Cherokee and I thought Helen was hell.

Let’s be clear, It is spectacularly beautiful in and around Cherokee , North Carolina . The mountains are so green, the streams rushing with crystal clear water , full with lively trout. Fishing is Catch and Keep, as long as you have a tribal license. The Elk are grazing in the flower fields just on the edge of town. Majestic 100 feet tall bamboo reaches for the Cherokee skies where bald eagles soar.( A poet laddy)  Bamboo , you said, yes bamboo without the fury bears. amazing !

Puxatonie Phil’s cousins are everywhere. Must have misspelled that one.  Serious it is gorgeous. The Cherokee tribe owns and maintains the land beautifully responsibly, water sky and trees are important to the “Fire tribe”  When I refer to hell …. well I got to say it. The town , beside the museum and gas station , is just a royal “made in China ” mess. It is tourist trap after tourist trap with the fakest, cheapest, most horriblelest trinkets known to men.

The Museum, on the other hand gave a excellent depiction of the Cherokee’s past and horrors the white men put them thru. Great displays and proud employees. The trail of tears which we drove a small part of was finally properly explained to my dutch lack of American history Brain.

Unfortunately we were not able to rent a car in Cherokee, closest car rental is 40 minutes away and booked!  So I got a ride to town from the KOA lady, Laura, she was very gracious to show me the fields where Elk normally grazed and told me about life here.

After picking me up fours later we tried again to find the Elk and this time we were in luck, The Rain had freshened up the fields and the water logged grasses and alpine flowers pulled the Elk from the thick forest. Groups of 14 ,7 and three Elk in different places showed their superiority over us. They are worshipped by the tribe and disturbing them is not taken lightly by the ever present Rangers. I was told killing an Elk is punished harsher then killing men. Go Figure.

So all in all a pretty great day again. Tubing tomorrow so  no camera with me Quiet Blog day!