Then on to Brevard, North Carolina to visit my sister and her new husband who have decided to retire in a mountain community. The route took us by Tallulah Gorge Falls, a deep crag in the mountains decorated with scattered waterfalls, white cascades that have attracted tourists since the railroad made the region accessible. We got out for a few scenic looks, me careful as usual not to get too close to the edge of the precipices. Then back on the winding, up and down, around and around roads of the mountainous North Georgia and North Carolina. So densely wooded, our views were blocked except for occasional peeks at the far off view or of homes, subdivisions, golf courses that punctuate the mountain playgrounds for the wealthier set. We stopped in Highlands, a town that people are sure to let you know they have visited or lived in. I decided I should get some fudge at this tourist destination, so we stopped and walked about the main street area. Wally got a large double scoop of peach ice cream. My impression of Highlands, at least the main street, downtown area, is that it is a place to shop for expensive looking vacation wear, art, jewelry. You almost wonder why people leave home to come to such a beautiful place if they are just going to shop and eat the usual foods they no doubt have back in the city. At least it is cooler up there.
Then to Brevard, a really cute town, art, culture, lush woods and white squirrels, apparently unique to Brevard and a kind of local mascot. The story is that a circus truck overturned back in 1949 and the two remaining white squirrels were let loose in Brevard and became the grandparents of the many white squirrels of Brevard. After an enjoyable visit with my sister, we are back on the road, headed west. We drove I-40 all the way across Tennessee, going freeway speeds, no stops except to eat, gas up the van and use the restroom, no views beyond the ever present wooded hills until we started to descend from the hills around Nashville. That day we made it to Hernando, Mississippi just south of Memphis-- a long day of relentless driving.
The Brevard white squirrel is simply a coat color variant. That is, they are part of the natural variation occurring in a very variable species, in this case the Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensi), which also includes black variants in many parts of its range.