Fathers Day Weekend Trip- Hiwassee River Paddling

Fathers Day Weekend Trip- Hiwassee River Paddling &  Towee Creek Cookout

Saturday,  June 20, 2020

Kenny and Dana Koogler

Adam, Crystal, Michael and Tessa Lindsey
Mike & Renaee Lindsey

Hiwassee Pix are here

Above:  an old photo of Webb's Store. I failed to take one today because I was with my family.  When the grandkids are around I am having fun and helping look after them. I am not focused as much on taking pictures, but making memories with them.  Keeping them safe. The covid and mask wearing, social distancing did nothing to help me relax around all those people before the trip started. 

  Crystal decided she wanted to see if our family could go paddling on the Hiwassee River the weekend of Fathers Day.    I was game.  We had done this once before when she was sixteen and her brother thirteen.  We had fun that time.   We figured after seventeen years we should give it another go.  We got the extra nice surprise that Papa Mike and Renaee Lindsey ... Crystal's in laws wanted to go also! They do more paddling on the river than we do .   

I was very excited. I hoped all would go to plan.  

       We met up in Reliance and headed toward Webb Brother's Store.

It is one of two paddling outfits in the tiny community.   I grew up going to country stores just like this.  My great grandfather owned a Gulf Station and convenience store after he retired.   I remember very well sitting on the bench outside the store at Cream Sutton's drinking a coke or eating a popsicle.
Given the choice between Webb Brothers Store vs. any other outfit.. I'll go with Webb's every time. 

    It was busy, but we managed to find parking in the lot.   We went up to the store to sign releases and pay.  It was not required to have reservations and we didn't.  It would have made things a tad easier, but it all worked out.  We rented
three double duckies and divvied up into pairs. Mike and Reneae brought their own kayaks and we helped them set a shuttle.   Webb's shuttles you up river along Powerhouse Road on the back of a pickup truck with cattle rails!  I loved the truck ride as much as the float trip.  I remember riding like that now and then as a kid.    I did not take anything with me except a bottle of water.  I do not have photos from the trip.   It cost us about $60 for two persons for all day.  That is a pretty good bargain.  You can go down the river's five mile float over and over if you wish.   It wore our butts out. We were ready to be done by the time we got back. 

    The float was beautiful.  I was thrilled we were all together having an adventure.   Today was the first time ever in the Hiwassee that I saw zero snakes!
I guess it helps that nowdays I am not as scared of them as  I once was.  I got over that awhile back.

         The float trip was about as tough as it was the first go round.
We got hung up several times.  One time was exasperating. I thought we'd never get that duck off the rocks!   Adam, my son in law, had some tips for me and Crystal. We took his advice on how to sit in the craft and it helped a bunch.
We also started taking the rapids at an angle instead of head on.  That helped too.

       I'd go again.  If you go more often it gets easier, because you get better at it.
Once we got to the point where we could see the railroad bridge we got a second wind.   We knew we only had 1/4 mile to go.  All the really tough rapids were behind us.   We drifted over to the left side little by little to get out.  We made it!

     We got out of the river and went to the jeep.  I was thirsty having long ago finished up my water.   After a nice cold drink I went in the store and bought me a Webb Brother's souvenir tee shirt.   I had one in the past, but it is long gone.

      We headed toward the Towee Creek boat launch and picnic area to have our cookout.   We brought our portable grill, a folding table, lawn chairs, all kinds of good things.   We found a shady table.  Beside it sat a grill.   I asked a man and woman if they were using the table?  They replied no. They noted that the grill had been sitting there all day.   It was a brand new charcoal grill that looked to have been used exactly once before.   Something told me that was a God thing.
Below is a photo of the grill and the built in one also.

  We began setting up our stuff.  Kenny and Adam fooled with the grill trying to get it fired up so we could cook.  It occurred to me that it seemed to be taking a long time.  Kenny asked me to bring him the lighter.  It is not uncommon for the electric igniter on a grill to quit.   We came prepared we thought.  Despite every effort the grill was not going to work.   The regulator was not cooperating with the smaller gas canisters.   There was sat with a cooler full of raw hamburgers.

     Adam went back to a small store we had passed on the way there.  Reliance Fly and Tackle was only 2 miles away.   He was hunting charcoal and lighter fluid.  Failing that we'd have to double back to the FlipFlop burger for lunch.
It wasn't too long til Adam showed up successful. Charcoal and lighter fluid in hand!  Hallelujah!  Tell me that wasn't Divine Providence!
 

