Who We Are

We sold our home in June, 2007, and spent the next 7 1/2 years traveling full time in a Cross Roads Fifth Wheel. (We had been traveling during our summers for several years before going full time.) We loved the full-time lifestyle! Each summer we spent a month or two volunteering in State Parks, first in Indiana at McCormick's Creek State Park, near our family, then in later years as the grandchildren got older, at the Bluewater Lake State Park in New Mexico. We spent 6 months each winter at Cactus Gardens RV Resort in Yuma, AZ, where I worked mornings in the park office. The remaining months were spent on the road, seeing this great country of ours. Our favorite places are our National Parks. Anita loved photography and the freedom of digital photography, taking sometimes hundreds of photos in a day. We hiked as much as our legs will allow. We also really enjoyed square and round dancing as we travel across country, and meeting all the wonderful people who dance and/or travel.

But as in all things, there comes a time for change, and we decided it was time to create roots once more. In the fall of 2014, we purchased a home in Cactus Gardens, and in the spring of 2015, sold the 5th wheel. Anita also retired in the spring. We will continue to travel each summer, but for a shorter period of time. We hope to continue blogging about those trips, but it will obviously be on a more limited basis than in the past.

Please explore our past posts if you are interested in traveling this great country. You'll find an index in the left column. We hope you enjoy our blog, and appreciate all comments

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Blue Ridge Parkway -- A Preview

After the vent cover problem of the day before, and the hard rains that followed that night, we knew we had to replace the fan immediately.  The temporary cover of garbage bag and duct tape could not last through many such storms.  Fortunately for us, a new Camping World opened in nearby Hendersonville this spring.

We decided to combine a little sightseeing with the trip to Camping World.

2012-07-17 - NC, Pisgah National Forest - Powhatan Lake Campground

Our campground within the Pisgah National Forest is within 3 miles of an entrance to the Parkway.  We decided to drive a loop that would cover a small length of the Parkway and the Looking Glass Falls, reportedly the most photographed falls in the east.

2012-07-14 - NC -1- Blue Ridge Parkway (6)

The Parkway looks lush and green, belying the fact that this area, like most the of the country, has been in the grip of a drought.  Obviously, the mountains have been getting sufficient moisture.

It wasn’t long as we climbed in elevation that we began to encounter fog.

2012-07-14 - NC -1- Blue Ridge Parkway (8)

We stopped at the overlooks for photos.

2012-07-14 - NC -1- Blue Ridge Parkway (13)

2012-07-14 - NC -1- Blue Ridge Parkway (22)

But it wasn’t long before we were engulfed by the fog.  It’s an eerie feeling to be driving along the crest of a mountain on an unknown road at almost zero visibility.

2012-07-14 - NC -1- Blue Ridge Parkway (38)

We drove in and out of the pockets of fog. 

There are 26 tunnels on the Parkway.  Pine Mountain Tunnel is the longest, at 1,320 feet long.

2012-07-14 - NC -1- Blue Ridge Parkway (25)

I’ve always loved trying to get photos as we emerge from tunnels.  Once in a while, you get a good one, as I did here.

2012-07-14 - NC -1- Blue Ridge Parkway (26)

Most of today’s, however, were gray with fog.

2012-07-14 - NC -1- Blue Ridge Parkway (41)

After 18 miles on the Parkway, we took Highway 276 South.  This is a photo of one of the 176 road bridges on the Parkway.  The Bridges are all of this stone arch construction.  One of the principals followed in constructing the parkway was that all building materials such as stone had come from the immediate area in which they were used.

2012-07-14 - NC -1- Blue Ridge Parkway (42)

The road winds down through the Pisgah National Forest. Our first stop was at Sliding Rock.  This is one of the most unique natural playgrounds we’ve ever encountered, loved by locals and tourists alike.

2012-07-14 - NC -2- Pisgah National Forest - Sliding Rock (1) 

Here the river rushes down the mountainside.

2012-07-14 - NC -2- Pisgah National Forest - Sliding Rock (5)

You hear the shouts of fun and excitement as you walk down the short trail.  A bathhouse is provided, and just around the building, you see the reason for the shouts.

Here the 50 to 60 degree water flowing at the rate of 11,000 gallons of water per minute makes a swift descent over 60 feet of slick rock, providing the perfect natural waterslide. 

2012-07-14 - NC -2- Pisgah National Forest - Sliding Rock (12)

At the end of the slide is a drop into an eight foot deep pool.  There are signs warning that everyone must be able to swim.  There is also a park attendant at the top of the slide and lifeguards at the bottom.  A few strokes takes each participant to the boardwalk where they get in line to do it all over again. 

We stood for several minutes watching the young and old alike enjoy the slide.  This is the platform at the bottom where the line forms.

2012-07-14 - NC -2- Pisgah National Forest - Sliding Rock (39)

2012-07-14 - NC -2- Pisgah National Forest - Sliding Rock (33)

And then the swift ride down.  Often, we saw parents descending holding the hands of their child.

2012-07-14 - NC -2- Pisgah National Forest - Sliding Rock (15)

2012-07-14 - NC -2- Pisgah National Forest - Sliding Rock (18)

2012-07-14 - NC -2- Pisgah National Forest - Sliding Rock (21)

2012-07-14 - NC -2- Pisgah National Forest - Sliding Rock (27)

2012-07-14 - NC -2- Pisgah National Forest - Sliding Rock (23)

We stayed and watched for quite a while.

We’ve just missed the season for spring flowers.  A few of the rhododendrons are still blooming.

2012-07-14 - NC -2- Pisgah National Forest - Sliding Rock (32)

2012-07-14 - NC -3- Pisgah National Forest - Looking Glass Falls (1)

Just down the road from Sliding Rock is the majestic Looking Glass Falls.  The name Looking Glass comes from the Looking Glass Rock.  Looking Glass Rock is found up river from the falls.  Water freezes on the side of the rock during the winter, glistening in the sunlight like a mirror or “looking glass”.  The river forming the falls is also named Looking Glass.

I took this at the top of a short flight of stairs that leads down to the foot of the falls.

2012-07-14 - NC -3- Pisgah National Forest - Looking Glass Falls (21)

Well worth the climb down the stairs, at the bottom you are at the river’s edge, close enough to feel the spray of the cool water falling over 60 feet.

2012-07-14 - NC -3- Pisgah National Forest - Looking Glass Falls (14)

A couple asked us to take their picture at the half way landing of the stairs, and returned the favor for us.

2012-07-14 - NC -3- Pisgah National Forest - Looking Glass Falls (13)

One more treat awaited us.  After our stop at Camping World for the new fan, we happened upon the “Little Farmers Market”, where we found beautiful produce at great prices.  We purchased enough to enjoy for several days, along with a jar of local apple butter.

2012-07-14 - NC -4- Hendersonville Little Farmers Market (1)    2012-07-14 - NC -4- Hendersonville Little Farmers Market (2)

2012-07-14 - NC -4- Hendersonville Little Farmers Market (4)

3 comments:

Queenbee Diann said...

Great pictures, as usual. I wish the host site, Loop B, at McCormick's Creek looked like that one!.

Queenbee Diann said...

Great pictures, as usual. Wish the host campsite, Loop B, at McCormick's Creek were as nice as the one you stayed in at Pisgah National Park!

Steve Koch said...

I went down sliding rock. Very thrilling ride but the water is Incredibly cold and my tailbone hurt for three weeks afterwards. The right side is smoother.