While traveling today, we saw a lot of blooming rhododendron, mountain laurel and azalea, yellow and orange, beautiful. We had drove up to Mount Mitchell as far as we could go, and then walked to the top. This is the highest point east of the Mississippi River at 6683 ft.
We had eaten some lunch and then continued north on the Blue Ridge. Stopped at Linn Cove Viaduct Visitor Center and saw how they made and put together the viaduct and then drove over it. This was an unfinished section of the Blue Ridge and was delayed for 20 years as environmentalists, adjacent landowners, engineers, and architects put their skills together on how to preserve the scenic and fragile environment on the slopes of Grandfather Mountain in NC.
After arriving at the campground, we had a short time to get setup and then off into town for dinner. We ate at Dan'l Boone Inn, family style of fried chicken, steak, mashed potatoes, gr. beans, corn, stewed apples, cole slaw, biscuits and dessert, strawberry shortcake, chocolate cake or banana pudding. Good eating.
Tuesday, June 10
Slept in a little later this morning, left about 10am and headed north to West Jefferson, on a curvy back road with some nice views. Drove thru town and found Ashe County Cheese, they made their own cheese, cheddar. Sat thru a narrated show of cheese making and viewed the stirring and a guy putting cheese cloth in tins. They also have a retail store across the street from the factory, we bought a few different cheeses and curds, which aren't very fresh, they should squeak when chewed but they don't, we also bought a bottle of pecan syrup for pancakes, yumm.
We then drove outside town and found St. Mary's Episcopal Church to see the Frescoes. North Carolina artist Ben Long painted religious artworks in two churches and this was one of them, the other is further down the state. Taped narratives describe their history, pregnant Mary, John the Baptist and Jesus on the cross and him rising from the tomb.
We drove to the town of Valle Crucis, to the original Mast General Store and the Mast Annex store about 3/10 of a mile apart. The general store operates much as it did in 1883, complete with antique scales, counters and a pot-bellied stove. In the Annex store, they offer an eclectic mix of dry goods and old fashioned confections; customer favorites include retro boxes of candies from the '50s, '60s and '70s. And they still use the post office boxes.
After returning back to trailer, did some laundry, ate dinner and then had a social hour with ice cream.
Wednesday, June 11
Left camp early this morning heading south on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Stopped at Moses Cone Memorial Park. In the 1890s and early 1900s, Cone fashioned this country place at Blowing Rock with its 23 room colonial revival mansion as a health retreat from the rigors of his business empire and as a way to showcase his new found wealth. He built approximately twenty five miles of well planned and exquisitely maintained carriage roads and two lakes. After his wife died, the family offered the property to the Parkway with the understanding that it would be operated as a public park and pleasuring ground. Today the manor and the entire estate are one of the most heavily used areas along the Parkway and home to the Parkway Craft Center.
We walked around inside and saw a lot of guilted crafts. Outside on the porch, a woman was making baskets from pine needles, really cute.
Then continued onto Grandfather Mountain, a rugged 5,946 foot peak, when viewed from the north, it resembles a bearded grandfather looking toward the sky. At the entrance gate, we received an audio tour CD narrating the winding 2 mile drive to the summit. The highlight of the visit was the Mile High Swinging Bridge, a steel suspension footbridge completed in 1999 that despite the name swings very little, especially compared to its wooden predecessor.
As you can see it was very foggy, couldn't really see very well down either side, and didn't get to see the mountain shape neither. On the last picture Ken and John Sherron, hiked out on the rocks, I didn't hike out there, they say they are looking at a surveyor marker. It was very windy walking across but well worth the walk. We went half way down the mountain, to the museum, cafe and souvenir shop. Ate lunch and then walked through the native wildlife habitats, black bear, cougars, white tailed deer, river otters and two bald eagles. We saw one bear, two eagles, and legs of cougar that was it.
We then drove into the town of Blowing Rock, drove through town, parked and got out and walked, got ice cream and looked into some shops, very expensive area. Returned back to camp, did more laundry, dishes and just sat around for the evening.
Thursday, June 12
We all met for breakfast before pulling out this morning. They served us, orange juice, fruit cup hash brown and Canadian bacon with cheese on an English Muffin.
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