Below is a photo of the fired up grill!  A great sight to hungry tummies!

 Towee Creek flows by with lots of smooth rocks to skip.

 Towee Creek looking toward the bridge and the Hiwassee

 Perfect picnic spot!

 The Whole Fam Damily

 First Fall leaf on all that clear water!

 nearby restrooms

 Black eyed susies along the road

 My grandkids swimming in the creek with new friends above and below

 Towee Creek looking upstream into the shade.

Above: quaint little covered bridge back at Reliance Fly & Tackle.  It crosses the creek behind their store and campground.

    We had burgers, hotdogs, watermelon, cowboy caviar with corn chips, and sweet tea.   Everyone got plenty to eat.  We all felt very mellow.   Our family went through some hurts five years ago when Teresa Lindsey passed away much too soon.  I had been praying for God to help us heal.  Isn't it marvelous how God takes broken pieces and puts them back together to make something beautiful?  Renaee fills gaps  in our hearts and lives.  There is always enough love to go around.   Love covers a multitude of hurts thanks to God's grace.

       I had prayed for many years over Renaee as she went through her own devastating losses of a beloved husband, Dale.   Then we were there the night her cabin caught fire and burned down.   Her daughter in law Anita was there to take care of me when I had surgery and was in the hospital.   Something kept bring the Myers family into our lives.  It was another God moment.  If I live to be 100 I'll never forget the day I heard the Lord's voice explaining his plan to me to fix us and help us.   Now I am seeing the fruits of those prayers.

    You have a need? God's got you!  Be it a grill or a new family member to mend your heart.     Thank you Lord!

  What a perfect day this was! 

Below is a short video of Gee Creek Falls in the area from another trip. It is set to music from The Rain Kings. Destiny calling.  

Conasauga Falls and Scenic Drive with the Family Round 1

Trailing arbutus along Conasauga Falls trail. 

One of the earliest flowers to bloom in Spring. 

Conasauga Falls and Scenic Drive with the Family Round 1

3/27/2020

Dana Crystal, Michael ,Tessa

Pix are here 

(Either X out the top right box or click the right arrow to advance. Photo 

album is a combination of several trips.  Pictures start with the photo of bright pink clump of trailing arbutus)

Link to Conasauga Scenic Loop Drive Directions 

    This is one of the slightly abbreviated trip reports I'm catching up on. 

This took place right at the start of the corona virus crisis of 2020.   School was out because of that as well as Spring break had just started anyhow.   We were trying to get out and hike each week as a family.  

      Above: Michael and Tessa start our hike

   We decided upon Conasauga Falls as a hike with other options to come later in the day.  I had long wanted to try driving Witt Road and Hot Water Road to make a loop back to Coker Creek from Conasauga.   I had been told by Nate Yarbrough it was a very pretty drive.  I still had not tried it.

     Above: vernal iris likes dry pine woods

   We drove to Tellico Plains and on to the turn for Conasauga Falls trail.

We got to the end of the spur road and parked.   We saw one vehicle already there.   Another pulled up as we got out.   It was a mom and teen aged daughters.

I felt confident Tessa would be easily able to handle the 1.3 mile hike today.

It is a gradual downward hike on a good trail with switchbacks.    The day was warm and promised to get warmer.     We hiked out through the piney woods.

The forest smelled great. Fresh air and pine needle fragrance.     We saw trailing arbutus waxy pink dots along the path.  We saw vernal iris and  dwarf crested iris purple blooms also.

     We had to use care on the approach to the end of the trail.  The trail becomes more narrow and tricky.  Rocky areas and lots of tree roots.  We made it down without incident.    The stream was visible below. The kids and Crystal were really wowed by their first sight of Conasauga Falls.  It was running great today!

Beautiful Conasauga Falls. You can see a teen girl standing looking at the falls about halfway up.  Great for scale!

Below: Michael throwing sticks or rocks. Tessa gets a drink of water. Crystal looks on.

  

Below: Michael.. my grandson age 11.  He is getting so tall!

Below: Tessa has found a pretty pebble

   We sat at the falls and enjoyed the cool mist and talked to the mom and her daughters a little bit.  They are home schoolers so they were not as affected schedule wise by the corona virus.   Dad worked from home. Mom was the teacher.   A pretty good set up especially for living that far out in the country.

