture is of Abigail in front of the Block House.
On 03/13/2013 we arrived at NACO Carolina Landing Resort in Fair Play, SC. We took a ride to visit Stumphouse Tunnel and Issaqueena Falls both in Walhalla, SC, Bridal Veil Falls in Highlands, NC, Tallulah Gorge Falls State Park in Tallulah Falls, GA, and Toccoa Falls in Toccoa, GA. Located about 7 miles northwest of Walhalla on HW 28, the 1,617-foot long Stumphouse Tunnel is an oddity. Started in 1852 to connect Charleston to Knoxville and eventually on to Cincinnati, the Civil War—and lack of funds—brought construction to a halt. While there were various efforts by the Blue Ridge Railroad to revive the tunnel, none of them came to pass and it stands today as a monument to the efforts of pre-Civil War engineering. The tunnel was first proposed in 1835 by residents of Charleston, South Carolina as a new and shorter route for the Blue Ridge Railroad between Charleston and the Ohio river valley area which until then was only accessible by bypassing the mountains entirely to the South and then traveling up north through Georgia and middle Tennessee. In 1852, 13 miles of tunnel were proposed to cross the Blue Ridge Mountains through South Carolina, North Carolina, and into Tennessee. Construction on the railway was begun in the late 1850s and was successful through most of South Carolina until hitting the mountains around Wallhalla in Oconee County. There Stumphouse tunnel along with three other tunnels was to be built. Construction on Stumphouse tunnel began in 1856 when the George Collyer Company of London brought many Irish workers into the area for this project. Many of the workers lived in housing on top of Stumphouse mountain called Tunnel Hill. By 1859, the State of South Carolina had spent over a million dollars on the tunnel and refused to spend any more on the project, therefore the tunnel work was abandoned. The tunnel had been excavated to a length of 1,617 feet of the planned 5,863 total feet.[5][6] Today, where the tunnel was meant to end on the other side of the mountain, there remains a mound of earth (intended for the railway tracks) submerged during the summer months under Crystal Lake. The picture is of Stumphouse Tunnel.
Issaqueena Falls has a similar story as Connestee Falls south of Brevard, NC. In each case, the falls are named after an Indian maiden who allegedly jumped from the falls out of love for a white man. Whereas Connestee jumped to her death, the Issaqueena legend has a happier ending. Issaqueena fell in love with David Francis, a silversmith who lived in what is now the town of Ninety-Six, South Carolina. Learning that her tribe planned a surprise attack on the settlement, Issaqueena mounted her horse to warn the settlers. On her ride, she mentally named the landmarks she passed along the way: Mile Creek, Six Mile, Twelve Mile, Eighteen Mile, Three and Twenty, Six and Twenty, and finally Ninety-Six. The towns of Six Mile and Ninety-Six and the creeks bearing these names continue to exist. It is actually 92 miles from her starting point to Ninety-Six, so she was pretty close. Issaqueena and David fled to what is now Stumphouse Mountain north of Walhalla to escape the fury of her betrayed tribe. The lovers lived in a large, hollowed-out tree or Stumphouse. Finally tracked down by her tribesmen, Issaqueena raced to a nearby falls (now Issaqueena Falls) and plunged out of sight into the cataract. Believing her dead, the warriors gave up the search. However, Issaqueena later joined her husband and fled to Alabama to live happily ever after. Theoretically, you could jump off the top of the 100-foot falls, land safely on the first tier of the falls and hide under the veil of falling water. The picture is of Issaqueena Falls.
Bridal Veil Falls flows on a tributary of the Cullasaja River through the Nantahala National Forest. The falls flows over an overhanging bluff that allows visitors to walk behind the falls and remain dry when the waterflow is low. During periods of drought, the stream may nearly dry up, though visitors will get wet if the waterflow is moderate or high. The picture is of Bridal Veil Falls.
One of the most spectacular canyons in the eastern U.S., Tallulah Gorge is two miles long and nearly 1,000 feet deep. Visitors can hike rim trails to several overlooks, or they can obtain a permit to hike to the gorge floor (100 per day, not available during water releases). A suspension bridge sways 80 feet above the rocky bottom, providing spectacular views of the river and waterfalls. Tightrope walkers have twice crossed the gorge, and visitors can still see towers used by Karl Wallenda. A paved path follows an on old railroad bed, perfect for strollers and bicycles, while mountain bikers can test their skills on a challenging 10-mile trail. Exhibits in the park’s Jane Hurt Yarn Interpretive Center highlight the rich history of this Victorian resort town, as well as the rugged terrain and fragile ecosystem of the area. The persistent trillium, monkey-face orchid and green salamander are protected species found within the gorge. An award-winning film takes viewers on a dramatic journey through the gorge, including footage of rock climbers and kayakers. The picture is of the gorge looking south from Overlook 1.
