Bat Cave, to the Atlantic

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Starting the day in Frankin, a bit worn from the push to get to Nags Head by the 24th for a needed visit with family, I had lost my sister Donna Marie in December 05, after her two year battle with cancer, she was 51 years of age, a sweetheart, loving mother, and friend, her four children will be in Nag’s Head, I was only able to be with her one time before she passed, because of my stuff, we had lots of calls, still its not like being there, she lived in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
So it’s important to make time, I am one day away. I have enjoyed the south, but need to spend more time down here, eating BBQ and drinking sweet tea, but on the rest of my trip, I will not push like I have.
I have a good breakfast at the City Restaurant in Frankin, biscuits, all types, I lose an hour to a regional time change, get started about 11:30 am.
Taking Hwy 64E.
In Highlands, there are lots of folks, shops, weekend stuff to do, I wish to get though town, taking to back roads will lead you though town, not around it, I take my medicine.
Lots of fruit and vegetable stands, pass Brevard, Cashiers, down 8% grade, northward to Bat Cave and the Chimney Rock area, need more time.
Bat Cave, after hiking a mile up a steep trail through a mature hardwood forest, you will be rewarded with Bat Cave’s natural air conditioning: a cool moist draft that constantly pours out of vents on the side of the large cave. Bat Cave is the largest known granite fissure cave in North America. The main chamber is a dark cathedral more than 300 feet long and approximately 85 feet high. Fissure caves are formed by rock splits, boulder movements, and other motions of the earth, while most other caves are formed by water dissolving and abrading rock.
While seeing this impressive cave opening is the attraction for most visitors, the rugged slopes around Bat Cave contain an equally important array of habitats and creatures. Hickory Nut Gorge is cloaked in cove hardwood forest, while Carolina hemlock and chestnut oak forest are found on the cliff tops and ridgeline. The forests harbor a number of threatened or endangered plants, such as broadleaf coreopsis and Carey’s saxifrage. The preserve has an abundance of spring wildflowers, including bloodroot, toothwort, trillium, and violets.
There is a Nature Conservancy, one of their goals in managing this preserve is to reestablish the critically endangered Indiana bat to its former habitat. The cave itself is closed to visitation at all times and the preserve is closed from October to mid-April in an effort to allow the bats to hibernate undisturbed. If bats are disturbed during hibernation, they fly around and quickly use up the stored energy that they need to survive the winter. Three previously undescribed invertebrates -- a spider, a millipede, and an amphipod -- also live in the cave and are specially adapted to survive without sunlight and with a limited food supply. In warm months, you may see the crevice salamander sunning on exposed rocks.
In 1981, Margaret Flinsch began making gifts of undivided interest in the Bat Cave natural area to The Nature Conservancy. The preserve is now co-owned by Mrs. Flinsch and The Nature Conservancy. The Flinsches had owned the property since the 1920s. Invasive species such as tree-of-heaven, multiflora rose, Japanese grass, wineberry, and Japanese honeysuckle threaten the preserve’s native plants. North Carolina Chapter staff and volunteers are battling these exotic plants through the invasive species program.
Down to Rutherfordton, my intent was to take Hwy 64 the whole way, but instead, I take Hwy 74E to Shelby, 18N for a short time, Hwy 150E, where it starts to rain, Hard. I spot another Honda Insight the third one seen this trip. Going over Charlotte, traffic slipping out, it’s Friday, then pass Lincolnton, severe thunderstorm warning, we do not get storms like this in the NW, 152E to Chinaville, I stop at a real service station, gas, a garage and a mechanic, too. What a novelty, this is North Carolina, car racing and cars still revered. Who is #88?
They tell me about Gary’s BBQ, great plate of Pulled Pork, and Smoked Chicken, with white cabbage slaw, vinegar dressing,, French Fries and Hush Puppies, tomato and lettuce on the side, with a big dollop of Mayo, the Best Banana Pudding in the state and Sweet Tea, $7.75, I tell the staff and owner, there prices are to low, don’t tell the locals she says, then they will complain. I leave quickly.
The storm has caught me again. Thunder and Lighting all around, wipers on high, visibility poor, large puddles, lucky for me, not many people driving.
Hwy 52E pass Gold Hill, then 49E pass Asheboro, back toHwy 64E, then 421E, 64 goes into the Durham area.
Stopping in Dunn for a needed night’s rest at a motel, I ask the clerk if they have Wi-Fi, she asks “what’s that?” I type a report, will post later. Louis Black is on the tube, good laughs.
61.5 mpg/ 353 miles traveled

Hwy 64, is an east-west United States highway that runs for 2,326 miles (3,743 km) from eastern North Carolina to just southwest of the Four Corners in northeast Arizona , this road runs the entire width of this scenic state, this road starts 4 miles west of Ranger, North Carolina and ends at Manteo not sure about total miles.

Waking in Dunn, North Carolina for a lazy drive to the Atlantic Ocean and Nag’s Head.
Take Hwy 55E then 13N, pass farm lands of tobacco, corn and soybeans, tractors on the road, toward Goldsboro, rated as “One of America Best Cities in 1993” , taking
70E south of the city, missing a turnoff, I turn on 903N through the town of LaGrange, as much as Goldsboro is so livable, the downtown in this small rural farm town is mostly vacant storefronts, were owning a small business may be a thing on the past in this area, so close, yet so far away. Pass Snow Hill to Alt. 264 E around Greenville, to 264E, then following the river basin pass the turn off for Historic Bath, incorporated in 1705, is recognized as North Carolina’s oldest town. Bath is rich in authentic Colonial history as the first county seat for Beaufort County and in legend and lore as the “home” of Blackbeard the Pirate when he was not threatening commerce on the high seas, must come back to explore, they call this the Albemarle Highway, pass New Holland, Engelhard into Dare County, famous for the Lost Colony, back on Hwy 64, pass the fishing village of Manteo, this town is mentioned in the book “Blue Highways”, on to Nag’s Head, saying hello to seagulls and pelicans fishing near the bridge.
More on the area, later. Family Time!

60.1/ 251.6 miles traveled