Grandson David longed to swim at the base of Bald River Falls when we went there in May. Either he or John thought of going with daughter Kate in June, and the weather was perfect for it. John stayed home to drive Nathaniel to work, enabling David, Kate, and me to drive to Tennessee. When the younger two waded into the water, they were sharing the venue with at least eight others. I stood on the bridge above, waiting for some good shots.
Gradually, everyone left the water, leaving Kate and David to themselves. They lurched over slippery rocks, heading to one big rock where they could warm up in the sun.
An older man on the bridge saw me use the camera and called out, “Are you with them?”
When I answered yes, he came a few steps closer and said, “How old are they? My friends and I were sure the young girl was going to fall in the water.”
I replied, “That’s my daughter and grandson.”
“Yes, but how old are they?” he asked again.
I answered his question – 46 and 23. (After writing those numbers, I noticed that Kate is now twice as old as David.)
The man’s body language said LOL. “Ha! We would never have guessed! She doesn’t look that old.”
It turned out he and his two friends set out at 7 am from Birmingham, AL on their motorcycles. By mid-afternoon they had already been to several places before coming to the waterfall. He comes there at least once a year, sometimes more often. As the three men rode slowly over the bridge, they all waved goodbye. The spokesman called out, “Hope the young ones have a lovely day.”
As you can imagine, the story made Kate’s day! She always looked younger than her age, and she still does.
Just a mile or so up the road was Baby Falls. That’s the one with a few designated parking spaces, picnic tables, and park-style public restrooms (no running water). A pack of young men and a couple of girls were having a great time diving off the falls and cavorting in the water.
Kate and David stood in the water without being tempted to dive or walk across the falls. Kate rejoined me on the road as David worked his way up the stream to the picnic area.
They discovered a pile of stacked stones that David couldn’t resist. In adding one more stone, he knocked off several. It took a bit to replace them and add his own, but he did it.
The drive home was long, but we were thanking each other and celebrating all that we had enjoyed. David did all the driving, including the twisty skyline drive going one way and the narrow gorge going the other. It was a day of golden memories that we will remember all our lives.
Mehrling Muse 
Great pictures, and great memories. Kate does look young! I bet that water felt good on a hot day.
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She said it did. She and David are the coldest-natured people in our family, and they enjoyed the icy water.
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Beautiful country! I’m like you. At this point in my life I’m more of a looker than a swimmer.
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I have been on some of those winding roads. Beautiful river and falls. My dream place would be on such a running river.
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We plan to go back.
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You have a lot of waterfall adventures.
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So far, nobody has died!
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The falls are beautiful!
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Sounds and looks perfect. Young David is a whiter shade of pale, he’ll have got some vitamin D.
xxx Humongous Hugs Anne xxx
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We loved the whiter shade of pale. I have to remember that.
xxx Pale Hugs xxx
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What a beautiful location! It sounds like a wonderful way to spend the day with family.
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Those waterfalls with natural swimming areas were fantastic.
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Love the happiness in your words and perhaps voice, if I heard you as you gloried in the mother daughter time and grandmother grandson time and stored up memories.
Kate is so glamourous looking and no wonder- she keeps young at heart and physically too.
Keep sharing with us your adventures for we readers can only see these waterfalls and the beautiful sights of NC/ Tennessee through your eyes, Anne.
Susie
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The waterfall day was glorious.
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Beautiful shots, Anne. One of the reasons I love having out-of-state guests is because of a section of highway between here and Portland. It too is scattered with irresistible waterfalls that are close to the road and still very tranquil.
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Your waterfall tour sounds marvelous.
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and what a beautiful memory! It is so goo to read of a happy family. Just makes me feel so warm and glad. love michele
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I like reading about a happy family, too — yours!
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Kate does look young! What a brilliant way to spend the day. It is so beautiful! 💗
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I m getting always more in love of where you live😀😍
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I wish you could come see our area. We’ve been here four years now, and we never tire of the people and the views.
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It looks like an amazing place but never say never…we might make it one day😀
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I hope y’all do.
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Me too😉
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What an absolutely gorgeous setting! But I’ll bet the water was freezing! I’d never go in.
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The two who swam are the coldest of all our relatives. I was amazed they stayed in as long as they did. Both are still talking about what a wonderful day it was.
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So nice that you have such lovely surroundings there!
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We had to drive a couple of hours to get to the waterfall where Kate and David swam. It isn’t far, but the roads are small and twisted.
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Wow! How’d you know where to find it? Is it a famous landmark?
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Bald River Falls is listed in waterfall books and probably on the internet, but it isn’t a famous landmark.
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