Blue Ridge Parkway

It was another perfect day as the miles passed too quickly. The parkway is a relaxing 45 MPH smooth, winding - and therapeutic ride.



Although the Rhododendron were not yet in full bloom, occasionally I would pass a beautiful cluster.

 Between the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Appalachian Trail a man could spend a lot of quality time in these parts without needing a huge budget.

I wonder if that day will ever come, where I actually have the time to do things different, and if it does, will I be healthy enough to do it, or have the drive ??



That is the race many of us are in, and unfortunately, the one most of us lose.

 Only time will tell.


                                         Laundry Day






Within ten miles upon entering the parkway, Humpback Rocks loomed above as I pulled into the visitor center and farm. The rocks humped appearance gives the area its name.



The Humpback Rocks Mountain Farm is a graveled walk through a restored 1890's mountain farm landscape.



Humpback Rocks - at the peak !



-The Humpback Rocks Trail begins at the south end of the Humpback Gap parking area, providing access to Humpback Rocks (1 mile), Humpback Mountain (2 miles), and the Humpback Rocks picnic area (3.9 miles).

 -The strenuous 700-foot climb to Humpback Rocks rewards hikers with spectacular views of the Rockfish and Shenandoah Valleys. Hikers continuing straight at the fork will join with the Appalachian Trail and reach the summit of Humpback Mountain in another mile to view ridges to the north.

 -Beyond the summit, the trail winds a half-mile along the top of a cliff to a trail leading to the Humpback Rocks picnic area.

 -The Appalachian Trail (AT) is the nation's premier hiking path, stretching 2,182 miles from Maine to Georgia.





While hiking Crabtree Falls, I found this tree laying across one of the sections of the falls and wasted no time negotiating it so I could get a selfie with the water behind me.



               They must post these signs for guys like me !!



.....leave NO food in the tent !!! This big girl is hungry and she has two cubs.



If it isn't the deer or bears, it's the Rattlesnakes !!! Almost ran this guy over this morning heading south on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Seeing many that have been hit by cars also. Before leaving , I put a couple sticks in the road next to him to get the drivers of cars attention. Yesterday, I saw a couple guys in a overlook parking lot with a big stick trying to get one back in the woods.



                                              
                                            Bloomage !




                             Turbo Jim at Ravens Roost




Some of the Mountain Laurel was starting to pop also !!!






An amazing group of rock formations for sure. One picture does not capture the entirety of the outcropping. There are multiple sections to explore and climb.




Some stunning panoramic views to be had up here, looking west onto the Shenandoah Valley and north towards Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive, since Humpback Rocks is at Milepost 5.8 at the northern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Would be nice to pack for and spend an entire day up on the "Rocks."

Motivation to stay in shape, so special places like this can continue to be negotiated, deep into the future.















A man's home is his castle. The log cabin has always been associated with the American frontier, but the idea for homes built of logs came into this country with the immigrants from Northern Europe.



-The early southern highlanders adopted this type of contruction and found it well suited to their needs. Using the mountains' most abundant resource, trees, a log cabin could be built quickly with only a few simple tools.



-Dug into the hillside this cool, dark root cellar was a store house for vegetables and fruits. Smoked and cured meat hung from the rafters.





Another pull off had an old logging railroad and rugged mountain waterfall that was set back into the forest, along with a trail and a huge boulder.







There were a couple of girls hanging out on a huge boulder and they were kind enough to take a picture for me after I climbed up onto a log wedged into the falls. This was a special place and called Wigwam Falls.