We were a little delayed in our explorations near Asheville, North Carolina. This relay, which sends power to the hydraulic pump that powers our slides and leveling jacks, failed. Fortunately, we were able to get it repaired with minimal expense and time lost. The right side of this device should look like the left. .
A few years back, we had explored the northern Blue Ridge Parkway, and wanted to see the southern part, The drive was dotted with several of these picturesque tunnels. Fortunately, we only ran across one driver who felt the need to honk his horn in the tunnel.
This is the view from Big Witch Overlook. We loved the interplay between the mountain contours and the shadows cast by the clouds.
At the south end of the parkway stands the town of Cherokee (ᏣᎳᎩ in Cherokee language). It is the headquarters of the Eastern Band of Cherokees. Note the greeting sign written in the Cherokee language.
All of the street signs were written in both English and Cherokee. Of course, there was a large and prosperous looking casino.
Along the way we had seen many motorcycles and many businesses that catered to them. This Geritol generation group was outside a café in Cherokee.
Many towns now have painted animal figures. In Cherokee, the theme was bears. Many of them were true works of art. We particularly liked this bear decked out in Eagle Dancer costume.
Our favorite, however, was this one clad in the very recognizable (at least to our Oklahoma friends) headdress and smoking the pipe shown in the famous lithograph of Sequoyah (ᏍᏏᏉᏯ). Sequoyah, whose English name was George Gist, was a Cherokee silversmith and inventor of the Cherokee syllabary which made reading and writing in Cherokee possible. The side of the bear is covered with characters from his syllabary.
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