Day Two On The Blue Ridge Parkway & Mast General Store

Well, it was day two of our mini-break after our week at Emerald Isle was flooded. After a pleasant night at my new favorite place, Pisgah Inn, Deb and I enjoyed the cloudy sunrise from our wonderful patio. Then we took advantage of our complimentary breakfast. By the time we left the clouds started to roll in. It also seemed that the leaves had turned more overnight. 

Sunrise!

A beautiful morning...

...even when the clouds rolled in.

More color than yesterday?

We started our day on the Blue Ridge Parkway heading past Asheville and the Folk Art Center. The highlight of the day was the area around the Craggies, with plenty of color including lots of Mountain Ash. Oh, and we had a bear cross the road in front of us (that is my fifth bear sighting of the year) Once past the cloud covered Mount Mitchell we hit part of the Blue Ridge Parkway I had yet to travel. 

Folk Arts Center.

Mountain Ash frames this shot from Craggy Gardens Visitor Center.

Craggy Dome.

Clouds near Mt. Mitchell.

On the way we passed the 800-foot Glass Mine Falls (which was no more than a trickle), then two waterfalls, because of time, I will have to make a return trip too. First up is Crabtree Falls and the second is Linville Falls and in-between was the Switzerland Inn. 

The falls were about dry (over the sign to the right).

Switzerland Inn.

When we finally reached the area around Grandfather Mountain and Linn Cove Viaduct it was banked in by clouds (go figure). After passing through Julian Price and Moses H. Cone Memorial Parks we got off at Boone. From there we headed to Valle Crucis and the original Mast General Store, before coming back to Tennessee.

Foggy Linn Cove Viaduct.

Price Lake at Julian Price Memorial Park.

The original Mast General Store...

...it is more than just one store.