The Blue Ridge Parkway - Virginia

I look like I belonged there. We had realized that it would be dark soon and as we drove up the Parkway in Virginia we could see deer and bear either feeding at the roadside or actually running across the roadway........there was a great chance that as the darker it got, the more dangerous the trip would become.

Yep.........those mountains are indeed blue. I drove and drove and drove and the nearest decent sized town that I could find on a map was Galax, Virginia. Surely there would be a motel there and we could get something to eat as well. We got lucky..........found a motel right in the heart of Galax and ordered a pizza. Whew!..........it was nothing fancy here but we did notice that the sidewalks were rolled up before we arrived......hehehe.

After a good night's sleep we loaded up the car to head back to the Parkway. This praying mantis thought he would hitch a ride with us, but I gave him the ole brush off routine....hehehe.

At this point of the trip, there was one last place I really wanted to visit specifically before we would leave the Parkway.......... Mabry Mill.

We arrived at Mabry Mill well before noon Tuesday morning. They have a visitor center which also just happens to have a small restaurant............YES!.......breakfast was being served. Nothing fancy.......but worthy of note is the fact that all of the restaurant employees appeared to be over the age of 65........hmmmm. It made us feel as if somebody's grandmother was serving us.

A short walk from the facilities is the mill itself. You simply cannot find a better mill anywhere. And when you consider the history of this place, you are sent back to a time that many of us could not survive in. Mr. Mabry did all of the work himself. If he didn't have a tool, he made one. If he needed water, he built a wooden viaduct to get the water to the mill. He even built his own "jigsaw".

The grounds around the mill are set up so that you can follow a path that leads you through several historical displays......from buildings to old moonshine stills in the woods. All of this is FREE.

Here is a portion of the wooden viaduct that Mr. Mabry built.

Mabry Mill is, for me, the absolute must-see of the Blue Ridge Parkway. I am lucky enough to have seen this place with my very own eyes, three times in my lifetime....... Once when I was about 10 or 11, and when I had my children with me almost 20 years ago.........and now on this day. It was just as wonderful then as it is now. I cannot say enough about the atmosphere here...........fresh air and beauty.

If you decide to drive the Blue Ridge yourself........remember the following:

• Take your time........don't rush.......the speed limit is only 45mph.
• Watch out for wild animals such as bears and deer darting out in front of you.
• Bring drinks and snacks....maybe even a picnic basket.
• Have a map handy.
• Try to stop at every opportunity...whether its an overlook or some other facility. (BTW, the bathrooms close up promptly at five)
• Take lots of pictures and try to go in the Fall.
• While driving, watch out for the bicyclists. There are lots of them.

Well............I was satisfied with the trip.....I had my fill......it was at this point that I would drive a bit further northward on the Parkway and exit near Roanoke.

Linn Cove Viaduct & Blowing Rock

Hehehehe.........Linn Cove Viaduct & Blowing Rock.........sounds like the name of one of the bands that plays at the 8x10 club...............but it aint.

Even if you have never driven the Blue Ridge Parkway, you most likely have seen the Linn Viaduct without knowing where it is. The Linn Cove Viaduct has been featured on countless car and truck commercials..........looks very familiar now, doesn't it?

This award winning architectural wonder is a must see. Sure, I could give you all the details here, but that would be alot of typing......hehehe......Instead, you can click on this link to learn more about it. www.nbm.org/blueprints/90s/winter90/contents/contents.htm

You never know what is ahead.

The only real town that actually sits adjacent to the Parkway is Blowing Rock, NC. We decided to stop there and have a look.

Blowing Rock is a nice looking place. A small town not unlike something from a Norman Rockwell painting...........but.....uh-oh........parking signs that lead us to a "municipal parking lot"? To me, that could spell trouble. No, not the kind of trouble you would encounter in Downtown Baltimore, but the kind of trouble that spells "tourist trap". That's a shame, too.........as I mentioned before, the snooty blue-bloods seem to have taken over the historic towns and turned them into habitats for over-priced restaurants and art galleries. Fortunately, we found a few places of interest to us here. Kirwin's Ice Cream Shop...............that's what we needed........an ice cream cone. We got us one and sat on the bench in front of the establishment and watched as people walked by. It was odd to me that on a Monday at 5 p.m., just about every business here was closed up. Luckily, Kirwin's was open for business. Fudge, assorted candies, and ice cream.........and they have a long history here.

