Rosie and I decided that it would be good to switch off leading, so today she is the leader of the pack (well, a small pack). I was a little disorganized this morning, just one of those mornings; I had trouble getting it together. I think Rosie had her doubts if I would ever get ready. I finally got all my stuff onto the bike, to Rosie surprise, and off we headed for I-81. We went about 15 miles or so and saw the brown Blue Ridge Parkway sign. Much better road then the one we came down last night. The first overlook we pulled over at was Purgatory Mountain overlook, MP 92, elevation 2400 feet; the mountain rises over 3000 feet. The mountain was named after a creek located in the town below. I can only imagine the fun people have with this mountain name. Then we headed for Roanoke. I have to say, it's nice being in the back seat. We stopped off at Roanoke River Bridge, MP 115, for some pictures. The river flows into the Smith Mountain Lake. This river offers good trout fishing upstream from this point, and good bass (striped and white) fishing below here to the lake, especially in the spring and fall. The elevation at the river is 825 feet. Well worth the small hike to the bridge. Rosie pulled over at Lost Mountain, elevation 2200 feet, MP 130. The poor mountain is lost, maybe Rosie is lost also! Oh my, that means I'm lost as well!!! The mountain is still there, but the origin of its name has been lost to time. I think this would make a good TV series, don't you???? |
Onward to Mabry's Mill, MP 177. What a place, so peaceful and beautiful. We had lunch and walked the area. There is so much history in this little area. Mabry's Mill was built in 1910 by Edwin B. Mabry. He saved his earnings in the coal fields to build a gristmill, sawmill, and wheelwright shop. The mill became a focal point of the Meadows of Dan community. Mabry's Mill area is now one of the most heavily visited sites on the parkway. The pictures will show you why. After a nice long stay of enjoying the ducks and talking to the ranger and older lady making thread from sheep's wool, plus visiting my retirement home, we headed down south again. We crossed over into North Carolina, MP 216.9, and had to stop for a photo op. Then we stopped at High Piney Spur, the elevation is 2805 feet. We can see the nice rolling hills below. As we continued southward, I was beginning to wonder where the wildlife of the Blue Ridge was. Then we came around a corner going a little down hill and there was a beautiful deer grazing on the side of the road. She was just beautiful. When I first saw her, I was concerned she might run out in front of me, but, we didn't seem to bother her one bit; the grass must have been good there or she is used to motorcycles. |
Then we rounded another corner and a lady was stopped on the side of the road where there were wild mushrooms growing. They were a good 12 inches high. I slowed down and said to the lady "WOW, look at those mushrooms; mushroom soup!" And she laughed. I waved and onward I went. A few more miles down the road, there was a nice-size black snake making his way across the road. He was moving fast - he had to get to the other side. I was not sure why, and I wasn't stopping to find out. I wasn't worried, because he was in the other lane as I rode pass. We stopped at Fox Hunter's Paradise, MP 218, and I asked Rosie if she saw what I had seen and she said "NO!!!" I was a little puzzled over this. I guess her first day leading had her mind preoccupied. Fox Hunters Paradise - the knoll low on the ridge where hunters once sat listening by the fire as they followed the chase in the low lands. They knew which hound held the lead by the "personality" of its voice. The dogs may have been having fun, I'm not sure the foxes were. |
We headed onward, coming upon Doughton Park. We were getting tired from a full day's ride, and stopped off at Bluffs Coffee Shop. We asked the lady where we could get a hotel for the night that didn't require us to drive over 15 miles out of our way. She said across the road and up the hill was the Bluffs lodge. We headed up the hill. We were lucky to get a room at the Bluffs Lodge for the night, and had dinner at the Bluffs Coffee Shop. They used to have a gas station here, but now the pumps were gone. We travel 173 miles today. The park was named for Doughton, a member of the US House of Representatives. He served as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee from 1933 to 1947 and from 1949 to 1953, and was instrumental in the development of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The lodge was really nice. There was no TV and no phone, but that did not matter. The view from the back porch was spectacular. After dinner we sat on the patio where there was nice fire going, and some young girls were making S'mores by the fire. It was so relaxing, a very good end to a wonderful day on the road. The journey continues! |
to see video of Mabry Mill
