Arrived in North Carolina

 Exhausted from the Rock City hike, we slept soundly until 8:30 AM, 7:30 AM back home. Despite our plan to arrive at Ruby Falls by 11:00 AM, we started our day. Shelley’s yoga delayed breakfast, but we’re retired and on vacation, so it’s okay.

The breakfast included scrambled eggs, bacon, biscuits and gravy, yogurt, and juices. The sausage gravy had a tangy taste, which made me cautious about ordering it again.

We initially planned to visit Ruby Falls at 11:00 AM, but due to a delay, we booked a reservation for 11:10 AM. The short drive and easy parking allowed us to arrive and start the tour by 10:55 AM. Despite the long line, I wondered if such a crowded tour inside the cave would be enjoyable. 

At 11:10 AM, Shelley and I were with another lady. A couple from the Netherlands arrived for the 1:10 PM tour but asked to switch to the 11:10 AM tour. Our group was intimate, with only five people, led by our guide, Chuck. We took the elevator once, while the larger tour needed three rides. This allowed us to linger and stay close to the guide, making it easy to hear.

Ruby Falls, the tallest and deepest publicly accessible underground waterfall in the U.S., was discovered in 1928 by Indiana chemist Leo Lambert. Determined to make the historic Lookout Mountain Cave accessible, he planned for ten years. During drilling an elevator shaft, his team unexpectedly broke into a new cave with a strong breeze. They crawled for six hours through a narrow crevasse before finding the indoor waterfalls. The round-trip journey took 18 hours.

Leo Lambert named the 145-foot waterfall and the cave system beside it after his wife, Ruby. After ten years of work, he and his team developed the site, opening to the public in June 1930. The popular attraction has welcomed millions of visitors since then.

Geologists and researchers have been searching for the source of the underground falls, but it remains elusive. The water has a high mineral content, making it an intriguing mystery that may never be fully understood.

 

I set up my tripod at the falls since the group was smaller, which wouldn’t have been possible with more people. I held my camera on the way in, hoping for the best!

 

 

Our visit was enjoyable, but it would’ve been less enjoyable with more people. We visited the lookout tower, which is impressive even from the first level, despite the many stairs. Shelley and I were exhausted from yesterday’s hike and this morning’s cave walk. Shelley was hesitant to climb the steep stairs with no guardrails.

We began our road trip to Bryson City, North Carolina, and explored the Ocoee Byway. Shelley spotted picnic benches, but I was driving too fast to stop. Hungry, Shelley insisted we pull over, and I braked and parked. Luckily, the spot was gorgeous by the Ocoee River. We hung out for 25 minutes before it started pouring rain.

After lunch, we drove 15 miles along scenic routes to the Outland Suites and Resort. We saw an old barnyard, which made us question our location. Then, we faced a long, steep driveway. As we ascended, the barnyard was replaced by a charming area. A chalet sat on the first hill, but our suite was on another single-lane incline. Fortunately, our Subaru handled the steep slopes well, unlike our Kia.

After unloading, we were both very hungry. Shelley looked for dining options, and Lucy in the Rye seemed promising, but it closed at 2:00 PM! We decided to drive to Sylva, North Carolina, in the hope of finding a good restaurant. After exploring what appeared to be a lively downtown, we chose Lulu's on Main, especially since it was named after Jordan's puppy! It turned out to be a great choice. I ordered meatloaf, which was delicious, and the mashed potatoes were excellent! Shelley had iced tea and a Schezwan noodle bowl with shrimp, loaded with vegetables, and just as tasty.

Later, we visited IGA to buy snacks and ice cream for the evening. We were both exhausted and didn't eat the ice cream immediately, which was a bit unusual! Without a ceiling fan, Londell was content, but Shelley was not — she loves her fan!  

Shelley was pleased to discover that each bedside had a small flashlight for bathroom trips. This prevents stepping on objects or missing the toilet. It was beneficial because the light switches are confusing and don’t clearly indicate whether the light will turn on. Overall, it was a pleasant place to stay.

Carry on my friends, carry on!