Lake Powhatan National Forest, Asheville, North Carolina
This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it! Psalm 118:24
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR MOST RECENT SISTER-IN-LAW, JUNE! She married my middle brother (yes, I’m the oldest) last December. She’s sweet, and very good for and to my brother.
Up and at ‘em!
Today’s adventure was a drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP)
With a forecast of rain for noon today, we had a lot of ground – and road – to cover before that. And once the rain starts, it’s not to let up until the next day. With that in mind, we were out the door by 7:45am; despite the fact that yet another pair of jeans are too big. I know I shouldn’t complain. Most women wouldn’t. And I’m happy to be down ten pounds. But I don’t want to buy new jeans because for one, I don’t have room to store the big ones in case they become not big anymore – and two, the ones I’m wearing today are my favorite hiking jeans, and they’re so old, they’re irreplaceable. Sigh . . . . At least there’s no concern of them falling off – – – yet.
We were really surprised by the amount of traffic we encountered on this scenic road, but as time went by, we determined it was most likely people on their way to work. We were also surprised by all the bicycles. It’s such a narrow road, and there’s nowhere but the road for them to ride on.
Even overcast, it’s still a beautiful drive!
We’re headed to Craggy Gardens. It was about a 30-mile very overcast drive, with several spots for views along the way. We didn’t hit them all since we had a deadline, but we stopped at a couple.
Well, now, that’s just sad . . . .
So we’re driving along, when we met a “Road Closed 6.5 miles ahead” sign. What?!? There’s a number you can call for information, so we pulled over and did that. We got through the entire thing and then the voice said it was from October 1st! Well, what good is that??? Sheesh! Six-and-a-half would put us just short of Craggy Gardens. We decided to press on.
There was no road closure. Yea!!
This was taken from the Craggy Garden picnic area, but we’re not to the actual garden area yet.
From here, we have to hike, but not far.
Once we arrived at the top of Craggy Pinnacle, we encountered another couple. Turns out they were from Summit County! Blaine had noticed their license plate in the parking lot and confirmed it was them. A couple of years ago, she was a pediatric resident at Children’s Hospital in Akron. Small world!
We’re here and oh my!!!
Alongside the trail on the way back down
This too
By the time we were ready to leave here, it was only 9:30am, so we checked the map and decided to drive the extra 10 miles to Mt. Mitchell – the highest point east of the Mississippi – and stopped at one more overlook along the way.
Look how the scenery’s changed!
Pine trees abound now.
Mt. Mitchell, while inside the National Park boundary, is somehow a State Park. Weird. Don’t know how that happened, or why.
The Mt Mitchell Visitor Center
But it wasn’t open.
Driving up to the parking lot
This sign’s at the parking area, but we’re not there yet.
Wait till you see the memorial for this guy . . .
And the last time we visited here (several years ago), it was in March and there was so much snow, the benches they have sitting around were covered with snow, clear up to the seats! It was cold today, 41 with gusting winds, but no snow. Kinda sad about that . . .
Last time we were here, this bench was in deep snow! : )
No ice today
Good thing we brought the right clothes with us!
What a view he has! : )
The views were amazing!
Proof of the weather. : )
On the way home, we got behind this reeeaaallly slow car. There’s no where to pass. Most slow drivers pull over a little so you can go around. Not this guy. Finally, we were able to get by him and Blaine easily left him in the dust.
We stopped for a somewhat leisurely lunch with a great view, then returned to the road.
Proof of the weather. : )
Right behind the same guy! Can you believe it?!?!? He didn’t learn a thing. We had to wait for a passing zone.
Ho Hum . . . .
There’s our guy!
The sprinkles began at 11:49, with full-out drops at 11:56! Pretty accurate forecast!!
I asked to make a stop at the Folk Art Center, since it was raining, and only noon. I have two pictures from the outside, and nothing inside. You are forbidden.
It’s a pretty exclusive place, selling local art of various types. I used to think Tamarack, West Virginia was high-priced, but this place? Waaay over the top! Who actually buys this stuff?? And if they don’t sell it, how to the artists make money? I’m all for putting value on things, they’re artists, they deserve to make more than the stuff from China. Plus homemade takes longer. I know this. I accept it. I even believe in it. But this? We felt it was outrageous. There were double-bed-sized quilts for $6,000, a $20 tiny whisk broom, a hand-woven jacket-type thing for only $495, a 4” Santa figurine for $395, a wooden rocking chair for $4,000, men’s ties for $106, a wrought iron fireplace set for $1,300 and a split-wood dining room table (complete with an almost length of the table hole in the middle) for $14,000. (better be careful where you set things!) This is just a sample of the things we could remember between when we left the building and got in the Jeep. Wow!
We didn’t buy anything. Wonder why?
Our last stop today was the Visitor Center, where we uncovered a bit of Blue Ridge Parkway construction information.
Look at the size of that tree!
They had a little booklet about the construction of a unique portion of the Parkway, Linn Cove.
A differnt booklet with interesting information – at least I thought so.
We watched a beautiful video!
Lots of ‘drone-type’ images of the Blue Ridge Mountain area.
And this really nice volunteer allowed me to take a picture of a t-shirt with statistics on it! Surprising since I told her upfront that I wasn’t interested in buying one and she said it’s they’re own design. But Thank You!
And the rain poured down . . .