Returning to our Florida condo after a prolonged absence, we decided to detour through the Southern Appalachians of southeastern Tennessee and northern Georgia. Heading east from Cleveland, Tennessee, on US 64/74, we crossed the Ocoee River, a tributary of the Hiwassee River, and soon followed the northern shore of its scenic lake.
The Ocoee River itself is renowned for its high grade rapids and beautiful gorge; indeed, the river was used for whitewater competition during the 1996 Olympics. Rising in the Chattahoochee National Forest of northern Georgia, it is known as the Toccoa River in that State. Unfortunately, since the Ocoee is part of the Tennessee River watershed, it has been a victim of the TVA Hydroelectric network; as a result, three dams disrupt its flow.
After ascending eastward through the Ocoee River gorge, we entered North Carolina and will spend the night in Murphy. Tomorrow, we'll head south through the Blue Ridge of northern Georgia before continuing our journey to the Subtropics.
