Getaway

Another last minute Sunday ride into the mountains of North Carolina. It was 95 degrees when I left Marion at 3:30 to head up into the "cool" mountains. Straight up Coxes Creek Road toward Spruce Pine and then a quick dodge onto the Blue Ridge Parkway at the top of the mountain and then North toward Linville. There is an instant cooling effect after you get on the Parkway from the canopy of tree limbs.

My first stop was the Orchard at Altapass. Apples played a significant role in pioneer culture, and, don't kid yourself, it took a pioneer spirit to settle this country. Scratching out enough flat, rock-free land to cultivate a garden was a major challenge. I've always marvelled at the sight of rock piles situated at the bottom of a one-time "field" that an early settler cleared to grow enough "truck" to feed his family.

This overlook also afforded a view across the North Cove valley to the mountains that rise up to the ridge overlooking the Linville Gorge and the Kistler Memorial Highway which follows this ridge for several miles down to Lake James. It's several miles across but you can see where fires burned earlier in the Spring.

This faraway view of fiery destruction is in stark contrast to the cool scenes one experiences travelling up the Parkway, even in the midst of a drought.

Below is native azalea which can be seen in many different colors.

I'm not sure what this flower is...

Below is mountain laurel which at lower elevations is bloomed out but up here is at full bloom in early June.

Christmas trees are big business up here in this country.

The Hemlock Wooly Adelgid is destroying our hemlocks. This hemlock on the Linville River should be full and lush and green. Instead, the foliage is sparse and thin, the normal shade provided to the river environs gone. What the long-term effects this will have on trout streams is unknown but it probably won't be good.

Below is a healthy hemlock bough on which can be seen new growth and a healthy color.

This bough is infected. It's obviously less lush and the infestation can be seen thickly embedded on the leaves. These bugs suck the very life out of the tree. it's said that if you or your children have not seen a hemlock forest that you had better go now because in a few years they will be gone.

Grandfather Mountain, 5:30Marion, 6:15

Makes me want to go back up there!

Spring Has Sprung (mostly)

I took my first scooter ride of the year today. There it was, when I got home from church, beckoning. OK. Where to go? Mt. Mitchell? Can't go wrong there! I headed up Hwy. 80, past Lake Tahoma, Buck Creek, through Dead Man's curve, all the way to where it intersects with the Blue Ridge Parkway and there I took a break. There were some riders there and one of them was showing some interest in my scooter. He asked a lot of questions about it. It's a gas mileage thing! They call Harleys "hogs" for more than one reason.

From there it was on to Mt. Mitchell. It's the highest point East of the Mississippi River. It was 76 degrees in Marion when I left and by the time I got to the top of Mt. Mitchell it was 51 degrees! I had planned on a cup of hot chocolate when I got there but the concession stand isn't open yet. There were a couple of guys there in the parking lot who had come up on rice rockets and they were showing lots of interest in my scooter. They also asked lots of questions and wanted to know about gas mileage. One of them had looked into Burgmans extensively and knew a lot about them. He is seriously considering trading his 1150cc bike for a Burgman 400cc.

While I was there I got some pictures of Balsam trees. I love a Balsam. There's something foreboding about a Balsam forest, or maybe it's just because the only ones I ever see are on Mitchell and it's usually cloudy and misty and cool up there and so it just seems that way.

I know I've been in St. Augustine a lot lately so it may be understandable that I likened this growth to Spanish Moss. It isn't, of course. I don't think Live Oaks grow at 6400 ft. elevation. I'm not sure what it is but it seemed to thrive on dead and dying Balsam trees.

I took a bunch of pictures of plants that were blooming out on this trip. When you're riding, and you want to take pictures, you have to make a concious effort to STOP, when you see something photo worthy, park, get the camera out, shoot, put the camera up, crank up and go. It's a groove you get into...slow down, look...don't be in a hurry. Here's a few pics.....

Little blue flowers....

This picture was taken from about a foot off the Parkway.

This, I think, is a Catawba Magnolia bloom....
We've all seen these....
??????????????All day, I had this feeling that there was something missing...

It's Spring...

There should be some...Oh, yeah, that's what it is...Trillium!

This is a panorama of 4 pictures, stitched together, of a "field" of Trillium, but really, there were virtually acres upon acres of trillium between the Mineral Museum in Spruce Pine and Crabtree Meadows. I've never seen anything like it.

The shades of white and pink were innumerable, but the sheer numbers of flowers are indescribable and of course pictures don't do it justice. There is a short window of opportunity in the Spring to experience this showy display and I hope everyone can, sometime, see it. Here are a few pictures...

So, all in all, a great day in the mountains of western North Carolina.