The ride was better (4-3) from Spruce Pine to Blowing
Rock. First of all it
was shorter and there was less climb (only 3235’).
More important, it didn’t rain while I was riding even
though the fog was still there, especially around Grandfather
Mountain. There was
some clearing at lower elevations and I even saw my shadow (faint)
for a couple of minutes. The
scenery is really beautiful – too bad I’ve seen so little of
it.
Click
on bicyclist to see photographs. 
 |
I stopped at Linville Falls (a mile and a half off
the main parkway) long enough to take a half-mile hike to
one of the overlooks. There are several other trails, and
it looks like a place where I could easily have spent two
or three hours. |
Good thing I didn’t spend more time at Linville
Falls because my arrival timing at the Blue Ridge Motel in Blowing
Rock was just perfect. I
was checking in when the heavens opened and it poured rain for a
few minutes. I
didn’t even know it was coming because all I could see “up
there” was fog. The
Blue Ridge Motel is right out of the 1950s – even has hardwood
floors, pine paneling and a porch light.
Its owner is Mr. Coffee, not to be confused with the late
Joe DiMaggio. Mr.
Coffee, who looks to be in his 80s, built the place in the 1950s
and has been here ever since.
I asked him if there was a convenience store nearby.
There isn’t, but he also needed some things from a
grocery store so he suggested we go together and further asked
that I drive his car. He
obviously didn’t know I’ve hardly driven a car for the past
year. We got there
and we got back.
(Great
Adventures to Scenic Places)
