Trip down Blue Ridge Parkway

The last few mornings we've had a heavy fog when we get up, but it usually lifts by mid-morning. My cousin Jean called this morning to tell me that she had located her genealogy notebooks with the information she and her mother had accumulated. I told Jean that I had wanted to visit with her again before we left the area, so I will go see Jean tomorrow.

After lunch we took Tinker and went for a drive over to the Blue Ridge Parkway. We left about 1:30 and drove south on US-276 for 31 miles to the Wagon Road Gap entrance.

From Trip down Blue Ridge Parkway

We have traveled on the Blue Ridge Parkway before, but not this far west. After entering the Blue Ridge Parkway at 2:30 we turned south and our first stop was at the Cold Mountain Overlook.

From Trip down Blue Ridge Parkway

As usual it was hazy over the mountains, giving them the bluish cast that earned the Blue Ridge it's name. We saw Looking Glass Rock that reflects light when ice or water are on the rock's granite face.

From Trip down Blue Ridge Parkway

Every so often we would meet
bicycle riders on the Parkway.

From Trip down Blue Ridge Parkway

We caught a glimpse of Second Falls

From Trip down Blue Ridge Parkway

and then stopped at Graveyard Fields Overlook where we could see tent campers below the overlook.

From Trip down Blue Ridge Parkway

We drove through the Devil's Courthouse Tunnel

From Trip down Blue Ridge Parkway

before we reached the Devil's Courthouse Overlook.

From Trip down Blue Ridge Parkway

We drove over the highest elevation on the Blue Ridge Parkway (6053 feet).

From Trip down Blue Ridge Parkway

Besides the bike riders, we saw a lot of motorcyclists on the Parkway. There is a motorcycle rally in Maggie Valley this week and we have seen lots of motorcycles everywhere.

From Trip down Blue Ridge Parkway

We saw a Dangerous Curve sign and then this sign showing the curve up ahead

From Trip down Blue Ridge Parkway

and then a few minutes later another curve in the opposite direction.

From Trip down Blue Ridge Parkway

Just before we exited the Blue Ridge, we saw these houses built up on the mountainside overlooking the Parkway.

From Trip down Blue Ridge Parkway

We left the Blue Ridge Parkway a little after 4:00 at the Soco Gap entrance and had driven 46 miles on the parkway.

We drove east on US-19 to Maggie Valley

From Trip down Blue Ridge Parkway

From Trip down Blue Ridge Parkway

and arrived back at the campground at 4:30.