Playing in the Mountains


Each morning it has been a bit of a challenge to find our way back onto the Blue Ridge Parkway.  We have read that the designers tried to make sure that it blended in with as little disturbance to the ‘ambiance’ of the area as possible.  Therefore, the limited signage that I had mentioned in an earlier blog.  However, we have found that the signage to get back onto the Parkway is even worse.  Signs that might read “Next Right” could mean 2 or 3 blocks away.  We have been forced to make numerous U-turns, not the easiest thing even with our little trailer.

Today we experienced fog for the first time up in the mountains.  The overlooks were not very impressive despite the elevation being higher than we had experienced so far on this trip.  We made it to over 5000 feet today.  The driving remained challenging with numerous tunnels and switchbacks.  But it was fun!

Our first stop of the day was at Moses Cone Memorial Park.  Moses Cone became wealthy producing high quality fabric especially denim.  He was the biggest producer of denim in the world.  He and his wife Bertha built Flat Top Manor, a 23-room, 14,000 square foot summer home in 1901.  It was a retreat from their residence in Baltimore Maryland and their mills in Greensboro North Carolina.  The grounds had 32,000 apple trees and 25 miles of carriage trails.  The carriage trails still exist.  The house still stands but needs an awful lot of money and tender loving care to restore it to its glory days.

Moving down the road we stopped and hiked out to Linville Falls.  It was a short hike along pretty easy terrain.  The last 500 feet was quite a challenge as it had rock steps (not man made).  It was difficult to get a good view of the falls but in the end well worth the climb down and back up.

Stop number 3 saw us hike to the Pinnacle at Craggy Gardens.  The trail went up and through ‘tunnels’ of rhododendrons and gnarled birch trees stressing the ‘up’ part.  We were rewarded with a 360-degree view as the fog had dissipated.  Impressive!

We are again in a KAO Kampground this time in Ashville.  We will be here for 2 nights as we have a few things we want to see in this area.  This KOA is huge, but just like all the rest of them, you could eat off your neighbour’s picnic table the sites are so tight together.

Distance Traveled = 214 km.  Wildlife Sightings = Chimney Swift, Yellow Bellied Sapsucker, Cardinal, Chipping Sparrow, Eastern Bluebird, Brown Thrasher, Wild Turkey, Mallards, Junco.



Flat Top Manor


Lower Linville Falls


View of the Blue Ridge Parkway from the Pinnacle


Gnarly Birch Tree at Craggy Gardens

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