Anniversary Trip

Well, that's what I get for not blogging for months!  Typepad is completely different from the last time I was on here ~ hopefully I can figure it out without too much trouble.

I've e-mailed a few folks about our Anniversary Trip Oct 11-13, and pictures are requested, so I'll try to get a photo album posted. 

This trip to Blowing Rock and the Blue Ridge Parkway was especially great. Many reasons... doing things we've never done in all our visits there.... the Linville Caverns, winding (somewhat scary!) drives around hairpin turns in the glorious colors ~ and we couldn't have hit it better for PEAK colors, sometimes you would turn a corner and it would almost hurt your eyes, it was so beautiful!  Add to that, Dan and I haven't been for 2 years ~ we didn't go last year ~ and can you believe, it's 7 years already??  In any event, we greatly enjoyed our 3 days in the beautiful mountains of NC.

We had a mix of weather ~ Sunday was glorious, bright, sunny, and warm temps.  We couldn't figure out WHY the Parkway was more crowded than we've EVER seen it ~ until we realized, it was Columbus Day weekend, and it was a long weekend for lots of people.   We drove the Parkway and hit Linville Falls that day...

   

Monday was incredibly Foggy - and it lasted on and off all day - which made for an interesting drive on the Parkway!  But it would clear at times, so we would get beautiful views, like the one above... and it was also a great day to visit Linville Caverns ~ what an incredible act of nature!  I highly recommend this tour if you are ever in the area, it is fascinating.... They took us in small groups of 10 to 12 people with a guide, because in some places it was very narrow - you constantly had to watch your head ~ and there were a few bats here and there!  The pictures can't possibly show how beautiful the stalagmites and stalagtites (mineral and rock formations) were in the caves.... and at one point, the guide turned out the lights - rudimentary as the electricity is down there, it lights up the caves ~ and without it, it's the blackest black  you've ever experienced.  The guide says you would go blind in 6 months without light in the caves.

Someone who saw these pictures said it looks like the inside of someone's body!  Mayb from just looking at the pics... but when you realize this is all stone, the colors and formations are really incredible, in some places it looks like jewels...  It was really

amazing, and when you consider that soldiers during the Civil War camped out in these caverns, it's got a lot of history and is quite awe-inspiring.   Our day continued to unfold when we found a beautiful waterfall, quite by accident, just because we pulled over by a pretty stone church to take a picture.  A small wooden sign said "waterfall 1/2 mile) with an arrow, and off we went on an adventure.  Well, I can't believe it was only a 1/2 mile, especially since it seemed like it went straight up hill!  I told Dan, it wouldn't be good for either one of us to have a heart attack up here in the middle of nowhere!!  But, we made it, and the spectacular view was well worth the effort.

Returning to the Inn late afternoon, after a misty hike in the rain, and with this kind of fog even late in the day... you can imagine how wonderful it felt to unwind in our room with a fire in the fireplace, relaxing and reading, before dinner right there at the Inn.

This is from the parking lot to the Inn!  Couldn't believe the thick fog... Next day, all was clear for a gorgeous drive home, with a few memorable miles on the Parkway.   All in all, it was a fabulous trip, drinking in the beauty around us, no tv, phones, or laptops for 3 days, just spending time together. 

 

Comments

[Gerry Schowalter]

Great pictures Lynne need to see more, glad to hear you had a good time.

[Chris]

Gorgeous pictures...fun to see a post from you! Thanks for blogging about the trip! And a belated Happy Anniversary to you and Dan!

[Stacie]

Welcome back! Or is this just temporary? I miss your posts...I don't get in on those emails, so I have no idea what is going on. But I did know it was your anniversary (Happy Anniversary!) and it was fun to read about your trip. The pictures are beautiful! What a relaxing and fun weekend. Glad you enjoyed yourselves.

Now...how is everything else??

[Sarah Ivy]

Welcome back! And Happy Anniversary!