| We are now in North Carolina. The drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway-Skyline Drive was stupendous. It was so relaxing and breathtaking at times. All along the parkway are rows and rows of Rhododendrons. They must be awesome in June. |
| October 16-17th., 2005. We are at Julian Price CG. Elevation is about 4,000ft. Rather cold to-day. Met a very nice couple here on their way to Raleigh, N.C. to visit with their son. Joyce and Jim lived in the Smokey Mountain region for 9-10 years and have been helpful to us in regards to this area. We shared a comfortable campfire with them. Great people. |
 The vista just never stops.
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 They call this the Linn Cove Viaduct which skirts the perimeter of Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina. For about 50 years this section of the Blue Ridge was called the "missing link" because the owner held out selling. He did not want anyone damaging his mountain. Governor Dan Moore came up with a compromise location. This Viaduct only cost $10 million to build and is 1,243 feet long and contains 153 segments weighing 50 ton each. Only one segment, the southernmost, is straight. Nearly all the construction was from the top of the mountain except for the drilling of foundation for the seven permanent piers on which the Viaduct rests. The only trees cut were those directly beneath the superstructure. This started in 1968 and was completed in 1987 along with other related structures e.g. visitors centre. A crooked 14-mile detour around Grandfather Mountain (5890ft.). |
| October 20, 2005. At Crabtree Meadows CG. Elevation is 3,373ft. high. It's 8:30 p.m. and 70 degrees out. My hair is wet from a bath and we are sitting in front of a beautiful campfire with a glass of port in North Carolina. Is this heaven. Up to now the evenings have been to cold to stay out but I guess we are far enough south to feel the difference now. Except that we are going into the higher mountains. |
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 This is a picture from Mt. Mitchell. We are 6784ft high. |
 Another view from Mt. Mitchell.
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 You are just awed at the site of the Blue Ridge Mts. Up to now we have been camping at a height of about 3,640ft. high. We are now at 5,721ft. high. |
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October 21, 2005. We are camping out at Mt. Pisgah. Today's
weather forecast is 81 degree below the mountain and where we are 4,802ft.
up it will be 77 degrees. Right now it is 8:00 a.m. and 50 degrees.
I am having a hard time believing it will be 77 degrees. October 22, 2005. We celebrated our 21st. wedding anniversary. We had dinner at the Mt. Pisgah Inn. This Inn was only a 5 minute walk from where we were camped. As we ate we had a Blue Ridge Mountain view with clouds floating by. You felt you could almost touch them. The reds between the clouds in the sky was breathtaking. It was so romantic. |
