Kevin Adams, ascending into heaven at sunrise!

Kevin Adams workshop was the most informative that I have attended …  Joe Sikes

Kevin’s  presentation on “Concept Photography” really hits home the message that one can take outstanding pictures if one can open up their mind and let go of the so called “rules of photography”…Sai Chandrasekharan

The retreat is set in a magnificent area with grounds that are truly a part of the Blue Ridge Mountains…Skip Pudney

For schedule information and to enroll:

Vist us here!

Cone Bass Lake Restrooms Are Priority Resource Provided Through Partnership of Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, Blue Ridge Parkway, Town of Blowing Rock and Generous Donors

What happens when well over 300 people come together with one single mission?

It’s spelled S U C C E S S for the project and R E L I E F for those who will benefit from its service.

On Thursday, October 8th, the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation will celebrate the completion and opening of the new Bass Lake comfort station. It is built as a miniature replica of the grand Flat Top Manor, the mountain home of Moses and Bertha Cone that overlooks the picturesque lake that is a recreation destination for thousands. The need for restrooms at Cone Bass Lake was identified by Parkway patrons as a priority for the park. It has become one of the busiest spots along the entire 469-mile national scenic highway that connects the Shenandoah in Virginia and Great Smokies in North Carolina.

As has been the case in numerous projects along the most visited National Park in America, the first to step up to meet the need was the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation. In partnership with Parkway officials, the Town of Blowing Rock, and over 300 donors, the Foundation led the effort to design and construct a unique facility that will not only fill the need, but make it an architecturally appealing asset to the Moses Cone Park.

The Bass Lake Comfort Station will become an important resource for the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Moses Cone Estate, so important that a special ceremony is being planned to celebrate its opening.

“I’ve seen a lot of structures celebrate their completion with a ribbon cutting,” said a daily Bass Lake walker. “But I believe this is the first time I’ve heard about one to celebrate the opening of a restroom.”

“But I’ll be there,” she said. “It should be fun.”

Fun will be the emphasis on October 8th when dignitaries come together at 10 a.m. to lead donors and friends in a dedication ceremony that will feel more like a party than a serious and formal program of events.

For instance, you could be “King (or Queen) for a Day” by giving the comfort station a creative and funny name just for the day of the celebration, bringing a smile and a chuckle to those attending the ribbon cutting.

Norris Barnes of Blowing Rock, who has been a contributing patron of the celebration committee, put this part of the program into perspective.

The Aussies call it the “Thunderbox’”, he said. “Some call it the ‘Long Drop’, ‘Half Moon Mansion’, or even ‘Grandpa’s Office’. We’re hoping that our friends and neighbors will submit their creative name for the Comfort Station, one that will be for one day only, on October 8. The winner will claim their throne as the king or queen for the day, and the first to answer nature’s call at the brand new comfort station.”

Barnes said the rules are simple, just mail or e-mail the suggested name to committee member Jerry Burns (P.O. Box 1373, Blowing Rock, N.C. 28605), or email at burnsjn@bellsouth.net. The winner will be selected by the committee and announced at the October 8 ceremony.

The naming of the new comfort station is just one of the activities planned for the ribbon cutting. While at least one of the events will remain secret until the ribbon cutting, some of the other activities on the program include a number of local and regional dignitaries, including Harvey Durham, Vice-Chair of the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation. Joining the Vice-Chair will be the Parkway’s Superintendent Phil Francis, the Executive Director of the Foundation, Houck Medford, Blowing Rock Mayor, J.B. Lawrence, and a number of other special guests from the Town of Blowing Rock, Watauga County, and the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Each person attending the event, to be held near the Bass Lake Parking area at the new Comfort Station, will be given a ticket making them the possible winner of a magnificent panoramic photograph of Flat Top Manor in Autumn by Foundation Board member David Combs and beautifully framed by Tim Miller of Blowing Rock Frameworks and Gallery.

Another framed print from the collection of artist Richard Tumbleston will go to a second winning ticket holder at the gathering.

Refreshments will be provided by the Blowing Rock Historical Society, and there will be special commemorative souvenirs for everyone present.

