NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Jul 1, 2011 22:52:55 GMT -5
I'll be heading south tuesday on the motorcycle. Staying in Robbinsville, NC. This is near the Tennessee border, south of the Great Smokey Mt. Natl Park.
This is a trip centered around some fantastic roads to ride the bike on, but I would love to find a handful of rocks to tumble or cab for keepsake.
Is there anything in the area worth searching for if time allows?
Thanks in advance!
Nate
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Post by texaswoodie on Jul 2, 2011 7:39:28 GMT -5
I went to the Smokey's when I was a wee one. Time to go back. Sorry, can't help with rocks.
Sounds like an awesome bike ride Nate........enjoy!
Curt
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Post by NatureNut on Jul 2, 2011 7:42:44 GMT -5
Nate, there is some colorful Flint in Tennessee. I found it in creeks in Alexandria off of I-40. It has blues and tans and some have a picture jasper type patterning. Didn't look at the rocks when I was in the Smokies, couldn't take my eyes off the color in the trees. ;D Jo
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,709
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Post by Fossilman on Jul 2, 2011 10:17:59 GMT -5
Tennessee is great except for the litter all along the highways!That was just terrible!!
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peachfront
fully equipped rock polisher
Stones have begun to speak, because an ear is there to hear them.
Member since August 2010
Posts: 1,745
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Post by peachfront on Jul 2, 2011 10:56:01 GMT -5
The litter I never notice. I'm too peeved off by the billboards and the traffic. I don't collect, so I apologize for not being able to give you any hounding information, but please be careful going in and out of the park, it's busy with people and deer, and you don't wanna collide with either one while enjoying the lovely scenery. My last trip was in early November, on a day, when it rained, snowed, AND fogged, and we still had a traffic jam. Some great photos though...here's one I call, How to Lie with Photography, a beautiful autumn day for two...two million, that is, ha ha, if my Dad had pulled out the zoom enough to show more of the surroundings. Don't collect plants anywhere, even not in the park, and be cautious that it doesn't even LOOK like you're collecting plants. They're really down on the rhododendron and azalea thieves in that area. The plant collectors went crazy wild in the 80s and it got entirely out of hand. I don't even pick up rocks, but if you do, make sure it's a legal area. Maybe ask a ranger for ideas. They will give you the strictest interpretation of the rules and keep you out of trouble.
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peachfront
fully equipped rock polisher
Stones have begun to speak, because an ear is there to hear them.
Member since August 2010
Posts: 1,745
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Post by peachfront on Jul 2, 2011 10:59:52 GMT -5
Also, I hesitate to mention this, because the last few times I've been around Franklin NC it has been closed but if you're in that area at the right time, there is gemstone mining, rock shops, lots of hounding information. Be sure to get an unsalted mine if you want a genuine experience, they have to disclose if it's salted or not.
I'm not saying the mining is closed on Sunday but it seems like the restaurant always are, grrrrrr! The last three times I was there, it was like Sunday, off season, or some other reason every time that everyone in town had closed up shop...beautiful town, lots of gemstone history and browsing, when it's actually open.
My geography is poor so I don't know how close you will get to Franklin but you can mapquest it or GPS it...I seem to wander in there by chance every time I turn up there.
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Jul 2, 2011 14:37:38 GMT -5
Thanks for the well wishes Curt. It'll probably be a 2000+ mile trip (a tad over 800 miles just to get there). It's my first ever motorcycle trip , so I'm super excited to go!
The flint sounds fantastic Jo! I'll have to keep my eyes open for some of that.
Thanks for the info on Franklin, Peach. Sounds like I'll be staying about half way between there and Alexandria which Jo mentioned. I'll look up the park and see what the rock collecting rules are. I think Nat'l Parks are a "no take" zone lol.
Greg, I like that idea. When opportunity knocks, open the door!
Thanks everyone for the info! Nate
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Jul 4, 2011 14:04:39 GMT -5
Well I'm packed and all ready to go. Will be heading out before sunrise. As you can see not a lot of room for rocks, but there's some extra space in the duffle. 105 HP allows for a little extra weight. Hope I find a few nice rocks to work. Nate
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Post by NatureNut on Jul 4, 2011 15:15:08 GMT -5
Wow Nate, that's awesome and I'm sure you're excited as heck! Here are a couple of pics of some fossils you can find around Alexandria. Best of Luck, be safe and have a blast! JO
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Jul 4, 2011 15:23:42 GMT -5
I gotta be safe - I have 2 beautiful daughters to walk down the aisle one day. Thanks again Jo. I'll post pix of any finds when I get back. Take care, Nate
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turnedstone
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since January 2006
Posts: 766
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Post by turnedstone on Jul 5, 2011 0:01:13 GMT -5
If you want to go out around the franklin area there are some mines in that area that have native dirty you can find some nice stones, only a few mines left that do not salt thier buckets check out the dirty rock hounds web site for the best mines in the area. George
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Jul 11, 2011 17:01:51 GMT -5
I'm baaaaack. I got 1 rock on my trip ROFL!!! Yes only one, and that is a piece I picked up from the mountains while riding the Blue Ridge Parkway. I don't think it'll even polish lol. I was so busy riding those fantastic roads, I pretty much forgot about the rocks unless I saw some sticking out or passing a road cut.
Wow is that some awesome riding! I've never been exposed to anything like it.
I plan to go back again, hopefully even as soon as next year again, so maybe I'll stop for rocks more next time.
Thanks for the info everyone. Nate
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Post by rockmanken on Jul 11, 2011 19:17:35 GMT -5
Nate, next time take the Blue Ridge Parkway south to Cherokee(where it ends) and then take 441 across the mountain to Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge. One of the best rides you will ever take on a bike. Most all forest lands and parks are now closed to rockhounding. Just south of Franklin you can get sapphires and garnets off of Hwy. 64. Stop in Franklin at the Rock shop on Main St. for directions. The only two mines that are not salted is the Mason mine out past the airport and the Cherokee mine. By not being salted you will not find anything in every bucket you sift thru. The salted mines use material from Brazil and India and other foreign countries.
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