     We made the hike back up to the top and vehicle.  We discussed what to do next. The kids liked the idea of driving through the creek and playing in the water.   I was good with that.  We figured we'd do that next since it was close.  If we had time left over and energy we'd add something else on. 

    We took my jeep with Crystal driving and me navigating round Witt Road.  I had been on it once before but only a short distance.   It is a winding gravel road.    It wasn't long til we got to the first creek ford. We pulled over to explore. 

  A short stroll downstream of about 25 yards had us standing beside a pretty cascade on Conasauga Creek!  

 We walked on downstream a bit further.  It was just incredible.  Lots of holes of clear, sparkling water, colorful pebbles and scenic cascades. 

Conasauga Cascade. Here we are about  1/2 mile above the main falls we just visited! 

Above and below

Sitting down to check out tiny pebbles.

Below: Crystal is lost in thought.

Below: Michael gets ready to wade the creek.

Below: Not to be so easily outdone.. Tessa gets in the water too

Below: path by the stream heading down along a series of picturesque cascades

Below:  mossy interesting boulders to scramble around above the path

  We were beginning to get hungry so eventually we worked our way back toward the jeep.   We'd packed a nice lunch of sandwiches and fruit and chips.

We spied a black snake as we neared the vehicle.  The kids both like snakes and are fascinated by them.   He'd been under my jeep, but was slithering across the road.  

Mr. Black Snake... where are you going? 

and he answered.. four wheeling! as he crawled across the top of a big gravel pile and down the other side of it.  Then he headed for a nearby tree and began crawling up it.

Tessa ran over to the tree to watch him and talk to him.

In this image above you can see where he is going.. up the tree to that small knot hole!  

Eventually he disappeared into the knot hole... all of him! Here is a funny picture with just his tail hanging out

Below is a video of the snake and his doings

     The kids played in the pretty creek and we ate our lunch here at this spot.  It was really nice.    We then drove through the creek and continued onward. Below is a photo of the first creek ford.



   We forded the stream several more times. The drive was glorious.  We had so much fun.  The road is rough. We took a wrong turn once and ended up in someone's driveway. Such is life in the Coker Creek area. pfffftt..
Crystal had to execute a seventeen point turn around, but we got righted and made our way round to Epperson Road and Hot Water Road and back out to Hwy 68.  We were all worn out so we headed home.    What a fun day!  The kids were already talking about coming back and bringing Papaw and Gabe.  They were discussing bringing various family members back to see this place. They were going fishing, tubing, etc.  Gee.. where do they get it?

 Below is a short video of Conasauga Falls

Below a short video of Conasauga Cascade

Greenback Castle Re-Visit With the Grandkids 2019

Action figure embedded in the walls of Greenback Castle 

Greenback Castle Re-Visit With the Grandkids 

Dana Koogler, Lydia Koogler, and Gabriel Koogler

Michael and Tessa Lindsey

Friday July 26, 2019

Greenback Castle Info

Greenback Castle Pictures starting with frame #98

( Photos in this album are combined from two visits)

Greenback Drugstore Diner 

Home Decor Resale Store 

Directions to Greenback Castle: 

Hwy 411 South-- a little over a mile past the intersection of Hwy 411 South with SR 95

turn LEFT onto N Trigonia Road and go 3/4 mile to a LEFT turn onto Lee Shirley Road

Go 0.10 mile on Lee Shirley Road to a RIGHT turn into a gravel driveway.  It is a residential area so go slow.   There are signs for the castle at the turn.  It is straight back the road and there are signs indicating where to park.  It is free, but take some cash for the donation box out front.

Coming north on Hwy 411 it is about 3.50 miles from the bridge across Tellico Lake to a right turn onto N. Trigonia Road 



       I had my grandchildren Friday to watch while my daughter started back to teaching.
Michael age 10 and Tessa age 5.  I talked to daughter in law Lydia and it was decided we'd all to visit Mr. Junior Banks' Fortress of Faith.. the Greenback Castle.  She said she'd never been and neither had the other two grandkids.   Gabe, Kenny, Jared and myself went a little over a year ago.   Gabe liked it, but I wasn't sure he'd remember it.   We figured on a visit to the castle.  Lunch at Greenback Diner, and if all went well a stop by the Home Decor Resale Store across the road from the diner.   

