With that accomplished, I decided I wanted to take one last look at the mountains before heading to the Low Country. We choose to go see "Jump Off Rock". It is located in Laurel Park and includes hiking trails and a beautiful view of the mountains.
It also has a story behind it's name. And, that is one of a young Cherokee maiden and her Cherokee chieftain who often met at this ledge. When tribal wars called him away, they promised to meet at the rock upon his return. Every evening, the maiden climbed to the rock to watch for him. She often sent out plaintive notes of an Indian Love Call, but no answer came back. Warriors returning from war brought her news that he had been killed in battle. And, in the twilight, she climbed to the edge of the cliff...and jumped. The haunting notes of her love call hushed forever. Indian lore has it that on some moonlit nights, the ghost of the heart broken maiden can be seen on "Jump Off Rock".
This has been a great week here in North Carolina. I would recommend Lakewood RV Park to anyone wanting to stay in this area. We have seen the foliage at its best and the Biltmore was a real treat. Now we are getting ready for our travel day tomorrow which is about a 250 mile trip to Charleston, South Carolina. See you there.
It would be great to meet you!! We'll be at Rainbow Plantation until December 19 when we go home for the holidays, then we'll be back around January 6. Let me know when you're coming. We're not in the campground but are renting a site from one of the lot owners. My email is guiler85@yahoo.com.
ReplyDeleteSherri and I loved our time in NC. If you are headed to Charleston you will love it too. Please take some pictures of the Santee Cooper Bridge for Sherri...that is her favorite thing in Charleston.
ReplyDeleteJoe
Dortha - in 2005 we visited "Maiden Rock" on Lake Pepin (on the MN and WIS borders). It has a similar "jumping" story. The below is taken from Wikipedia:
ReplyDeletePrincess Winona is the central Native American character in a "Lover's Leap" romantic legend set in Maiden Rock on the Wisconsin side of Lake Pepin in the USA. Princess Winona leaps to her death from Maiden Rock rather than marry a suitor she does not love.
There are several variations of the story. Her father is sometimes said to be Chief Red Wing of what is now Red Wing Minnesota or Chief Wabasha (Wapasha) of a village identified as Keoxa, now known as Winona, Minnesota. Rather than marry a suitor she does not love, she chooses to leap from the cliff of Maiden Rock to her death. Who the suitor is depends on the version of the tale. In the traditional Dakota language, "Winona" is not a personal name but a general term for a first-born child of any class distinction who happens to be female. Today "Winona" is common as a personal and place name throughout the United States.
The concept of the central figure as a "princess" is in keeping with a stereotype about Native American "princesses." In fact, the Sioux do not have an equivalent title for "princess" in any the major dialects.
Winona, Minnesota is associated with the legend because it was formerly the site of Keoxa. Since Minnesota was settled by whites the character of "Princess Winona" has been featured in Watkins Incorporated advertising, a prominent statue (currently located by Huff St. between 5th and 6th Streets after being located in other city parks), stained glass depiction, and elsewhere.
While the Upper Mississippi version of the legend is the most prominent, there are sites with variations on this legend. Mark Twain in Life on the Mississippi writes: "There are fifty Lover's Leaps along the Mississippi from whose summit disappointed Indian girls have jumped." Other locations with the legend also include Winona Falls in Pennsylvania, Camden County, Missouri and Cameron Park in Waco, Texas.