Roan Mountain

Our final fling in TN was to revisit Roan Mtn. to see the wild rhododendrons in bloom. They were blooming, but we were a few days too early for the peak bloom. We backtracked down the mountain to Carver's Gap where the AT crosses the pass. Oh my gosh, the pass is field for the most part and the scenery was breathtaking! Usually, photos just don't do justice to beautiful scenery; but, here I think words are inadequate. Notice the natural specimen I caught sunning himself on a rock. :)
We have rolled up our awning, pulled in our slides, released our wheels and we're on our way to Luray, VA near the Shenandoah Nat'l Park. Tulip is excited about another road trip!

Our Favorite!

Hands down, our favorite find has been biking the Virginia Creeper Trail. We really like the trail from Abingdon to Alvarado Station the best. It has the best trestles and scenery...and it's flat. However, we biked the most popular section as well - Damascus to White Top Station. It is a 17-mile climb that is accomplished by a shuttle service... Once at the top, the ride down requires NO PEDDLING. It's the easiest 17 miles on a bike...and one has no choice but to pass by an ice-cream shop at the bottom of the hill!
Y'all know I think Foresters are special people. They do have some peculiar habits though. Racing at break-neck speed down a mountain trail on a bicycle, a Forester might come to a screeching halt to snap a twig from a tree and take a long sniff...as it is a Black Birch, betula lenta, and it smells strongly of Wintergreen. After appreciative recognition of the wonder of Mother Nature, prior activity can be resumed.
Imagine our surprise, as one day we are peddling along our favorite part of the trail, when we encounter a sign pointing the way to a local winery...only a half mile off the trail. Our bikes made a left turn and to the vineyards we went! We tasted, we selected and we sipped a nice "back porch" wine before making the return trip. I love the great outdoors!
P.S. Al's ride is ever so comfortable now...he has acquired a "pillow top" saddle for his bike. Twenty dollars well spent!!

Bristol, TN/VA Excursions

We've had a great time in Bristol, TN/VA. Summer has arrived; the days are warm and the nights are cool.

Grandfather Mtn.: Is a privately owned mountain...therefore requires a $15/per person entry fee. There are some natural animal habitats, very well done actually. "Mildred" is a rare cinnamon-colored black bear. She has been producing cubs to introduce to the wild as the black bear population was in danger in that area. The population is now at a sustainable level and Mildred can relax. Mildred and her family wait patiently for the 2 p.m. treats...and by her watch, the hour as arrived! At the top of the mountain (at precisely 1 mile above sea level) there is a suspension bridge leading to a rock outcrop. The wind was blowing 90 knots! We hiked the rockiest, rootiest, wettest trail to Grandmothers Outlook--accessed only by scaling a huge boulder with a steel cable attached. Going up was the easy part...

Grayson Highlands State Park: The Appalachian Trail passes over the top of the mountain...and Adrienne reported wild ponies in the meadows...with babies! We didn't see the babies, but we did see ponies and wild rhododendrons in bloom. A great adventure! We climbed a trail to some really awesome waterfalls.

International Storytelling Center: Jonesborough is the oldest town in TN and home to a Storytelling Festival in the Fall. During the summer, there is a Teller-In-Residence every week. Michael Parent is a native Mainer...so we had to take in a performance. Storytelling is an art. I can think of a couple of friends who definitely could make it in this field!

Bristol, TN/VA

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We have arrived in Bristol, TN/VA. Apparently there was some confusion about state lines; it runs through the center of town. It is also the birthplace of country music... Every radio station plays country/bluegrass music...All the time. I know all the words to that WooHoo song. When in Bristol, one visits the Pickin' Porch to take in some local tunes. Tyler Hughes and The Generation Gap from Big Stone Gap, VA (just in case they become famous, you heard about them here!)played some old Beatles stuff...it was all fun. Annie, did I give you a book called Big Stone Gap? There is also a big NASCAR Speedway here...and lots of black and white checkered RVs, clothes, buildings...

The trip for Tulip, not exactly traumatic, not exactly relaxing. She was glad when the Lakeview RV Park sign came into view.

The Togetherness Meter: Plummeted. Al took off with Adrienne for a couple of days. He seemed really anxious to get to the Trail, and even let her downsize what went into his backpack... I'm being my usual charming self. He must have been craving some freeze-dried food...or just wanting to sleep on the ground. Who knows...?

Adrienne has completed +/-500 miles of the AT and seems remarkably well. We feel fortunate to be tagging along to witness her self-sufficiency, incredible grit and determination. It is fun to occasionally feed her when she takes a break from her journey, meet some of her fellow thru-hikers and listen to the STORIES.

We biked the 1st 1/3 of The Virginia Creeper Trail an old railroad bed turned hiking/biking trail beginning in Abington, VA. It was amazing...and flat!! It winds along a river, through fields, pastures and farms and over trestles. Twenty miles was a pretty good day for us. Al is shopping for a new (bigger) seat for his bike.:) Some... discomfort I believe. Josh is the real biker in the family. It could only be better if he were here with us!

We did some more hiking in the rain, but, alas, summer seems to have arrived! Gas prices have risen, but diesel fuel is less than gas. Imagine that? The dually gets hungry often! Our plan is to stay in Bristol until mid-June.