Nantahala National Forest

Nantahala National Forest is beautiful forest that the trail runs through from outside of Franklin NC, until reaching the boundary of the Great Smokey Mountain National Park.  The Nantahala Outdoor Center is a great outdoor center outside of Bryson City.  The trail runs right through the park and gives a hungry hiker a chance for a burger and some clean laundry.  This place is a mecca for kayakers and rafters.
We entered the National Forest about a week ago (what day is it?).  We took a zero day in Franklin, NC because Momma Jane came to visit and bring us and a couple of the Lollygaggers some good home cooked food and homemade pecan pie. 
When we got back on the trail on Saturday, it was a rainy morning.  Mom dropped us off at Winding Stair Gap and walked about 0.1 miles on the trail to see the waterfall that the guide book said was there.  This just gave her a chance to see some white blazes and just a taste of the beauty and wildflowers.   It was really great to see her but we were ready to get back to it.  Then the rain really set in, the temperature dropped, and the flash flood warning came in.  So we got to a shelter at Siler Bald and claimed a spot in the shelter.  And it rained.  For 36 hours.  Those who were in their tents were damp or wet.  Those who were in the shelter were sardines.  And everyone was damp and cold.  Everyone that came in on Saturday stayed and took a zero day on Sunday because of the conditions.  Monday morning, the forecast was iffy so some of the Lollygaggers headed back to Franklin to dry out and jump ahead to Gatlinburg.  The others (ourselves included) pushed forward to the NOC and then to Fontana Dam. 
The three days since the deluge have been beautiful.  Every day I notice new wild flowers.  The forest is so green with new Spring growth.  The trail has taken us past water falls and springs with water flowing right out of the rock, so delicious and clear, we can't tell what has been filtered and what hasn't. I have lost track of all of the views of the landscape. 
It's difficult to walk and look at all of the beauty at the same time.  Shoot, sometimes  its just hard to figure out where to step, let alone figuring out what kind of bird you hear singing.  The descent into the NOC took almost a whole day and just about blew my knee out.  We were supposed to head back out today but it is a 7 mile ascent before the first shelter and after that burget, I'm just not sure that's gonna happen. 
So now, as I wait on the laundry to finish and drink this awesome soda, I think a beer and a nap by the river are in order before we try to find a campsite near by. 
We should be at Fontana Dam Friday or Saturday and then into the Smokeys!  I will try to post more and some photos later.