More detailed information about the ribbon cutting ceremony will follow. The event is open to all and those planning to attend should mark the date (Thursday, October and time (10 a.m.) on their calendars.

Picnicking on Rough Ridge near the Linn Cove Viaduct

The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation has annouced the call for its prestigious Blue Ridge Parkway 2010 photography competition with this year’s new theme in the “Share the Journey” category — Picnicking on the Blue Ridge Parkway. For the traditional Parkway “Vista” category and the “Share the Journey”, cash prizes of $200 and $350 are being offered respectively for the Parkway categories.

The Blue Ridge Parkway categories are part of the 7th Annual Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition, held each year to support Appalachian State University’s Outdoor Programs.
“We wanted to announce the specialty category now, because of the large number of inquisitive calls ‘what will it be this year?’ and to give all those shutter bugs time to collect their photographs during the height of the Parkway season,” stated Mari Jo Turner, the Foundation’s director of development.
2010 is the 75th Anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

7th Annual Competition Calendar

• Friday, September 18 Competition opens for registration and submissions
• Friday, January 29, 2010 @ 5pm Registration and submissions close
• Friday, February 5, 2010 Notification of selected works for exhibition (Due to the large number of submissions, only those with works selected for exhibition will be notified)
• Friday, March 5 – Saturday, June 5, 2010 AMPC Exhibition at the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts in Boone, NC
• Friday March 5, 2010 – 7 to 9pm Exhibition opening reception and start of People’s Choice Voting Friday
• March 26 @ 5pm People’s Choice Voting closes

Links:
Appalachian Mountain Photo Competition
2009 Winners
2008 Winners
2007 Winners
2006 Winners
2005 Winners

Dan Propst with his new tag!

We began our trip at Front Royal, VA and ended in Cherokee, NC. The entire trip was outstanding. We camped both nights and had beautiful weather. Our traveling companions were Phil and Diane Gnapt. We were riding our 1994 Honda Goldwing pulling our custom made trailer designed as a 1955 Chevrolet Nomad.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is our favorite road.

We have one of the first BRP license tags on our Goldwing! — #0046BP

L-R: Leesa Brandon, executive director of Blue Ridge Parkway 75 Inc; Anne Whisnant, author-historian and Foundation trustee; Parkway Superintendent Phil Francis; Senator Joe Sam Queen; Houck Medford, Foundation executive director.

A co-operative and non-partisan tour de force of North Carolina senators and representatives has resulted in recognition for the Blue Ridge Parkway’s 75th anniversary. Bill sponsors, Representatives Rapp, Tarleton, Haire, and Frye commended to the general house body on June 29 House Bill 1655, a resolution honoring the 75th anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway. All the primary house bill sponsors spoke eloquently on the floor in favor of the bill. It passed unanimously and was carried by special courier to the senate which was also meeting in evening session.

The bill was commended by Senators Queen and Goss. The resolution passed unanimously.

Attending from the National Park Service and Parkway partner groups were Reid Wilson, Conservation Trust for North Carolina; Anne Whisnant, the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation; Leesa Brandon, Blue Ridge Parkway 75th, Inc,; Houck Medford, Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation; and Superintendent Phil Francis.

Chris White of Kernersville sent us the first photo of this historic occasion ...

We have received reports of their receipt in the mails today. The first twenty-five people who send to us their pictures with you, your bike, and your tag will receive a free T-shirt.

Please include your shirt size and mailing address!

Houck Medford
hmedford@brpfoundation.org

The tour is now in its third year -a scenic 63 mile long bicycle ride with nearly half the distance along the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway.

Family affair it is, because all the house members pitch in the night before to bake home-made oatmeal-raisen and scumptous chocolate chip cookies.

We are soliciting your comments and suggestions for next year’s tour. Let’s hear them? You say, “more cookies?”

