Deep in the hills of Appalachia we came across this artifact from a moment in time.
The vehicle appears to be a 1951 Chevrolet panel truck. This was miles up in the watershed on a foot trail that was built on the cutline for narrow gauge tracks for log hauling locomotives used (c. 1926-1948). Is it possibly a remnant of bootlegging, since it abandoned in the only “dry” county in the state of North Carolina? Maybe it was hauled up there as a shelter since there is no undercarriage, frame, axles or engine.
It’s not the only thing seemingly out of place. The high ridges and dark hollers of the southern Appalachians tend to transport a visiting angler to a different world. Time moves slower in these parts. A good hunting dog holds more value than any modern convenience, especially when it’s a pure strain Plott. The smoky mist that forms at daybreak serves to carry away the prior evening’s mysteries. The deeper back we move through the rhododendron, the more audible the whispers of the original Scotch-Irish trailblazers become. Best better put your cell phone away friend, it won’t work where the brook trout live.
I’m sure the wild fish in this area have seen amazing things over the decades. If only they could share their stories…
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Bonnie and Clyde? Many a time, out here on the wet coast of Canada, have I stumbled across an abandoned vehicle like the one shown. Being Swiss-cheesed with bullet holes seems to be a badge of authenticity… “take that ya bastard”. May have even peppered it with a few rounds myself. Mute relics of a bygone era. All part of the experience.
Cheers!