A local place to swim is on a fork of the Pigeon River. I don’t know what the locals call it, but I’m calling it the Swimmin’ Hole. In past years, John and I noticed cars parked there as we drove to Sunburst Falls. Grandson David put it on his list of places to go swimming with his mother. John was our chauffeur, and I was the photographer for the excursion. The chauffeur stayed in the car, reading train magazines. I traipsed along, standing on the shore to record the progress. As I shifted from foot to foot, I remembered it took daughter Kate and David forever to get in the water last year. I have no idea how long it took for them to get their feet wet this time, but from the first photo to the last took 26 minutes. It was a fun-filled time, as they waded over slippery rocks near the rapids and shrieked when almost falling. I was a target for flying insects, flapping my arms from time to time. There was more unrecorded action on shore than in the water. I was retreating to the car in the shade when I took the last shot. Both swam across the deep water several times after I left.
From the swimming hole, we drove to Looking Glass Falls via the Blue Ridge Parkway. It’s the easiest waterfall to see near our house, because it’s right beside the highway. David waded there, but Kate just watched because she was cold from the previous dip. I waited for them to come up the long set of stairs to take their photo.
Son John $pencer had been under the weather with a bum knee. Thankfully, he was a quiet patient, not inflicting his pain on us. After a meal, he teased David at the table and had everyone joking. When we commented on it, Rose said, “It shows he is feeling better.” Everyone laughed, because we realized Rose knows him well and has him pegged. It was wonderful to have the old $ back.
Mehrling Muse 
It looked like a really good day out with the official photographer along to catch all the tentative moves from our athletes. Back home again to the injured athlete showing his capacity for recovery.Are John$ and Rose an item? Tell me to mind my own beeswax if you like.
xxx Massive Hugs xxx
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$ and Rose discovered each other when she was hiking on the Appalachian Trail and stayed at a hostel in his town. They’ve been together for a number of months.
xxx Young Love Hugs xxx
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Nice family outing Anne!
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Great fun times. I am glad David asked you as I have been dying to ask about them too. ( I am really the curious type). It seems like the swimming hole was really deep and took my breath away when I looked at the picture where it seems they were swimming under water and no heads were seen. Kate would have been cold from the swim in the car. David seems so happy to have his mum with him. Is the hiking causing $’s knee pain? Glad it is better.
Susie
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The swimming hole was probably over the heads of Kate and David, but I have no idea how deep it was.
$ has gout, a recurring problem for him. He has medication for it, but this time it took days to bring it under control.
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Western North Carolina is full of such beautiful gifts of nature!
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And we have seen so few!
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That looks like an absolutely gorgeous place to swim! I rarely go in even a pool because they’re too cold!
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You would have shivered in this shallow river.
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Oh for sure! My nephew laughs that I think his pool is too cold!
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The Pigeon River is just one of the many beautiful water-way venues of the Smokies. When we visit in Tryon, we always do a little tubing. There is nothing better than time on the river. Great post.
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Tryon! We’ve been there.
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I could never stand to get in the water slowly. That always seemed to extend the pain. I was a jump right in and then scream kind of person. Thanks for sharing the fun outing.
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I’m with you, Elizabeth. Jump in and get it over with. I would have been chilled to the bone after standing in ankle-deep water for five minutes.
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Absolutely.
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Very scenic and I’d be shrieking too if I slipped on the slick rocks – looks like a fun place to have for the local “swimming hole” and so close to you.
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Looks refreshing. Here’s our old swimming hole back in our Connecticut days. All three kids took swimming lessons there back in the day.
YOU CAN SHARE THIS ONE WITH JOHN. https://www.traillink.com/trail/vernon-rails-to-trails-(hop-river-state-park-rockville-spur)/
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