A summary of Blue Ridge Parkway are listed below:

• Reconstruct Historic Stone Guardwalls
• Rehabilitate Peaks of Otter Dam
• Remove Hazardous Trees and Encroaching Vegetation Along the Parkway Corridor
• Remove Vegetation on Bridge Abutments to Increase Driver Safety
• Repair Trails Parkwide
• Replace Mt. Pisgah Wastewater Treatment System (Filter bid option)
• Control Invasive Plants with Student Conservation Corp Team
• Design and Install a Fire Suppression System in Pisgah Lodge
• Grade and Resurface Historic Carriage Trails on Moses Cone Estate
• Rehabilitate White Rock Falls Trail Head and Visitor Center Parking Area
• Repair Historic Buck Spring Tunnel
• Repair Historic Stone Walls on Moses Cone Estate
• Repave Linville Falls Picnic Area, Balsam Gap and LinvilleFalls Maintenance Areas
• Resurface Deteriorated Maintenance Parking Area – Oteen

TOTAL $14,586,000

A complete inventory of the $750 million appropriated for all parks can be found here …

See and hear Secretary Salazar’s comments here ….

Scott Berry at the North Carolina / Virginia line ...

During my cycling trip of the Parkway, I experienced 3 days of pouring rain. However, the beauty, closeness with nature and wonderful roads made the journey very memorable. I hope to celebrate my 50th birthday in two years witrh a return trip.

Further …

I have to tell you that my bicycling trip on the Parkway was something that I will never forget. Coming from the flat lands of Illinois I found the road surfaces to be very good, the views to be breathtaking and the cycling in the mountains to be very challenging.

While it was quite a relief to finally see the final mile marker, I hated that the journey had ended. This is a trip that I will take again someday.

Thanks again for the e-mail and keep up the great work preserving the Parkway. I truly consider this one of the greatest man made accomplishments east of the Mississippi!

Scott Berry

A real red letter day!

I remarked in one of my last columns that I almost hate to hear the phone ring.

The Foundation is perennially the bearer of good news; please consider what follows next as nothing but good news.

Our design team received new color proofs from the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles on Friday afternoon, March 20; the team called us this morning with their “final selection” on the correct color and we share the event with you today, Monday, March 23. They are now on their way back to Raleigh to get the presses rolling.

This many-month process has all been accomplished without medication prescribed for my pain. Thank every one of you for your patience and understanding!

(l-r) my dad, Phil Medford; Edward LaFountaine, retired major general of the U.S. Air Force and one of my closest friends from high school; George Ivey, a very successful former director of development for the Friends of the Smokies; myself; and Ken Wilson, former editor and publisher of the Waynesville Mountaineer and former chairman of the board of trustees, Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation.

I have always promoted the Parkway as a place where memories can be created and sustained, but it was not until a recent experience that I discovered for myself that they can be significantly amplified.

The occasion was a recent speaking engagement with the Waynesville Rotary Club (March 20, 2009) from an invitation by Ken Wilson, who is actually a former chairman of the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation’s board of trustees. I have perhaps spoken to over 50 Rotary Clubs in the last 10 years and none have had an audience as large as this one — 80 ; and another superlative is that presentation was in the town in which I grew up. It seemed appropriate that I take my dad, too, who will be 84 in July.

I always paint my presentations with local stories and embellishements of my personal knowlege of people from the audience who have been connected to the Parkway in their own personal histories. As I began to weave these threads in the 15 minutes that had been allowed, I was emotionally overwhelmed by the close connections that I had to the people that became part of the story. The moment and the people are captured in the photograph above.

The Parkway, indeed, is no ordinary road but a timeline of personal mileposts which can span a lifetime.

Last year the Parkway Foundation had its own learning camp with it’s Lodging and Learning Program at the Mt. Pisgah Inn. Our first year success gained us a reputation and soon we were receiving a call from Phil Blumenthal (Blumenthal Foundation) and Mike House, general manager of Wildacres. Would you like to join in a partnership with Discovery Place to make this something bigger?

Saying “yes” was easy and we learned early in our covenversations with the Discovery Place staff – John Mackay, Robert Corbin, Mary Bures, Karen McCall, Lisa Hoffman – that there ideals were as lofty as ours.

What has been assembled is an experience where every moment will be connected to the next and an agenda that is facilitated by an overly competent staff.

