It's a fer piece to the south end of the Parkway in North Carolina. It was especially fer because I went straight south, un-cutting the hypotenuse, and without the interstates, all the way to Georgia - through corn, cotton and kudzu...
..and through Superman's home town, Metropolis, Illinois.
I moseyed my way over to Atlanta, to see my sweet 'sister' Jain and family, through Kentucky and Tennessee.
This is near the ancient center of the Cherokee nation. It was like their Washington D.C.
(The lower reflection is from the top of my car)
I entered the kudzu zone. A local man told me that someone is farming the stuff for export to Japan. They think it makes an attractive and tasty garnish.
The highest point in Georgia is Brasstown Bald. The views were amazingly symmetrical that day.
From Atlanta, Jain and I took a day trip to Toccoa Falls and Helen's Octoberfest.
Mica floats in the water and lines the shores at the Falls.
Sweet Jain
In 1977, a dam broke and destroyed the little Christian college town that contains Toccoa Falls. It wiped out this bridge too.
Oktoberfest in Helen
Contented and contentious country cows by a gazebo grazing green grass
I entered the Parkway's southern end. The mountain views seemed more accessible and spectacular here.
Sometimes the road went through the mountains, instead of over or around.
There are many dozens of overviews along the Parkway. Some have exhibits and pretty little trails for walking. They are a nice break from the twisty road.
The mountain views became more impressive again toward the Parkway's northern end in Virginia...
...and I finally saw some fall colors.
I didn't drive all of the Parkway. About 20 miles were closed because of rockfalls. One detour led me on a 3 hour tour through mountain roads with endless turns and climbs and dives. Lodging on the Parkway is expensive and always booked. You have to find an exit to a nearby town and hope to find something that doesn't smell like cigars and hunting dogs.
I finished it in 4 days, but I had to hurry too much. Many beautiful looping trails tempted me (1/2 to 4 hours walk). I criss-crossed the great 2175-mile Appalachian trail over and over. Now there's a hike!
(Blue Ridge Mountains - October 2008)
