Light and Color Along The Blue Ridge Parkway
October 26th, 2006 |
Photo by Glynn Wilson |
| If we are not mistaken, this is a view of Grandfather Mountain from one of the Blue Ridge Parkway overlooks. Now we know why they call them the Blue Ridge mountains… |
by Glynn Wilson
BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY, N.C., Oct. 21 - We caught a perfect day on Saturday to tour the Blue Ridge Parkway. It is sometimes hard when on the road to find the space and time to write, especially when the pictures are almost too good to be true.
To highlight a couple of stops and point out a few facts about the place, in case you want to visit yourself, try stopping by the Museum of North Carolina Minerals at Milepost 331. The visitor center and educational museum highlights the geology of the region and the rich mining heritage of the area.
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Photo by Glynn Wilson |
| The Eastern Continental Divide bridge with the fall colors in the background. |
According to the National Park Service Web page highlighting the parkway, the Grandfather Mountain corridor serves as a refuge for relic populations of plants, and the remote natural areas and dramatic views are less affected there by a human presence south and east of Asheville.
“Biological diversity is best understood here as a product of varied geology and topography and cultural history stories also come into play with isolated cabins and magnificent country estates in close proximity,” the site claims.
We can attest to that.
I met a woman park ranger who would serve perfectly as the female lead character in an unfinished novel I started about 14 years ago. A classic brunette.
I had some fun with her and tried to buy her official National Park Service uniform cap. She refused, of course, since it would constitute a federal crime. She did smile, laugh and say I could probably find one on ebay, the property of a disgruntled former ranger, maybe, or a lost or stolen one.
I needed a new hat on the trip anyway, so I picked up a blue Blue Ridge Mountain cap at the visitor center and supported the National Park Service at the same time. It’s part of the Interior Department and worth supporting.
Interestingly and dangerously, the parkway is lined with poisonous sumac, a relative of poison oak. It turns a stunning red in the fall, though. Just don’t touch it.
The museum is right on the Eastern Continental Divide.
Just up the parkway, there are a number of overlooks where you can stop and take in the breathtaking views. These are only a few samples. Now we know why they call them the Blue Ridge mountains.
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Photo by Glynn Wilson |
| If we are not mistaken, this is a sample of the red sumac that lines the Blue Ridge Parkway, right across the way from the Museum of North Carolina Minerals at Milepost 331. |
