Blue Ridge Parkway

We got on the Blue Ridge Parkway Halloween afternoon and enjoyed countless beautiful views as we drove south along it. We spent the majority of three days on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It was fantastic.

Looking down a long, long way at one of the first of many, many, many, many epic views from the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Rob may have gotten a bit carried away with the panoramic shots.

But there were lots and lots of them.

One of the best leaf views of the entire trip.  Vermont was about the only place that was in competition with the Parkway.

Oh look, another panorama.

This is as big as the parkway ever gets.

Old skool boozamification!

Yet more leafy pretty valley shots.

Looking down the Appalachian Trail, which wove across the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Naked rock. Naturally. It was too hard to mine, so they had to leave it be.

Schist along the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Looking down into the valleys around the Blue Ridge Parkway as we took a detour for a short road closure.

Lovely old farm country on our detour.

Our favorite overlook and the schisty native rocks they used for the walls of the overlooks.

Yes, the leaves really were that vivid.

Pretty red berries on a blue backdrop.

Naked trees and mountain ranges maybe 50 miles from Asheville, NC

Lines of mountains on the horizon like ocean waves.

Weaverville yo!  As nearly anyone in my hometown of Weaverville can tell you, there is another one in North Carolina.  It turns out that it happened to be about 10 miles out of our way off of the Blue Ridge Parkway.  It was a must go…

Rob's back in Weaverville! But wait, something doesn't seem quite right.

South East homies...

They even have their own police force!

Main Street in Weaverville, NC.

Dolls made by a woman in Weaverville, NC for the Weaverville, CA centennial.  They know about us too! 

We drove south from Weaverville, NC and hopped back on the Blue Ridge Parkway, taking it to its terminus by Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The weather had its merry way with us on the way, making for yet more interesting views.

More naturally naked rock, forming a large dome rising out of the autumnal trees.

Rain haze in the distance.

Highest elevation of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Hail and fat drops of rain along our drive. Oh and there was a crazy lot of wind, too.

Snow at an overlook of gorgeous valleys, heading up to Waterrock Knob Visitor Center.

Just one of the gorgeous views from the parking lot at Waterrock Knob Visitor Center.

Rain and views at Waterrock Knob Visitor Center.

Heading down to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.