I am so proud of what this weekend will be that I am making sure that my elderly parents will be there, too, to be kids again.

Parkway Foundation contract designers have made selection from sample run by the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)

Today is Tuesday, February 26. For the last two weeks, any time the phone has rung, I have winced … for we have been flooded by calls … where’s our tag?

Expectations of the state we don’t take seriously but we did receive today a color proof demonstrating the State of North Carolina’s new flat-plate printing process which will be used for all new motorcycle specialty tags and some automobile specialty tags. When our designers saw our company car tag printed with the same new process, they said ‘this needs to be better.” I agreed, but having never plowed the ground before with North Carolina DMV by asking the question, “Can you do better?”

We supplied DMV with a color test mockup file three weeks ago which they printed and finally returned to us in the mail today. It was obvious that there were some color preferences which our keen-eye designers have selected. These will be communicated to Raleigh tomorrow on the opening of their business day.

We expect DMV to provide us a timeline and you will be first to know. It will be posted on all of our social network sites simultaneously so you can bookmark your favorite.

Here are the links to our other social sites: Twitter, MySpace, Facebook Address1, Facebook Address2, Facebook Address3.

After this is all over, I will buy a round a beers at Tuggle’s Gap Restaurant at Milepost 165.2

Count on me! I have already told Cheri we are coming!

Pictured from left to right, Houck Medford, executive director of the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation; Becky Smucker, president of the Carolina Mountain Club; Willa Mays, director of development for the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation; Jeff Brewer, president of the FMST; Don Walton, sectional trail chief for the Carolina Mountain Club; and Kate Dixon, executive director of FMST.

When I was growing up in Waynesville, it was easy to recognize and know the people that were doing things because that was all they talked about — and in this particular case it was a couple known by Doris (Dr. Doris) and Frank (Dr. Frank) Hammett. The perpetual topic was the Balsam Highlands Task Force without it’s other descriptors — more specifically the Balsam Highlands Task Force of the Friends of the Mountains to Sea Trail. Whew! I guess you are getting the picture but I grew up in the Balsams and they certainly seemed fine to me. Why would they even need a task force? I am convinced at this point of my life that the task was to join Dr. Doris in “combating the park service” and whoever else that might need to be “forced” or coerced to bend to her will to put a trail that was to have stretched from Clingman’s Dome in the Smokies to Jockey’s Ridge at Manteo exactly where she wanted it. Much of this trail was to be along the Blue Ridge Parkway. And her primary partner in this venture is the founder, mentor to Dr. Frank and Dr. Doris, and still going strong at the age of 83 Allen DeHart.

This group has made mountainous strides with enough “tasks forces”to blanket the state and now for the first time in its history, a full-time and very capable executive director, Kate Dixon.

Want to volunteer by building a trail, spending time on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and being associated with a wonderful group of people? FMST would be a great place to start.

Upgraded electical service to support more support from volunteers ...

One of the nice pleasures of traveling between the campgrounds on the Blue Ridge Parkway is visiting with the campground hosts. These are volunteers who are most often retired, have committed the whole or part of a season to serving the public, and simply enjoy this as a way of life for a season in a beautiful location.

I am always full of anticipation any time I pull in to the campground because their reserved spot is near the front where there is a power and water hook-up. Being a campground host is a special subset of R.V.’ers who like a turtle, carry their home around on their back. The conveniences of this special camping sect most-often have all the conveniences of a real home including power appliances, air-conditioning (when and if needed), hot showers, and satellite connections to TV and the Internet.

Interestingly, the power requirements to support this turtle home have outstripped the power capacities of many of the campgrounds electrical services. Such is the case now at at Crabtree Falls when I found these maintenance and engineering staff dredging to install a new power hookup to the host site. I was a little naive in my question by just guessing how large a service they were installing. I asked “a 50-amp service, “no”, they replied — “200-amp”

200-amp is a full-scale standard residential electrical service. Certainly a worthy investment for the Blue Ridge Parkway, but an expense that most would ever guess as being a maintenance item to attract and retain these special volunteers.

Jonathan Burton, Parkway photographer, wins competition with "Revenge of the Baysitter."

