Oct. 2nd Day Three (Ashville to Cherokee)

Spend this day cycling west along the acclaimed Blue Ridge Parkway. Looking into fall, the trees are a fiesta of color! With the number of roads to a minimum, day three will require less navigation allowing you to enjoy the ride. As you travel along the parkway there are numerous lookouts for you to stop in and admire the view. You will also be passing through several short tunnels so remember to bring your bicycle lights and reflectors. Cherry Cove Lookout is one stop that presents a rare opportunity to watch the orange, brown and black Monarch butterflies migrate south through the Smoky Mountains. In the afternoon, you will be stopping for lunch at Graveyard Fields. Make sure you bring your walking shoes because after you eat you can take the enchanting walk down a tree covered path to the river below. Once at the river, there are a few different trails that lead to more falls and the actual Graveyard Fields. At the end of the day you will be arriving in Cherokee, North Carolina. This little town is filled with tribal stores and Indian artifacts. For dinner, you will be having a picnic at the local park on the banks of the Oconaluftee River. The river is spring fed and sheltered by canopies of oak and sycamore trees. Enjoy this time of fellowship before its back to the hotel for the night.