The Heritage Classic Ride
Day 4 - July 22, 2007
It was going to be a long ride today on some great country roads, with a sight-seeing stop at Chimney Rock State Park.
We left Asheville on Hwy 70 heading east. At Black Mountain, we turned south on SR 9, which is a North Carolina Scenic Highway. It's a hilly, winding road with some beautiful scenery.
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Getting ready to leave Asheville
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SR 9 - South of Black Mountain
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We took a short detour east on Hwy 74A to reach Chimney Rock State Park. Due to our early start, we were some of the first visitors to the park on this day. Chimney Rock is a huge, granite rock monolith. You can reach the very top of the monolith either by elevator or by walking up a series of wooden stairs. We chose to walk up, and although we were tired by the time we reached the top, it was well worth it to view the surrounding countryside, the Blue Ridge Mountains, Lake Lure and Hickory Nut Gorge.
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The entrance to Chimney Rock State Park
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After visiting Chimney Rock State Park, we headed south on Hwy 64, passing through Hendersonville, Brevard, Cashiers, and Highlands (near the Georgia border). At Highlands, we went south on Hwy 28 crossing into Georgia, east on Warwoman Road and then continued west on Hwy 76. Then it was Hwy 197 south, and west on Hwy 356 to the town of Helen, GA.
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Hwy 64
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Mexican Food for Lunch in Brevard, NC
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On the Way to Helen, GA
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After a history of mining and logging, Helen, GA was re-invented during the 1970's a a Bavarian alpine village, and is now Georgia's 3rd largest tourist attraction. It's an interesting town, and a good place to eat schnitzel for dinner (which we did).
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A popular pastime in Helen - tubing down the Chattahoochee River
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