Lost Creek

Well the creek wasn't really lost, and we weren't lost either. We just didn't know exactly where we were most of the time. You know the saying, "Not all who wander are lost..."

The mailman who passed us when we pulled over to let him by was sure we were lost, but we assured him we wanted to go that way, so he went on with a dubious look on his face.

When we came to a little town, we thought we'd stop for some ice cream, since it was hot, and Carol's AC is not working in the car.

Guess they're closed on Tuesdays too.

Tom-Tom, the GPS knew where we were and wanted us to turn around, but we ignored him.

Signs we passed hinted at where we might be.

We started out looking for any evidence of the old mining town of Isabella, near Ducktown. We followed Isabella Road until it became gravel. We guessed Isabella has been reclaimed by the land and forests.

We're not in Kansas any more.

Oh, I thought we were on Stansbury Mountain.

Now that's reassuring...

We saw a sign that said, "Lost Creek Campground", 12 miles, and decided to check it out.

Could this be Lost Creek way down there?

I don't know what mountain we're on.

Oh, we're still on the right road.

A Forest Service truck passed us....quitting time....and left us in a cloud of dust.

We've heard of TN HWY 30. We doubt though, if we'll find any campers in the campground way out here in the mountains.

I read about this trail...it covers 300 miles through the Appalachian Mountains.

Lost Creek has been found. The campground is situated along the banks of Big Lost Creek. We never saw any signs for a "Little Lost Creek."

Oh, did I mention the dusty roads we've been traveling?

Carol checks out the vault toilets and finds them clean.

Big Lost Creek....I could see fish and tadpoles swimming.

We were wrong about no campers. There are 12 campsites and at least half of them were being used by tent-campers and makeshift shelters. It looked like these people were living here in this no-fee campground. Signs of the times. One site had a carport-type canopy set up over a full-size refrigerator & electric stove....being run by a generator.
The sun is getting low...time to find our way out of the mountains.

Sure has been a pretty ride.

Leaving the forest.

And into the historic town of Reliance. This rustic old church (Hiwassee Union Baptist Church) was built in 1899.

Historic Marker

Early churchgoers had standing room only on this ferry across the Hiwassee River.

The pews are still there.

Carol peeking in.

Stone pillars support the building underneath.

The Hiwassee River...there's now a bridge.

A beautiful old farmhouse in Reliance....apparently still lived in.

Steps lead to an old wrought-iron gate.

The barn

We followed the Hiwassee River a ways, then reluctantly gave in and allowed Tom-Tom to turn us around towards home.
Back by the old farmhouse....surrounded by beautiful flowers.

Following Route 30 to Hwy 64

The sun sets over Parksville Lake (aka Ocoee Lake)

The Ocoee River, site of the whitewater events during the 1996 Summer olympics.

Water over the dam...where rafters put in nowadays.

The Ocoee Whitewater Center...bridge over the river.

The visitor center is on the right. There's now a walking path down by the river. People also come here to wade & swim in the river.

We stopped because there was about to be a water release, and we wanted to watch the river rise.
While waiting we discovered this trail which follows the Old Copper Road we had learned about at the Burra Burra Copper mine Museum.
We knew the water was about to be released because we heard the warning sirens. We were hoping to see a rush of water coming down the river. Instead it filled more like a bathtub, but the current is swift here, and it would be dangerous to be caught in it when the water is high.