There is also a smaller version of the Mast General Store here. They were open and we bought a few things there. We could use some stores like this in Maryland. Old fashioned candies, nostalgic toys and odd items can be found here. A much larger Mast store was in Hendersonville.

Take notice of the sign here at the Sunset Tees & Hattery shop. You can tell what most visitors to Blowing Rock have in their hands while walking along the main drag. Obviously, the Mast and the Kirwin's shops get most of the business..................1. they are open after 5.......and 2. they actually have something that people want. Supernurse went into this shop with the huge flip-flop by the door. She went in.......and came out without a purchase.......oh well....they were at least open after 5...hehehe.

Plenty of benches and a large amount of trash cans..............you never know when the busloads of Asian tourists will unload.

I liked this place.....it reminded me of a town in Florida called Mount Dora.

We strolled along the shopping district.....up one side and down the other. There is that Kirwin's place.......if you ever go here....stop there.

There were some places I would have liked to explore.....unfortunately, they roll up the sidewalks at five. Oh well........their loss.

So we headed down this path to the parking lot.....jumped into the car......and got back on the Parkway. Surely, you realize that I haven't written anything about the "blowing rock" itself. After all......that is the main attraction here.............why should I?......they have a website that explains everything. www.theblowingrock.com

Furthermore.........you can check out the official town website as well @ www.blowingrock.com

I absolutely love to look straight ahead and actually have something which really expresses perspective and depth. The only complaint I have about this visit to the Parkway is that a large percentage of the overlooks are overgrown. That's a problem because there no longer is the view that once was........it is obstructed. I don't know if they go around and trim the overgrowth back but it looks like they had not been doing that lately. Because of that, I did not take as many pictures as I wanted to.

You can see the trees have risen at this overlook up to the point where in about two years, you will pull up and just see the trees.

If you do find yourself on the Blue Ridge Parkway, you might want to make a point of stopping at the Brinegar Cabin. You cannot tell from this photo.....but it was right before dark when we were there. Late evening adds a little taste of eerieness as if you were in a strange world a long time ago.

More tomorrow.......stay tuned.

Stops Along The Blue Ridge Parkway

We made our way back to Baltimore from Biltmore Village by travelling the Blue Ridge Parkway. No specific plans.......just relaxing, absorbing the joy of driving along a road without heavy traffic....no tractor-trailers cutting me off......just the beauty of the mountains and the forests.

I really love the Blue Ridge Parkway. It is truly a national treasure. There is much to see.....sure, the mountain vistas are awesome and breathtaking..........but it is the little things that many might not stop to experience or see, that I enjoy immensely. The last time I had travelled this road was a long time ago when my kids were small and we were all crammed into the Subaru station wagon. Oh, but I enjoyed it then.....and I was enjoying it now.

Here and there, you can find little towns or places off the beaten track, where you can eat or stay the night. The parkway is not commercial at all, so it is necessary to venture off of it once in a while for gas, food, etc. One of those such places is called Little Switzerland, which, as far as I could tell, has but a post office, a hotel, a restaurant, and a used book store (which was for sale). We were hungry and decided to grab a bite in the restaurant. www.switzerlandinn.com

It wasn't very busy here..........but the food was pretty tasty. The restaurant also has a small gift shop and we purchased a few thing there. It was odd seeing the staff all wearing t-shirts with the letters "LSD" inside an oval on them. No, it wasn't drug-related.........it stood for "Little Switzerland Deli". After killing a little time here, went got back onto the Parkway heading north. www.switzerlandcafe.com

There is one place that is a must to visit.....and that is Linville Falls. You cannot view the falls from the parkway.....you must pull off and park the car at the Linville Falls Visitor Center. Here, there are a few various trails which will lead to areas where the falls can be viewed. The choice is yours.......the difficult path or the moderate one. Needless to say, we opted for the easier of the choices. Easy eh?.....hmmmm.........for many, perhaps there ain't nothing to it. For me?...........Holy Jesus!.......where are the little Mexicans with the tricycles?....like we had in the jungle at Coba. Bring a drink with you on this hike.

