Getting away from it all. . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . and what could be better than a road trip, a mystery trip!

Pack a bag for a couple of nights, secure the cottage, jump in the car and

head west (or east, even south or north), and discover new places one

has missed before. No time constraints, no deadlines, no reservations, just an old

fashioned road trip. . . . . . . drive on, stop when you want to admire a view, watch

a waterfall tumble from high above, listen to a mountain stream make music

 trickling over its rocky granite bed as a whistling hawk circles overhead.

Spectacular places within a day's driving distance of home, even more beautiful
 than expected. June weather was perfect, cooler in the western part of the state
 than here. Warm, sunny, with amazing cloud formations and just two light five
 minute showers to rinse and freshen the greenery. . . . . . . . . and native
 rhododendrons bursting into bloom along the mountain roads then nosediving
 en masse to the valley floors far below.

Bridal Veil Falls, Nantahala National Forest, Highlands, North Carolina

A road trip can take you to places you will never see up close any other way.

There are 100 counties in North Carolina and we have now visited every one.

We drove almost 900 miles over the weekend. . . . . . .it was really lovely viewing 

our beautiful state dressed for Spring.

How do you feel about getting out on the open road?  

Do you enjoy 'getting away from it all' and seeing the countryside in your

close to home area?

Back to the Blue Ridge. . . . . . .

We've just enjoyed a short but sweet visit to western North Carolina.

We met up with some old friends and made some new ones, always fun.

The Blue Ridge Mountains shimmered in the 95F summer heat -

and the sunsets were beautiful. 

These were views from our hotel window. 

Driving home yesterday, the sun was bright , temperatures soaring into

 the nineties yet again. Leaving the higher mountains, the rolling hills were

 many shades of green, and the 'Carolina Blue' sky filled with puffy clouds,  

making the drive so enjoyable. We stopped for ice cream at the half way mark.

Arriving back in Raleigh the heat index was 108F! I quickly ran from the car 

into the cottage which felt wonderfully cool.

As I always say, there's no place like home!  

When life is good. . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . be ever thankful.

Some of my favorite photos from the weekend road trip to

 the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Sunny days, clear blue skies, fiery sunsets, still some

 Autumn color along the parkway and across the mountains.  

We were so thankful for these moments of beauty when there

 was so much sadness happening in the world.

More from Asheville . . . .

Yesterday morning. . . . . .

a wee bit of snow remaining in the distance and still the 

brilliant autumnal colors in the trees.

The Thomas Wolfe House next door to our downtown Asheville hotel.

Early 20th century American novelist Wolfe, author of Look Homeward, Angel, 

You Can't Go Home Again and several other well known books.

Weather perfect for wandering - warm sunshine, no wind, color everywhere.

Later, some antiques and interesting items discovered around Asheville.

North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains . . . . .

It's always such a pleasure to head to western North Carolina 

and spend time surrounded by the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.

We live about 250 miles east of Asheville. Today, the four hour drive 

across the state was close to perfect. Traffic was light, the day was cool and 

blustery with nonstop bright sunshine and, fortunately, there were still plenty of 

colorful leaves clinging to the trees despite an unusual early snowfall just a day ago. 

Patches of snow still awaiting the warming rays of the sun could be seen along the 

road and on the mountain tops in the distance. 

All these pics were taken through the window as we drove west.

I think you can understand the naming of this mountain range - it's truly 

a 'blue ridge' across the sky.

Are you a mountain person? Do you feel different when you are surrounded by hills, 

peaks and valleys? Do you, like me, think them majestic and magical?