Epic Find While Lost

So we had sadfully said our goodbyes to Savannah, GA and then Charleston, SC to find ourselves heading towards our next destination in the Great Smoky Mountains. Sarah, my co-pilot, wanted to avoid those boring highways and visit parts of rural America instead, so we ignored the suggestions of Google maps and took the roads less travelled. At some point we had crossed the border into North Carolina, and stopped for gas and food up in the beautiful mountainous town of Cashiers. Not knowing where we were, and barely having a signal, I checked in on Swarm (the coffeepot on the map on the right), and also this update on Facebook, where if I ended up missing, my friends and family would know where to start a search.

Buck's Coffee Shop was nice but too pricey for our needs so I ended up with Slim Jims and a Mountain Dew from the gas station. A quick check with Google Maps showed we were still on the right path. All we had to do was continue and we would get to our destination eventually. 

At this point we had been on the road for at least five hours already. Not expecting much, and wanting to just get to the Smokies, I settled in for a drive with no more stops. Until...

Wait, did that sign say what I thought it did? I slammed on the brakes, circled back and saw this:

I knew exactly what it was and told Sarah to just trust me. This shouldn't be missed. We headed off the main road until we found it in all its archaeological glory:

The Judaculla Rock site in one of America's most significant historical places. Revered through the ages by the Cherokee, the site's rich cultural legacy makes this one of their most important ancestral places. The rock is carved with approximately 1,548 designs, more than any other petroglyph boulder in the eastern United States.

Okay, so who was Judaculla? According to Cherokee legend he was a slant eyed giant who lived high up in the mountains and guarded his hunting grounds. Once, a party of disrespectful hunters came through his land and Judaculla chased them down the mountain. With a mighty leap, the angry giant landed on this boulder, putting his hand down to steady himself leaving an impression of his seven fingered hand.

As for the rest of the symbols, no one is sure what they stand for. Many think that diagonal line is the boundary to Judaculla's hunting grounds and should not be passed without his permission. Other say it represents the nearby river with the other symbols representing where certain tribes are located. Some even say it is some kind of star map. One thing is for sure, it is one of the coolest historical relics I have ever seen. I am still amazed that I was able to see this in person, all thanks to Sarah wanting to take the "scenic route". I am forever grateful.

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