Mostly Buncombe and Madison County here in WNC.
Got a quick ride in today. Only 95 miles, but I was playing dodge the rain clouds and staying local since my gambles on weather the past few times turned out with me soaked and freezing.
In the beginning, in the slightly ghetto parts of downtown Asheville I find some nice graffiti. Asheville has not shortage of great graffiti too. Always some artwork to look at.
Stitched into a panorama:
There's also some non-graffiti artwork that is great. This is in the River Art District at "Cotton Mill Studios" in a reclaimed cotton mill that was restored and put into service as an art studio and gallery. This started the River Arts District movement.
Out of downtown Asheville, I pick up NC251. NC251 connects Asheville and Marshall NC. An interesting spot is the old and abandoned Craggy Prison. It's slowly falling in and rotting. It was replaced with a new facility a few miles up the road.
Across the road is an old baggage car that was marked with Craggy Mountain Line Railroad. This line was absorbed into Southern Railroad in the 1920s and this area of track has been abandoned since the 1970s.
Another side look. Note the springs, rail cars haven't had that type of suspension in decades prior to even the 1970s.
Further up NC251 I found a cupola caboose that hasn't seen service in many years. A little research on the origin of the caboose led me to Virginia. This seems to be from the Richmond, Fredrickson & Patamoc Railroad that consolidated in the 1920s
A really old switch for the siding the caboose rests on. Not the weighted handle to help with moving the geared switch mechanism.
NC251 is a very scenic road that basically follows the French Broad River from Asheville to Marshall. The current CSX railroad is on the opposite side of the river all along the river. It crosses over near Marshall and goes right through the historic town of Marshall.
Some shots of NC251:
The river at a pulloff:
Once I got into Marshall, I picked up Bailey's Branch Rd (Crosses the river in the middle of Marshall, can't miss it, its the only bridge in Marshall) to head toward Leicester, NC and NC63.
Marshall as seen from Bailey's Branch leaving town:
Bailey's Branch turns into Meadow Town Rd where it meets Bear Creek Rd. Meadows Town Rd takes you to NC63. When you reach a stop sign on Meadow Town Rd, a LEFT takes you to Patton Ave in Asheville and a RIGHT takes you to Dogget Mountain. I went right for some twisties. There are some great empty straights too for some fairly antics if you're so inclined.
Dogget is tight and technical but loads of fun. It can be dangerous if you let your guard down though.
Hairpin on Dogget:
Looking UP from hairpin, you can see the road above if you look carefully. Taken from opposite side of road as previous pic.
Another look at Dogget:
The view from near the top of Dogget, looking toward Asheville:
NC63 terminates on NC209 in Trust, NC. North takes you into Hot Springs and back toward Marshall. South takes you back toward Interstate 40. Just past where NC63 and NC209 meet is a gas station, a GRITS restaurant and a cool feature.
The Bridge of Madison County. Not related to the book/movie of similar nature.
Had a good day!
JM
