Catawba Falls

Catawba falls near Old Fort, NC has just recently become (legally) accessible to the public. It was only a few miles out of my way so I had to check it out. 

For some years, people have known about several scenic waterfalls located on the headwaters of the Catawba River in Pisgah National forest just outside the town of Old Fort.

The falls, including pictures, are featured in the popular waterfall hunter's bible North Carolina Waterfalls: A Hiking and Photography Guide by photographer Kevin Adams and people have been going there for years.

And why shouldn't they? The falls are on public National Forest land.

Unfortunately, while the falls are public, the trail crosses several dozen yards of private property between the parking area at the dead end of a road and the National Forest boundary. According to Adams' book, owners of the land haven't been friendly to visitors over the years.

Recent news articles have reported that public access to the area has been permanently secured, which is great news to hikers and waterfall lovers like me.

I read about the new access just a week before a trip to Brevard to visit some college friends -- a trip that takes me straight through Old Fort on I-40 -- so I didn't think twice about making the short detour.

I wasn't disappointed.

In fact, I think this area deserves a second visit (or third, fourth...) on my future trips to Western North Carolina. I only scratched the surface of the photographic possibilities of this area before it got dark on me.

It was wet today in Rocky Mount

Losse Phillips surveys flood waters, roughly 6 feet deep in places, behind his Beechwood Court home on Monday that he describes as the worst flooding he's seen in five years. Phillips, who's house was raised several feed after Hurricane Floyd, escaped serious property damage, but predicted his neighbor's partially submerged car would not be as fortunate.

Memorial

Seated with her family, Christine Boone's sister Minnie Jones, second from right, sheds tears Sunday during a memorial service for Boone at East End Baptist Church. Boone is the latest of eight Rocky Mount area women found murdered in recent years under similar circumstances.

Below: The hands of Jackie Wiggins, left, and Diana Nicholson lock together in prayer during the memorial service. Wiggins' daughter Jackie Thorpe and Nicholson's daughter Taraha Nicholson are two of the eight women, including Boone, found murdered in the Rocky Mount area in recent years.

Got the Rings!

All smiles, Tarboro's TaKoby Cofield reacts after seeing his new 2-A state championship ring for the first time during a ceremony for the team Wednesday in the Tarboro High School gym.

The Frugal Scholar

Educator, scholar and poet T.R. McIntosh sits in his study surrounded by his vast collection of books Wednesday at his Rocky Mount Home. McIntosh lived frugally for much of his life, saving his salary as a teacher to collect books and other valuable papers.