Blue Ridge Parkway

Our friends Jackie and Chico had to head back to the Chicago area, for our last day we decided to take a drive up the Blue Ridge Mountain.

We stopped at the Welcome Center and picked up maps and saw a great video on the construction of the parkway.  If you are not taking the opportunity to stop at these centers you are missing out. 

The Blue Ridge Parkway is a product of the New Deal's efforts to provide jobs to the unemployed of the Great Depression.  Construction began in September 1935 at Cumberland Knob near the North Carolina and Virginia state line. 

The idea was to create a link between the Shenandoah National Park to the edge of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.  Completed in 1983, the Parkway's history has been highlighted by documentarian Ken Burns in the six-part "The National Parks: America's Best Idea" series originally aired on PBS.  Can you see the blue haze that gives the parkway it's name?

We stopped at Cragger Gardens about half way up. Usually in June and July you can view the pink and purple blooms of rhododendron. Unfortunately, we saw non on this trip.

We did see incredible views of the valley and river below.

And we drove through this almost hidden tunnel. Can you find it?

We were headed to Mount Mitchell.  Mount Mitchell is the highest peak of the Appalachian Mountains and the highest peak in the eastern United States.  It was the highest point in any state of the United States until Texas joined the union in 1845.

Jacki and Jackie made it part way up the trail.  Bob and Chico made it to the top.

This is the observation deck, we don't know any of the people.

This was the view from the top.

The top of Mount Mitchell's elevation is 6,684 feet.

Jackie and Jacki waited at a Ranger Station and the Ranger showed us some prints, this one was a bear print and some skulls, this one was also of a bear.

On the drive down we stopped at the Folk Art Center. There were beautiful hand made fabrics, jewelry, pottery, clothing, quilts, on and on.  However, I guess I didn't get any pictures.  What talented people!

The next day we said goodbye to our friends.  We will miss their company but we will see them down the road.