Tsali Recreation Area is only about 12 miles from our back door. It’s named after a Cherokee leader who refused relocation via the Trail of Tears. He and his band of followers hid in the mountains of Western North Carolina until his capture by the government. Sometime later he was executed by firing squad.
The government was so moved by his bravery they decided to build a monument to his name. First they built a hydro-electric dam and flooded his ancestral home creating Fontana Lake. Then the government took axe in hand and cleared away some useless and unsightly old growth forest. In its place they created a campground with miles of single track mountain bike trails, an information kiosk, boat ramps, paved parking lot and a multi-hundred dollar cinderblock two-seat outhouse complete with hand sanitizer dispensers and those really big rolls of toilet paper. Nice.
Anyway, Tsali Campground was our destination for a short overnight bike camping trip. I ran out of the office at exactly 5:00:01 pm and made my usual 20 minute commute in 17 minutes flat. Raquel had the bikes packed and waiting at the back door. So off we rode.
Arriving at Tsali, we found the campground packed silly with screaming children, RVs with generators, people grilling with pungent lighter fluid soaked charcoal, and not an empty camp site to be found. So, in the spirit of Tsali himself, we quickly decided to defy the government and sneak off to one of the many finger-lakes to stealth camp.
We returned home early the next morning.
Jack
The government was so moved by his bravery they decided to build a monument to his name. First they built a hydro-electric dam and flooded his ancestral home creating Fontana Lake. Then the government took axe in hand and cleared away some useless and unsightly old growth forest. In its place they created a campground with miles of single track mountain bike trails, an information kiosk, boat ramps, paved parking lot and a multi-hundred dollar cinderblock two-seat outhouse complete with hand sanitizer dispensers and those really big rolls of toilet paper. Nice.
Anyway, Tsali Campground was our destination for a short overnight bike camping trip. I ran out of the office at exactly 5:00:01 pm and made my usual 20 minute commute in 17 minutes flat. Raquel had the bikes packed and waiting at the back door. So off we rode.
Arriving at Tsali, we found the campground packed silly with screaming children, RVs with generators, people grilling with pungent lighter fluid soaked charcoal, and not an empty camp site to be found. So, in the spirit of Tsali himself, we quickly decided to defy the government and sneak off to one of the many finger-lakes to stealth camp.
We returned home early the next morning.
Jack
Hanging a bear bag
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Hi , Very Beautiful Scenery especially away from that very wide Road. I like the Forest Trails where there are no Motor Vehicles and The Lakes. Did you do any Fishing in those Lakes. You can get Collapsible Fishing Rods that Telescope down to a compact Size. Nice Blog. Jack Dublin Ireland.
ReplyDeleteThanks, no fishing this time...but soon for sure.
ReplyDeleteAs always, it's great to be a part of your cycling adventures even in pictures, looks like a fun trip and great practice for the upcoming Parkway Tour. It was great to see you cycling nuts at the Fletcher Flyer, what a great ride with great weather.
ReplyDeletePedal On! Big Ben, Waynesville.
Hey Ben,
ReplyDeleteYeah the Fletcher Flyer was a hoot. And this years socks are, well, red and green.
Jack
Wow, pretty pictures. One of these days I'll make it over to the right side of the country.
ReplyDeleteI know the feeling of arriving at one of your favorite destinations to find it flooded with the RV crowd; glad to see that it just added to the adventure.
Thanks Michael,
ReplyDeleteLet us know if your ever in the Great Smoky Mountain area, we'll do a ride.
Jack