It is not the Blue Ridge Parkway, but Jonathan Burton of Jonathan Burton Photography in Boone, was honored for an exceptional photographic image, titled “Revenge of the Babysitter”, entered in the Miller’s Professional Imaging Baby & Child Contest. The portrait placed first in the humorous category out of over 10,000 entries coming from professional photographers located throughout the United States.

Jonathan has been photographing children, families, and weddings for 17 years, winning numerous awards for his creative talent and exceptional photographic quality. Jonathan sponsors every year “Children at Moses Cone”, his portrait program which benefits the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation. The program usually occurs in May. When the event is posted, it can be found at found on the Foundation’s events page.

James Coman, III, (L) the founding executive director of the Blue Ridge Rural Land Trust; and Dr. Bill Herring (R), chairman of the conservancy's board of trustees. Photo courtesy of Miles Tager.

The first time that my wife and I met James Coman was at his personal request for us to meet him on a mountain top. It was a blustery day in January of 1998. He was working then to acquire Bullhead Mountain in Alleghaney County for a bird sanctuary and to protect one of the grand views from the Blue Ridge Parkway. The project took him two years and a half millions dollars (we made our gift; his personal request was too compelling); it is now in the hands of the State of North Carolina and managed by the North Carolina office of the National Audubon Society. Two words are on the back of James’s name tag – persistent determination.

In 2008, he was named “Conservationist of the Year” by the Governor of North Carolina.

The last time we saw James was on his farm at Piney Creek just before Christmas; we called ahead and he graciously encouraged us to please come by. “Do you remember how to get here?”, he asked. “As long as the driveway is still marked by bluebird houses”, we replied.

As we arrived, he appeared on his porch, as was his custom for all arriving guests. He immediately took us downstairs to the “conservation office” and ebulliently related his progress on a joint project we were engaged with him at Doughton Park.

Ten days ago, we received a message from the land trust board chairman. “James can no longer get down the stairs”.

Over the weekend, we received another message, “James is no longer with us.”

But this mountain of a man’s spirit will always be with us. He has single-handedly left his mark on more conservation easements than any other land conservancy in the state of North Carolina.

Typing that number just now it sort of feels like such a miniscule number, and doesn’t even come close to reflecting the major efforts put forth by individuals, businesses, and good old fashioned “word of mouth” news that there was major interest from motorcyclists to display their support of the Blue Ridge Parkway with motorcycle tags.

“It is all in their hands now,” said Bob Henard, one of the tag’s volunteer champions, with a sigh of relief. Foundation executive director Houck Medford and Bob Henard presented a full three-ring binder and a check for more than $11,000 to Kay Hatcher, head of the specialty license tag unit at the North Carolina DMV office in Raleigh last week.

So now we wait . . . let’s just hope we can get the tags in time for some spring rides!

Parker the Bear, the Bear That Shares - trademarked

My earliest memory of giving for a cause was as a sixth grader when I collected nickels, dimes, and pennies to save the USS North Carolina battleship from the scrap yard. The Save Our Ship campaign was conceived by Governor Terry Sanford and led by campaign chair, Hugh Morton. Over 700,000 children participated, demonstrating one of the most marvelous aspects of this campaign — the many small, heartfelt contributions of thousands school children adding up to save something so large.

Their contribution established a perceived “ownership” of the Battleship. No matter that the donations were small — a nickel, a dime, a penny — those youngsters in 1961, who are adults today, feel “ownership”. And that ownership translates into long term stewardship. When I return to Wilmington and see the great ship secured at its berth, I experience a surge of pride, although it is forty-seven years later. I would give again.

The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation wants to build the same kind of loving attachment for our national park. Parker the Bear introduces children to the wonder of nature and teaches children about park stewardship. A bear bank that is mission based; Parker’s purpose is to build a lifelong connection to the Blue Ridge Parkway. And, the Parkway needs the love. Long term budget constraints have made their mark. And without intervention, parts of the Parkway may eventually have to close.

This great national park site could be helped by a child’s investment of nickels, dimes, and pennies. And, when they “Journey” there 47 years from now, they will experience the thrill of being a part of something grand built upon generosity that came from the heart. Save the Journey.