     We gathered everyone up and got on the road at a decent time.   Lydia was considering staying home to do some chores and letting me take the kids by myself.  I plainly told her if I had to take all three kids by myself I wasn't going.  The castle is not safe for one adult to handle three kids ages three to ten.  The space is chopped up and while it is fun, it is not safe for a kid to play alone especially little ones.  Junior cannot be expected to babysit and play tour guide.
She agreed to go and we set out.  It is not a long drive and we were there by about 9:45.  
We'd have arrived a little sooner, but I probably wasted fifteen minutes in the making of a wrong turn.  Somehow I missed the turn onto Lee Shirley Road and went two miles out of my way.  I recognized it much sooner, but had to drive further to find a safe place along the road to turn around.   It is a winding, narrow road in a residential area.

           Once we arrived at the Castle and parked the kids were immediately excited and so was Lydia.   It is quite something to see. Junior was up and about so we greeted him at once. I put our money in the donation box and we started our tour in a counter clockwise fashion.  We visited once before and went clockwise.  Counter clockwise is better!   It is far more dramatic.
The best parts are on this leg of the journey.   It also helped me to pick up parts of this property I had somehow missed the previous time!  It was one of the neatest things we've done. The place is mysterious, exciting, quirky, and beautiful in a grungey way.    It is a visual feast for the eyes and senses.   We spent 2 1/2 hours there and had to drag Michael and Tessa away!  They were not ready to leave even then.  They loved it and loved Junior.   They were talking about when could they go back again as we were leaving.  That speaks volumes.  They told me it was without doubt the neatest thing I'd ever done with them.    A big win for Nanny.  

 Above: Gabe heading in the entry door at the front

 Above: Front facade of the Castle

 Above: Granddaughter Tessa age 5

 Grandson Michael age 10

Above: All three kiddles on the thrones.  Junior was quick to remind me to get their photos taken on the thrones!             Gabriel had been before and was smaller and growing tired and hungry.  
He was ready to leave.   We took him back to the car and got him a dry butt and a drink and a small snack to hold him til we got to the diner.    It was only a couple miles to the diner .  Though it was busy we found a parking spot easily.   We also found a table immediately and were waited on promptly.  Our food arrived hot, fresh and delicious.  Everyone got their tummy full and felt better.  Lydia took the boys outside and I stuck around to let Tessa eat ice cream for dessert.   It was a fun day thus far.  Lydia and I realized the home decor store was not a good idea today. The kids were tired and restless.   We'd come back for that another day with just us women.   No kids.    Greenback is a charming little town.  It has a post office, a school that is K thru 12, a Farmers Co-op,  a diner, a couple churches, the home decor store, a historic museum, a grocery store, a library, hair salon, and veterinarian.  Greenback is a place full of history.  I envision several more trips to the area to visit, to learn and enjoy the area.   

 Above: Detail in one part of the courtyard.   Skull and all sorts of neat shells.  It is a feast for the senses!

 Above: Michael, Lydia, Gabe and Tessa in the chess game room

 Lots of neat alcoves and arches here

 Colorful corner

 Above: Tessa and Gabe going up the spiral staircase in the rotunda.  It was very exciting!

 Above: Michael stands by the White Horseman of the Apocalypse who Junior says has begun his ride.  The White Horseman is the first of the four... and he is Conquest.

 Beautiful woodwork and detail in the rotunda.

 Above: Daughter in law Lydia, grandson Gabe and Tessa in the courtyard

 Above: Two spooky looking prisoners peeping out of the "jail cell"

 Above:  Loved how this archway leads to another archway!

 Above: Gabe and Tessa come down the steps from one of the upstairs rooms.

 Above: Junior and Tessa. The kids really enjoyed this sweet gentleman.  He is a fine Christian brother and elder.

Above Grandson Michael and Junior with his cool shades on.        I took Lydia home. I took the kids home with me to play at my house for a few hours.  Once Crystal came to pick up Tessa and Michael I took Gabe home.   He was worn out and cried.  I sat down on the couch with him and visited. He put his little feet in my lap kicked back on the couch.  It wasn't long until he calmed down with Nanny rubbing his feet and toes.   He was snoring when I left.   Tired boy.   That is another win for Nanny when I can wear the kids out but still have energy left myself!  

 Michael amidst the crosses

 Above:  A beautiful wild area out back where Junior is working on a maze that is not yet finished. It will be made up of native cane! Sunflowers and sumac give the place some color.

 Archway of glass bottles!

Junior feeds the birds and provides watering spots for them.   A bird bath.   

All in all a fascinating and beautiful place. Not another one like it on the planet!