North end: BRP

When we went to Graveyard Fields a couple of weeks ago, Libby pointed out that there was a section of the Parkway on which we had never traveled: the northern-most section, from the NC-VA border to Blowing Rock. Not only that, but in all our years in Richmond, we had never traveled the southern-most section of the Parkway in VA either. We decided to set that as a goal for sometime in the near future. On Thanksgiving Day, the opportunity presented itself. Since our guests were not coming until Friday, and because we didn't want to do two big meals, we decided to spend the day traveling.

We went to Statesville, and then north on I-77 through Elkin into Virginia. We got on the Parkway there, and went north about 20 miles to Mabray's Mill. It was deserted, it being a holiday and all, but what we missed in terms of closed buildings was made up for in terms of having the place to ourselves. One of the boys (Calvin) even managed to get wet!

Back in the car, south on the Parkway back into NC. We were able to lay claim to visiting a couple of NC's one hundred counties we had never before been through. There were some nice overlooks on the Parkway, and the day being remarkably clear, we could see all the way east to Hanging Rock and other sites. The music center was closed, but we made the most of Doughton Park. By that point we had enjoyed our fill. We got off the Parkway at NC-18 and traveled through North Wilkesboro, Wilkesboro and Lenoir, before finally wending our way around Morganton and home. Not a bad way to spend the day, and far superior to lying about watching TV and playing computer games.

Sadly, we didn't quite "finish up" our traverse of the Parkway. There remain about 40 miles between NC-18 and Blowing Rock that we have not seen before. Maybe at Christmas-time...

Graveyard Fields

We took a jaunt this afternoon down the Parkway to Graveyard Fields. Apparently there was a fire in the area years ago and plantlife has never fully recovered in this small area: nearly no trees.  We had heard others talk about visiting here, but had not gotten around to it until today. The weather was great: a nice warm front had raised temps throughout the area, including the upper elevations on the Parkway.

This area is on a river, with a couple of nice falls, and plenty of places to crawl around. There is a longer trail that explores area away from the river, and another that links up with the Mountain to Sea Trail. We went for the immediate gratification near the water. It was an easy walk to the lower falls. In warmer weather it might be possible to splash around in the pool at the bottom. We also walked around a bit, trying to not disturb the fishers. It was about an hour to get there using the Parkway as our main  route.

Mountain Farm trip

On a whim we set off for Mountain Farm in Burnsville last weekend. I had seen their ad in Mountain Xpress and was intrigued. The ad said they were open throughout the week, with a seeming open invitiation. Plenty of local small farms in the region are open on special ocassions (and for a price), but this was the first that seemed to offer a blanket invitation to visit for free. It was in the area near Celo, a small land trust community, so there was that added incentive to visit the area.

We had a very nice time. We were welcomed by the very nice owner, and the elderly dog. They had baby goats, lots of chickens, two cats, lots of mature goats, some alpacas, a donkey, and Lord-only- knows-what-all else. They had a nice retail shop using products/ingredients from the farm: yarn, soaps, teas, eggs. They have a big lavender garden plus blueberries. It being early fall, we missed a lot of what most folks would have prefered to encounter, but for us it was a pleasant visit nonetheless.

Come to find out the owner is also a nurse (her husband, an MD). Libby got to chat her up about home birthing and natural childbirth, etc. I walked the boys down to the pond.  They had two very cool wind turbines on the farm; I didn't get a chance to ask how much electricity they provided.

We'll be going back, for sure.