L-R, in this photo in 1996 - two years after saving the Orchard -- Annette Quint, Bill Carson, Cindy Medlock, and Barger Moss

from the Barger and Eleanor Moss Collection of the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation Family Archives

The Blue Ridge Parkway is rich with stories steeped in history and legend; the individuals who built the Blue Ridge Parkway, to the best of my knowledge, are all gone. However, in every Parkway community there is a vibrancy of enthusiam and support for this linear national park which will celebrate its 75th birthday in only two years. If it is not our park alumni, it is our employees, and if it is not our employees it is our Parkway neighbors who have understood what the Blue Ridge Parkway was all about from the very first day that they laid their eyes on it.

Three such people are Bill Carson; his wife, Judy; and his sister, Kit who became personally intimate with the Blue Ridge Parkway when they saved it from development in 1996. Bill Carson was 56 then, only two years younger than I am now. When Bill and I compare notes, which we often do, it is always about our hopes for next year and our vision for accomplishment which never seem bigger than life — always very possible.

I have learned that there is nothing authoritative about declarations from the national park service or even the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, because we can never celebrate all the individuals that deserve to be recognized for their dedication. In my own mind; however, I believe sincerely, eventhough in their humbleness that they will strongly resist this, that Bill and Judy Carson, and Kit Truby are truly living legends.

Each in his or her own way have advanced and embodied the quintessentially American ideal of individual creativity, conviction, dedication, and exuberance. Their personal accomplishments and sense of commitment to “saving the good stuff” have enabled them to provide examples of personal excellence that have benefited others and enriched the Blue Ridge Parkway for generations to come.

From Gary and Debra Laney

We enjoyed the entire Parkway but our favorite section is between Mt. Pisgah and Balsam Gap. We are fortunate to live close enough to spend a lot of time on our motorcycle riding the most beautiful road in the world.

From Eddie and Wanda Laney

I really enjoyed the music center and the views were spectacular. We rode the whole Parkway on the motorcycle with a group of friends and had a wonderful time.

(L-R ) Houck Medford, executive director of the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation; Marla Stellpflug O'Byrne, executive director of Friends of Acadia; K.B. Medford, Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation (photo by Mike Stagg)

When the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation was incorporated in the spring of 1997, its leaders examined two existing partner groups to serve as models for its creation — Friends of Acadia and the Yosemite Fund. These were two of the most successful park partner organizations in existence, and remain so to this day. I quickly established relationships with the model group leaders, Ken Olson and Bob Hansen — both of which have recently retired after many years of serving their organizations. The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation was successful in its second year to reach a threshold of $100,000 which qualified it to become a member of the Friends Alliance — an ad hoc group of park partner professionals who met annually to discuss mutual issues of concern from fund raising to national park service policies. Both Ken and Bob have remained true to this day, available at any time for advice and counsel. I am grateful to you both for your continued availability in your new life.

Maine and California, where these organizations are based, have not exactly been an easy access to us because of their locations. During the tenure of Ken Wilson, then chairman of the board of trustees of the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, a jointly sponsored trip was actually planned to Acadia National Park for the constituency of the Friends of the Smokies and the Parkway Foundation, but had to be scrubbed because the travel agency which was arranging the trip needed solid commitments from its travelers months before the actual excursion. Sound familiar? People were just as busy then in their daily lives as they are now.

This fall, a long-term dream became a reality with a visit to Acadia National Park, as a component of a necessary personal trip with my wife – K.B. The organization was everything that I had expected it to be. Park partner types always carve out the time to compare notes on our successes and “modi operandi”. It was gratifying to both of us to compare our notes as we learned as much from Acadia as did Acadia from the Blue Ridge. And yes, Ken Olson is still omnipresent in Bar Harbor making whatever group he is serving the best it can be. Thank you Ken Olson and Marla for your hospitality

Randall Dezarn completes entire Parkway ...

Also rode the Skyline Drive and the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Riding during the week is great because there is far less traffic, but be on the lookout for more animals on the road!