The path to the falls is long. I normally do not walk this kind of distance......but I managed to complete it without keeling over......although it was necessary to stop for a breath or two and get my legs to quit crying out in agony. The walk, though, is wonderful and quiet........but I DO know where I am..........and where I am just so happens to have assorted wildlife in it. This ain't the city...........a bear could jump out at any time.....snakes!......and God knows what else I might encounter.

Steps?.........wait nobody said anything about steps.......I don't do steps.......hehehe. But I did. The steps were put in here because the path gets a bit treacherous as you near the falls. Years and years of erosion has made the exisiting rocks a bit less like a step. It is still beautiful though.

The path also gets a bit small and steep through the rocks.

After the hike through the forest, you finally come to an area at the top of the falls......the smaller falls. The larger falls drop off right below us. In order for us to view that, we would have to hike up a steep hill, through the forest......a distance equivalent of that we had already pounded our feet. That would be for healthier people.......not me.....not this time. The "viewing area" that we reached is beautiful and awe inspiring. Natural beauty......plain and simple...........and right here is an excellent place to rest.....hehehe.

The sound of the water rushing............the rocks.......the trees........natural sounds.........you want to climb all over this stuff........but that is verboten........too risky.

From where I sat, I could look down at the very top of the larger falls. If I looked upward from this position, I could see, way far off....up in the trees on the side of the mountain.....those who dared hike the further distance to get the other view.

We settled for this view..............impressive.

No matter where you go.....even in the middle of nowhere....or in the middle of a forest at a waterfall......you might just see someone who looks like someone else.

Danny DeVito!............okay....now where is Rhea Pearlman?

Icing on the cake! and it didn't cost a dime.

I didn't like the thought of walking all that way.....uphill.....to get back to the car........but I did it......and I am glad I did............everyone always says "you need exercise"..........and you gotta admit......this "exercise" beats a treadmill any day of the week!

Goodbye Biltmore, Hello Biltmore Village

It was time to say goodbye to Hendersonville and head towards home. Supernurse had wanted to see the Biltmore Estate just outside of Asheville, North Carolina, and very close to the Blue Ridge Parkway.....which we had planned to drive for most of the trip homeward. This trip had a main agenda, which was the reunion, and that part had been accomplished. The remainder of the journey was to be what I call "winging it". No particular plan.......just drive along with no pressure and stop wherever.

We entered the grounds for the Biltmore Estate and it was stunningly beautiful........and that was just the entrance and some of the grounds. We followed the signs to the ticket center, parked the car, and inside the building....sat and watched a teaser film about the place in the theater. The wife immediately noticed that there were quite a few really senior citizens there......and......at that particular moment, several screaming kids whose parents did nothing to silence. This was a bad sign. Combine that with the $50 per person fee to view this complex....and...well.......Supernurse suggested that we get out of there and go over to the Biltmore Village instead.

Supernurse pretty much always makes a lot of sense, and needless to say....I agreed with her....hehehe. While driving out of the complex, we decided that we could always come back on some future date and perhaps spend a night there.........it might make for an interesting visit........but not this time.

Biltmore Village is like a small town area of assorted shops located just outside of the grounds of the Biltmore. It is an interesting place....the layout....the atmosphere......nothing like anything at home. What gets me is that the majority of these shops are way too upscale. You know what I mean.......for folks like me they come across as run by the snooty blue bloods that you might find in Roland Park, Towson, or Hunt Valley in Maryland. Where are the Mom & Pop shops? Oh well......there we were.

