Welcome to this weeks adventure!!

The search for Turtle Rock

The story begins with a man named Charles Houston. He was a man is search of secrets known only to the Cherokee Indians. One day as he and I talked he mentioned a place not far from his home called by the Cherokee's as "Turtle Rock". The rock he said, was a navigation point for local tribes. He then showed me the pictures above. To me, they seemed to resemble a turtle, so my intrest peaked. I then asked Charles about the location of the rock, whereas he told me by the river. Not mentioning the exact location made my intrest peak even more. I told him I would visit this "Turtle Rock" someday if it took me years to find. After telling him this he showed me more pictures of indian relics in the same area. I had to find that place to see the carvings for myself. I hadn't until recently tried to locate this "Turtle Rock" but thought it would make a good story for my adventures page. So I set out this weekend to find it. I asked his family for a hint as to the whearabouts of the rock and was given no clues. So with camera in hand I set out on an adventure of fait.



Reading this you may think I'm crazy, but this is a true story. Although I know the area very well (I've been hunting it for years) I've never seen the rock. And as a tribute to Charles I decided to publish my first visit to "Turtle Rock" here on my page. Along the way I found some other interesting things:

This is an old hydrolic mine cut. It's banks are about 25 feet deep.

This is an old liquor still. Look closely, you can see the revenuers axe marks!

The journey was about 3 miles and it took about 4 hours, but I finally made it. I spotted the rock from about 200 yards on the edge of the river flood plain. Although weathered, it had changed very little from the pictures taken by Charles over twenty years ago. I finally saw it in person. This, the very rock that Charles kept secret..even to his grave.

As you can see the ground has washed away a little, but the rock still looks the same. Except for a little discoloration it hasn't changed at all.

I sat on the back of the turtle and ate my lunch. I enjoyed the quiet of the winter day and wondered how many indians had sat on this very spot. Mostly I thought of Charles. A loving man who inspired a lot of people to get outdoors and do things. I dedicate this weeks adventure to him. May he rest in peace.....

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