Carolyn Tyree Feagans – author

We have driven the entire Parkway 3 times, plus have spent approximately 450 days on the Parkway – including some of our honeymoon. Much of this time is spent in research for the books that I write — historical fiction set in the Blue Ridge. We have driven around the U.S. in our RV – but have yet to see anything more beautiful than the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Shiloh Mielke, winner of this and last year's Shut-In, with his family

I am not a runner.

I have only done one 10K in my life so my first race and my last race have the distinction of being my personal best. I chose to spend all my time on my bike.

But if you go to the “Y” everyday, you can’t help but be around runners who are going out, coming back, or talking shop in the locker room. The conversation always turns to “the time” and a palpable acknowledgement whether it be a grunt or a nod of the head offered in some approving way.

My wife and I were innocent onlookers several years ago as the famous Shut-In Trail Run was being completed on the Parkway near Mt. Pisgah, one first Saturday in November. Our reaction was then as it is now is “man, this is way cool.”

Last year was the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation’s first sponsorship of this race and I found it novel that the onlookers (families, friends, wannabees, and usetabees) drove from one overlook to the next to cheer for their favorites.

The culmination comes 17 grueling miles later at the top, scoreboard running but with contestants somewhat indifferent to “their time.”

Gordon Grant, a Shut-In veteran and friend of mine who ran again this year, pointed out to me the evening before, “Houck, this race is about who you do it with.”

He was right, for the people he was talking about were not only other runners but the throng of people at the finish line who cheered with as much volume and enthusism for last place as they did for first place.

The Shut-In Trail Run is for sure a shared journey.

One of the "lush panorama log cabins" at Humpback Rocks, courtesy of the National Park Service.

I hadn’t heard this one before, but the citation caused me to open the daily mail from the Parkway’s headquarters.

Apparently, the Lonely Planet Travel Guide for 2009 and its promoter, AsiaOne, a free-access, one-stop information mall which serves users’ news, business and lifestyle needs in Southeast Asia thinks the Blue Ridge Parkway deserves such recognition.

Tony Wheeler, Lonely Planet’s co-founder, introduces the book with his own list, which includes visiting a country whose name ends in “-stan” such as Afghanistan or Kyrgyzstan, finding a trip that involves sailing, such as a transatlantic cruise, staying for a long time in one place to soak up the atmosphere or going on a long trip, such as a trek across the Sahara or a Cairo-to-Capetown bicycle ride.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is referred to as a USA SHANGRI-LA, “spectacular scenery … successfully evoking idyllic high-altitude hideaways … the Blue Ridge Parkway; a 755km drive through the Great Smoky, Shenandoah and Blue Ridge Mountains – a lush panorama of log cabins and lakes, often turned a hazy ‘blue’ by mists. And there is even a ready-made road-trip soundtrack – chose from down-home bluegrass, John Denver’s ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads’ or Laurel and Hardy’s ‘The Trail of the Lonesome Pine’.

It is comforting to know that there are romatics still out there who could conceive of the Blue Ridge Parkway as such from the opposite side of the world. But the Parkway’s rough history and past interpretation has given the Parkway that brand, to which tourism officials I am sure stir with glee.

Perhaps, in the 2010 edition, our favorite national park should be referred to as Blue Ridge Parkwaykistan to compete with the other top “happy places” world destinations

Volunteers from the Carolina Mountain Club, photo courtesy of Mark Monroe

The budget crisis of the Blue Ridge Parkway can in many ways be likened to the energy crisis for the for the United States — it will take more than a solo solution answer e.g off-shore drilling for the U.S. fuel supply vs. an increased budget for the Parkway. The solutions are multi-factorial and one important component for the Parkway’s success will be a larger commitment of volunteer man-hours. The Parkway has made a step in the right direction with hiring a volunteer co-ordinator to work from the Parkway’s headquarters and whose task will be to bring greater capacity to the park in recruitment, management, and recognition.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is fortunate to have such a dedicated volunteer work-force and we can now expect those numbers to grow.

