Traveling Square Dancers: Blue Ridge Parkway – MP 396

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

Friday, August 3, 2012

Blue Ridge Parkway – MP 396 – 469

When the Parkway was laid out, and the mileposts added, I suppose its creators assumed it most often would be traveled from northeast to southwest (in other words, starting in Virginia). Thinking we would like to travel farther north when finished, we’ve chosen to run it the opposite direction.

This first leg of the journey began at Asheville, NC and ran to the end of the Parkway at Cherokee, NC.

As we moved farther up the parkway later, there would be several historical sites, but on today’s drive, the appeal was the fantastic scenery!

The Parkway is just as it’s name implies, a road running along the crest of the mountains. Nowhere is that more evident than when looking down upon the road from an overlook above.

2012-07-05 - NC, Blue Ridge Parkway - MP396 - 469 (108)

At Milepost 431, you encounter the highest point on the Parkway, at 6,047 feet.

Shortly after this photo, we experienced what would become the norm for several days…an afternoon thunderstorm.

The Parkway comes to an end at the entrance of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which is also at Cherokee, NC.

Having been there several times before, and arriving past lunch time, we decided to eat and head back over the mountains. We chose the first restaurant we came to, The Little Princess.

Turns out, we could not have chosen better. The fried fish plate with onion rings and slaw was delicious, and almost more than we could eat. Not enough, though, that we couldn’t stop in for ice cream at the dairy bar next door.

The dairy bar is conveniently located with steps leading down to the Oconaluftee River, luring “tubers” to stop for a snack.

Back on the Parkway, the rain had stopped, leaving behind miniature waterfalls on the rocky ledges.

Devil’s Courthouse’s sinister appearance contributed to many folk tales in the area.

Within the mountain is a cave where, according to the legends, the devil holds court. The Cherokee believe it to be the private dancing chamber and dwelling of the slant-eyed giant, Judaculla. The one half mile climb to the top gains almost 300 feet in elevation, so we decided not to try it. However, as you can tell from the close-up, many do.

There are many formations along the drive that make you wonder…how and why did that form in the manner it did, such as this one titled Pounding Mill?

It was a great day for our first day on the Parkway. Here are a couple of my favorite panoramic shots from the day (click on any photo to see it larger).