This post has 3 galleries and that is after I cut the pix back immensely. For that reason I will try to keep the words down to a minimum and that should work because this blog is all about the Blue Ridge Mountains. Not sure if you’ve heard of these? Then just sing John Denver’s song, “Take me home, country roads.” I know you all know the words. The reason few words will work is because no amount of words can do this beautiful part of the world justice. Think Adelaide Hills, Victorian Alps, Snowy Mountains, Blue Mountains, Atherton all in one place and on steroids. Wow! It is that beautiful.
Rather than do my usual pic by pic narrative I’ll just select a few highlights in the first gallery so you can just enjoy the scenery. For instance in the third photo note the stupid place they built a ski lodge. (You see this up a bit closer in the Grandfather Mountain Gallery below.) That is about the only negative in this area. In another pic you’ll see the map on our GPS screen of the mountain road we we’re about to tackle. This is the price of climbing steep high mountain ranges but it is worth it. A few photos after that you can see a local Ranger setting up the Visitor Centre at Linville for another day of hikers. Shane follows that photo in the centre with another log other than me. Apart from these all the other photos are scenic views like no other. If someone knows how to make landscape pictures show the true beauty of an area please let me know.
The next day we had a show to go to up in the city of Boone, North Carolina. The show didn’t start until around 8pm so we set off to cover the 40 or so miles around 8am. Yep, 12 hours should cut it. In the first 2.5 hours we covered 7 miles! Nothing wrong with the road it was just that there was so much to see. Again the scenery was incredible. Eventually we made it to one of our day’s goals, Grandfather Mountain. When Shane had promised to take me to a “Mile High Swinging Club” she meant the suspension bridge 1 mile above sea level on Grandfather Mountain. Darn, I’d wasted half a bottle of cologne for nothing not to mention wearing my best undies.
By the time we hit GM it was just after Noon so we decided to have lunch first. On the Cafeteria’s verandah they had bird feeders set up and the Hummingbirds were having a feast. Further into the Ranger Station there were animal enclosures with bear, eagles, cougars, river otters, and more. Sadly because of the temperature only the bears and eagles were visible. The rest remained in their shelters in the shade. From the Ranger Station we drove up another mile or two to the main attraction, the Mile High Swinging Suspension Bridge. Shane as always was tentative and wouldn’t let go of the railing. Once across the other side she stayed put at the bridge while I climbed out on to the end of the outcrop overlooking 270° views. That’s why there’s a pic of Shane waving to me followed by a photo of me waving back to her. At the end of our walk we then had to descend back to the Blue Ridge Mountain Parkway to head for Boone. Just to give you an idea of the Blue Ridge Parkway road here’s another video Shane took from the front seat.
P.S. Did you notice that ugly ski lodge in the picture prior to “Shane & I standing over the mile high step on the bridge”?
Finally we got to Boone. This city is named after that famous frontiersman Daniel Boone. First thing that happened was another childhood dream was shattered. Daniel never wore a ‘coon skin cap’ as per the song. Dudded for a second time today. Prior to the show they have replica cabins depicting a home, tavern, blacksmith etc for your perusal. Here’s a video of the axe thrower and his brilliant apprentice. After this we had VIP seats for the show called “Horn in the West” based on true events. The story follows the family of Dr. Geoffrey Stuart, a British loyalist, who is forced to flee the lower colony due to the actions of his son during the Battle of Alamance. Led into the mountain country by frontiersman Daniel Boone, Stuart must come to terms with his own loyalties, which are divided between his country and his son. In it’s 67th season it was a very good show.
And just for good measure here’s a video of parts of the show.
After a day’s rest we packed up from this region of the Blue Ridge Mountains to move south to Asheville on the bottom ranges. That will be the subject of the next exciting issue of Cahill’s Chronicles” blog. So keep watching.
Cheers
Garry & Shane