Blue Ridge Country September/October 2021 - 42

LEFT: Lorye Nichols' explorations of the Tennessee mountains usually occur with pup Skye, who has her own hiking boots.
RIGHT: Lorye Nichols compares the path of outdoor life to a stream: " There is fast- and slow-moving time like the flow of waters. "
TENNESSEE
" Life to me is an adventure, " says Lorye
Nichols, a physical trainer who owns and
operates Tru-Line Fitness Center. " Traveling
the backroads is like taking the 'original'
routes to small towns, farmlands,
marshes, trails, mountains and rivers.
And, fall is always a favorite. The freshness
of cool, crisp air; the smell of leaves;
the positioning of the sun; a harvest
moon; clear night skies and bright stars;
fall grasses; and, of course, the brilliant
fall colors. "
On her journeys, Nichols finds opportunities
to rock climb, mountain bike,
camp, hike, scuba dive and paddle any
and all available waterways in the region.
" Some of my best adventures, " she
says, " were not part of the original plan!
Travel allows me to see and experience
new places and activities, sample different
foods, and meet new people. It's about
paying attention to the details. " She recommends
joining clubs, social groups and
online events for ideas.
" There are highs and lows like moun42
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tains and valleys. There is fast- and slowmoving
time like the flow of waters. Circumstances,
choices and callings take us
down different paths like a fork in the
road or divider on the trail.
" Some of my clients have health conditions
like multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's
or stroke challenges, " she continues. " I
encourage them to work toward a quality
of life that includes venturing outdoors. "
Nichols' final advice: " Explore the
backroads, and go somewhere you haven't
been before. "
Top Fall Drive Picks:
* U.S. 64 (Ocoee Scenic Byway) to Benton,
Parksville Lake, Cherokee National
Forest, the TVA dam system and Ocoee
and Hiwassee Rivers
* SR 28/U.S. 127 (Sequatchie Valley Scenic
Byway) for Walden's Ridge, Cumberland
Plateau and many small towns
More info: fs.usda.gov/main/cherokee/
home
NORTH CAROLINA
" The wonders of nature have always been
a part of my life. And, fall's color palette
in western North Carolina is stunning, "
says Linda Riesenberg Fisler. A co-founder
of Artistic Harmonies Association (whose
mission is to bring to light the creative
passions of artists), Fisler is a published
author and " an oil painter who loves to
capture landscapes. "
When it came time to relocate, she and
her husband, Tom, chose Asheville.
" As a child, my parents took us on
many trips around the country-including
the Smoky Mountains. Later in life,
Tom and I would take long weekend trips
to hike there. "
Speaking about their journeys off the
beaten path, Fisler says: " We stay off the
interstates or cycle on the country roads.
Loaded with water, snacks, trekking poles
and my camera, we explore the lesscrowded
backroads. We fancy the brisk
air at higher elevations where the trails
are also less crowded. You can hear the
crunch of fallen leaves and see dozens of
mountain ridges. "
For those ready to explore, she says,
" Take time to stop and admire the sounds,

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Blue Ridge Country September/October 2021

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