Toomuch,
You are in an active area. This whole region of western North Carolina, Upstate South Carolina and north Georgia is much more active than many people believe.
We have family in the Maggie Valley/Waynesville area. When we are investigating in the Nantahala/Cherokee area we usually swing through there for a few days. That’s just on the other side of Ashville from you.
We have a report of a daytime sighting just past you in Blowing Rock. We were trying to get out there, but the area that we are currently looking into has kept us busy.
I will shoot you an email today. I would love to see your pictures and maybe compare notes with you.