Blue Ridge Parkway NC

Well, this Parkway is just wonderful. When we started we did not appreciate that it was a 470 mile long park, and we plan to drive around 400 of those miles by the time we are finished. We set off for this area a week ago, stopping to visit with an old friend of mine that I did my midwifery course with back in 1973, and actually last saw in '81 ~ but, as it is with old friends, we just picked up right where we left off, and greatly enjoyed our visit.

When we were in Asheville, NC we spent a long day touring the Biltmore Estate ~ described as a quiet “country getaway” by its owner ~ it was designed by Richard Morris Hunt for George Vanderbilt. It took 6 years to complete and was opened on Christmas Eve 1895.

This “little retreat” with its impressive entrance hall 7 stories high, happens to have 250 rooms, includes 65 bathrooms and in total has 12 acres under roof! This amazing and wonderful French Style Villa, houses unimaginable art treasures even today, and it was interesting to learn that during WWII The National Gallery of Art in Washington DC stored their priceless paintings and sculptures here, in an empty room, for safekeeping.
Every imaginable luxury/pastime was provided for guests, typically 30 at any given time. These included a bowling alley, indoor swimming pool, gymnasium, library, gun room for hunting parties, music room, and then of course there are the gardens to stroll in, or horses always at the ready to ride.
Can you just imagine the number of staff it took just to keep this home 'ticking over' not to mention the gardeners. The servants quarters alone is another story.....

As far as the eye can see, the landscape around this home appears to be naturally rolling forests, however George commissioned Frederick Law Olmested (same chap who designed Central Park in New York) to plant more than 3 million trees, taking 10 yrs. to complete.

On a MUCH smaller and intimate scale we spent another day walking around “Connemara” ~the estate of Carl Sandburg. ~ Sandburg was a well known poet, lecturer and Pulitzer-winning author. He was known for being “ The voice for the American people” and he and his wife spent 22 yrs. living on this quiet estate. I rather like the following quotation of his... “ It is necessary now and then for a man to go away by himself and experience loneliness: to sit on a rock in the forest and to ask of himself, “ Who am I, and where have I been, and where am I going ”

We are now meandering North along the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway, comprised of 81,000 acres, described as having unsurpassed diversity of climate, vegetation, and photographic zones. This Park has been open to the public for the past 75 years, Sadly, the majestic views are becoming more difficult to see due to a haze caused by pollution. The visibility today is now decreased by 40% in the winter and 80% in the summer months making it difficult to capture decent long distance photographs. However, it it not only about the beautiful views, but the feel to the air, the pine, woodsy smell, the sound of insects/songbirds/butterflies/babbling streams, or just the quiet reflection of a lake ~ the peace that one experiences when one just takes the time to “be still” and drink in the natural beauty that surrounds us, is just so soothing for the soul, yet we tend to miss this during all those years of ~ “living to work.”

With no timetable it has been refreshing to drive short distances stopping along the way to take hikes, have a picnic or just sit and enjoy the scenery .... yes life is good, it's 3 weeks on the road now and we are still friends!!

Click the photo of the "Ancient Vagabonds" for more.