Jonathan's Vee on the Brush Creek Road. This little connector is only a couple of miles long, but it passes through a limestone canyon with some great rock faces. A small stream cascades through the canyon - it looks like it would be a superb trout fishing spot with deep pools and shady rock overhangs.

After leaving the dirt connector again where Hwy. 25 crosses to the south side of the French Broad River, we headed west on 25 to Del Rio. Hwy. 25 between Hot Springs and Del Rio has very little traffic, but the road is smooth and the scenery along the river is beautiful.

Old store front next to the old Del Rio post office.

The old store on Hwy. 107 in Del Rio. This is the last stop for food, drinks and gas until you reach Hot Springs, miles away on the other side of Max Patch. This is Country living.

If you're planning to hit the dirt roads from Del Rio across the mountain to Max Patch, stay on Hwy. 107, a relaxing country lane that winds through farmland to the base of Round Mtn. You'll come to an intersection with Forest Service signs pointing to Lemon Gap and Rattlesnake Gap. That's the way you want to go. The road soon turns to dirt and climbs Round Mtn. with some good views of the distant north slope of the Smoky Mountains.

This is the point where the road splits, with the left fork climbing on up to Rattlesnake Gap - a trip for another day. To reach Max Patch and eventually Hot Springs, keep going towards Lemon Gap. Lemon Gap is one of the access points for the Appalachian Trail between Max Patch and Bluff Mtn.

We watched this guy for a while as he tried to get airborne from the slopes of Max Patch Bald. Mostly, he just stood while the parasail billowed out above him and then collapsed. Once or twice he ran down the slope with the parasail bumping along behind him. Looks like fun, but I bet it would be even better if he could get off the ground. We wondered why he was doing it so low on the slope where the wind was intermittent and where some power lines ran across his path only a couple of hundred feet away. I would have liked to see him give it a shot from nearer the top of Max Patch.

The entrance to Max Patch. We're not wearing the helmets and jackets because of the chill - it was very warm all day. However, the gnats were fierce and the armor makes pretty good insect protection.
Max Patch is a spectacular grassy bald on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee that is a well-known landmark for the folks hiking the Appalachian Trail. From the top, you can enjoy spectacular 360 degree views of the surrounding mountains.