The major centerpiece of which it seems that everything was built around, was this church. The All Souls Episcopal Church, sanctified in 1896. Designed by Richard Morris Hunt, the style is said to be "Romanesque Revival". A somewhat haunting structure, ........Hammer Horror film?.......so we decided to take a look inside.

Approaching the entrance, you can see modern touches mixed well with an "older" look.

I always look upward. Here are the church bells. I have never seen anything like it before. As you can see for yourself, there is something about this building......as if it was plucked from the set of that old British tv show "The Prisoner"...........some sort of foreign daunting presence.

Inside....it's the stained glass that catches your eyes. Very beautiful.

And a chandelier hanging right over the entrance. Somewhat rustic isn't it? Even with the chandelier and all of the stained glass.......it seems rather dark inside here. Outside and inside, I got the sense of "darkness foreboding".....something odd. It was almost like being in a different world. Anyway, a church isn't supposed to be like this........is it?

There was one woman inside the church and we asked if it would be okay for us to take some pictures inside. She said "Sure, go ahead" and needless to say, from that point forward she spoke to us about the assorted details of this building............one of those details were the knee cushions that are placed below all of the seating. Each one is different and each one was hand-made. In a strange twist to the visit.......the woman just so happened to have relatives in the Baltimore area and she stated that she had just returned from a visit there. Even stranger was the fact that those relatives live in the Roland Park area of Baltimore............did I or did I not just write something about snooty blue-bloods? Well.....this lady was very nice and helpful......but what could be the odds that Roland Park would come up in our chit-chat?

You gotta love stained glass.....no matter where it is.

There was a small room to the right of the entrance..........a study room perhaps.....unlit except for the outside light coming through the glass window. It had an Amish feel.

See what I mean?......very Amish looking.........and spooky. Just as spooky as those twilight zone, Amish horse buggies traveling down the country roads in southern Pennsylvania right before dark.

Boooooooooooo!

I am glad we went into that church. Somehow, we are all...each of us.....if Christian......the church. The buildings are there as sanctuaries. If any one of them restricts your entrance......."beware!"

Right down the street, amongst assorted banking establishments, day spas, Thomas Kinkade art galleries, and high-end upscale clothing shops, is this place. Wherever you are, if there is a Christmas shop.......go inside. Inside these places, it is always Christmas......and the spirit of Christmas.....a little taste of that special time of year......is icing on your vacation cake.

Ho - Ho - Ho!......guess who I saw?........hehehe

I would have bought this Father Christmas statue, but it was a bit huge and my surname is not Vanderbilt.

We did end up buying a few things in this shop.....who could resist?

The hired help in this shop were extremely friendly and cheerful........as they should be.

All in all, we had a good time visiting the Biltmore Village......but it was time for us to move on.

Celebrity Look-Alikes

I am not quite sure if any or all of these celebrity look-alikes are any indication of the end of the world...........but you actually have to wonder if all of the new original faces have reached their limit to the extent that everything has already been done before. If that is the case.....then these are indeed a signal that our demise is right around the corner.

I have provided a few of these celebrity look-alikes in the past here on this blog. I fully intend on putting up some more in the future...........A good friend of mine, who just happens to read this blog, has pointed out that...........

......The Weather Channel's Jim Cantore.......could pass for.......

Retired Baltimore Oriole B.J. Surhoff.

I agree!

Alrighty then........let me come up with a couple more for you.

Everybody has seen Ed O'Neill before in movies and on television. You most likely remember him most on the tv show "Married With Children"..........but wait!.........maybe we have seen this face elsewhere..........can you guess?

Have another look at Ed...........can you imagine him as someone else?

Sure you can........

Remember the Australian rock group "Men At Work"?

The lead singer (at left in the photo) was Ed O'Neill!................

..........hehehe.........nahhhh it was actually a dude named Colin Hay.

Darned close though.

Good ole Reverend Al Sharpton...........we all loved him in the Prince movie, Purple Rain........

...........you remember Morris Day, don't you?

Reverend Al................

.......Morris Day.................

I have more of this ridiculousness coming soon.....stay tuned.