The Blue Ridge Parkway

The Blue Ridge Mountains

For those with inquiring minds, the bluish haze suspended in the Blue Ridge Mountains is produced by emissions of hydrocarbons and water vapor from forest vegetation. I just know it's beautiful up here.

Here's Nan after her first time driving on the Parkway and at her first overlook. She was smiling real big, so I think she likes it.

One of many old cabins still in pretty good shape.

The Rhododendrons are blooming.

Nan tries on a bonnet at the Craft Store

Oops! The only part of the Parkway closed for repairs happens to have the campground we were heading for. So off on the detour through some pretty farm country.

We ended up spending the night in Mount Airy.

Mount Airy is Andy Griffith's hometown, and the town Mayberry was modeled after. The only thing I can say about that is, "She ain't what she used to be!" And you really don't want to camp at the Walmart there on Saturday night!

Back on the Blue Ridge, Nan looks at the the Puckett cabin, where Orelena Puckett lived during the latter of her 102 years. She was a midwife, assisting in over 1000 births, the last in 1939, the year she died. It has been said she never lost a child. Ironically, none of her own 24 children lived past infancy.
Do you know what kind of fence that is in front of the Puckett cabin?

There are a lot of fences on the Parkway. Time for a fence lesson for those not sure:

So, did you guess right?

This dog was actually posing while his owner took pictures, so I took one too.

Next hurdle leaped when we found that Nan's 32' RV fit nicely in a pull-through at the National Park CG. Nan purchased her Golden Age pass and is happy to get 50% off the camping fee.

After we settled in our campsite, we visited Mabry's Mill.

 And were entertained with mountain music all afternoon.

The Mountain Ivy Band

 And dancers too.

Want to listen to some toe-tapping music and dancing? I'll leave you with this video.