River View Road, North Georgia

Just south of Franklin, North Carolina, we turned left off of Highway 441 and found a wonderful area of windy, peaceful roads. Here we are on unpaved River View Road, just at the northern border of Georgia.

Cullasaja River Gorge, North Carolina

We road the narrow and stunning Highway 64/28 near Bridal Veil Falls and Dry Falls, past Highlands on the way to Franklin, North Carolina. With the dramatic drop of the Cullasaja River Gorge to the left and solid granite mountain to the right, we curved with the road and river down through the Nantahala National Forest.

Panoramic Grandeur

The Cherokee named the river Cullasaja, which means "honey locust place." The gorge is part of the trail followed by Spanish explorer Hernando DeSoto in his quest for gold in 1540. The river is narrow and deep and rushes with panoramic grandeur.

Forsythia Along Lake Logan

Finally! We are back on the mighty road. After days, weeks, months of snow, cold, and rain, today was drop dead gorgeous weather. Everytime we stopped, strangers would comment on what a perfect day it was to ride.

There was almost no one on the roads and we took the ride gently, enjoying each curve. We went north on Hwy 215. Here we are going past Lake Logan golden forsythia bushes blooming against the green grass, blue lake and sky. Vibrant colors against the bright sunshine. All of the waters swelled from the recent rain. Waterfalls abounded. Trout fishermen were everywhere.