It was great to finally reach the parkway in Asheville. A chance to slow down, relax and enjoy the scenery. The first overlook we pull over at is French Broad Overlook, milepost 393 It is a beautiful river that flows north.
Had a slight scare here – Dee Dee slipped out of gear and started rolling backwards – I was busy removing a layer of clothing when Ellen alerted me. Thank goodness she didn't end up in the French Broad River!
There are a lot of overlooks along the parkway, and it is impossible to stop at every one. Sometimes I would pass one and then think that I should've pulled over - I was worried we would miss something. One place that I should have stopped is Graveyard Fields – from there you can see waterfalls. The parking lot was crowded.
It was a bit foggy as we got to Buck Springs Gap overlook. We stopped here and met a group of men riding the parkway. Each one came from a different park of the country and met at one point of the parkway. They were getting off the parkway at Buck Springs Gap. We chatted with them for a little while.
At one of the overlooks we heard that a man had gotten separated from his wife while picking blackberries and was lost in the mountains. We saw search and rescue vehicles. One vehicle carried search dogs. When we stopped at Looking
Glass overlook, milepost 417, we saw a news helicopter overhead. There were several news vans and reporters at another overlook.
At another overlook two men riding motorcycles pulled up next to us and they were smiling and waving! It turns out these were the same guys that we saw at the seedy motel the night before. They were from Pennsylvania and headed for the Tail of the Dragon. They said that after looking at the dirty room, they didn't stay there.
One of the stops I wanted to make was Devils Courthouse, milepost 422. There is a trail you can hike to get on top of the mountain. From there you can see 3 states – South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee. Indian folklore claims that this is where the Devil holds his court. We stop here for a break.
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Some of the names of the mountains are interesting. We stop at Rough Butt Bald, milepost 425. The mountain looks like a behind! It is here that we learn from a couple that the lost man has been found. That was good news.
One of the most spectacular overlooks is Cowee Mountain, milepost 430. It is here that the Indians were able to scout for enemies approaching.
Another must-stop place is Richland Balsam milepost 431 – it is the highest point on the Blue Ridge Parkway at 6053 ft.. We get a photo op at the sign, and "braggin' rights."
We are close to the end of the parkway now, and it's time for another break. We stop at Waterrock Knob overlook, milepost 451, which is the second highest point on the parkway. There's a comfort station and visitors center. From this overlook you can see both southwest and northeast. There are signs that tell you what
towns are in the distance. You can even see Deals Gap. When we stop here, the sky is mostly clear. When we leave, the fog has rolled in.
Next stop is Maggie Valley to see "Wheels Through Time", the motorcycle museum where the bikes can be started. Before our trip began, I asked Ellen if we could stop here. I really wanted to see it before they closed
their doors in November.
The road from the Parkway to Soco Gap was very challenging. Coming down the mountain the road is very steep and winding. There is only one road through Maggie Valley, and at first we were worried because it didn't look "civilized". The closer we got to the museum, things started looking better, and we stopped at Comfort Inn. It is half a mile from the museum. The front desk clerk was friendly and gave us menus of restaurants that deliver. We ordered Italian food for dinner, and took a leisurely walk down the main drag.
The weather is gloomy – we hope it clears by morning.
There is a large group of Gold Wing riders here, too. They are in town for a "Wing Ding" in Asheville. We make friends everywhere we go!
The journey continues!
by Rosie
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