I attended the annual awards event in Asheville recently and heard the accolades for those which were selected district winners. They were heart warming, but having worked as a Parkway volunteer and having started the Parkway’s Adopt-A-Trail program years before there was even a Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, all the volunteers, regardless of level of commitment or hours of service need to be recognized as the “Blue Ridge Parkway Volunteer of the Year.”

L-R; Mark Faust and ....the highest point on the Blue Ridge Parkway motor road at Richland Balsam, between Mt. Pisgah and Waterrock Knob

Our first day on the northern section down to Roanoke, VA was beautiful. We could not have asked for better conditions or more picturesque scenery. The sun was out, the road was dry, temperatures cool, and being away from work was great! We spent quite a bit of time exploring Mabry Mill and before the weather turned rain and fog. This did not stop us from visiting Mt. Mitchell, the highest point on the Parkway or reaching the final marker. Overall, it was experience.

Bob Henard working the show ...

I am convinced that if the Lord was remaking this man’s blood today, he would replace his hemoglobin with the Blue Ridge Parkway. The oxygen molecule would be substitued for a Parkway view.

Bob live’s in Raleigh and of the thousands of miles that were put on his Goldwing last year, most of them were accumulated driving from Raleigh to the Blue Ridge Parkway and back home. “Once I am on the Parkway, I feel like I am at home.”

Bob’s wants his Parkway motorcycle license tag in the worse way but also in the best way – he volunteered to man a booth for the entire weekend of the Goldwing Regional Rally this past weekend in Asheville. I would check in with him by cell to see “how he was doing.”

I arrived in the late afternoon of the last day to pick up our gear and supportive accoutrements that kept Bob happy and hydrated for three days. I overheard him give the presentation to the couple in the photograph. It could not have been better presented.

Thank you, Bob, for the 18 new tag applications and the ones that dribbled into the office over the weekend bringing our total to 258 of the needed 300.

Anyone else want to man a booth at your favorite rally? We will do what we did for Bob — pay for your room and gas.

On any given day on the Blue Ridge Parkway, especially during nice weather, there are often more motorcycles than there are automobiles. My wife and I are frequently talking to these folks in overlooks and after we tell them who we are and ask them if we can share any information with them, they are full of non-stop questions. This simply means they do not have the answers nor do not know where to go to find them.

One entrepreneur who I met this past weekend is making the most of this opportunity as he and his wife, Kim, have all the answers and are having fun sharing them – Mike and Kim tours between Blowing Rock and Gatlinburg. Mike is 60 or thereabout, was successful in the construction industry in Florida, sold out because he was “tired of making money” and traded it in for “a new quality of life.” He told me this weekend at the Quotations Coffee House in Brevard. “People love the opportunity to have a diverse experience which includes the ride, a tour, great food and even a raft trip down the Nantahala if you want and Mike will go with you!

No one else in western North Carolina is offering this service. Our Virginia neighbors have devoted a whole division of their tourism department to motorcycling, but North Carolina still remains asleep. The fruit is ripe!

If you are a do-it-your-selfer, there are excellent motorcycle guidebooks available. But if you enjoy the camaraderie of others, great food, stellar rides, and a personable and enthusiastic tour leader, Mike and Kim are highly recommended.

Share the Journey!

Dan Ermis at Mile Post Zero

Spent the night at the Best Western in Cherokee and got up early and rode my 1988 Honda Goldwing with my brother-in-law on his 2002 Honda Goldwing. Temperature was mid 60’s to 70’s, clear blue beautiful sky and we got a lot of great photos. Plan to go again soon!

Tom Sheffield and Allen Walker at the Craggy Visitor Center

South to north cycling trip. Rode with a friend (Allen Walker) and my daughter, Maggie, who drove our support vehicle. We stayed in motels in Asheville, Blowing Rock, Stuart, and Lynchburg. Took a nap (in the support vehicle) during a thunder storm near the state line. Found myself in some strange gear ratios (53:27) or (39:12) due to the persistent up-and-down terrain that numbs the mind, as well as the legs!

A National Treasure!

We enjoy riding over to Mt. Airy and eat at Snappy Lunch. The owner started working there in 1943 and bought it in 1960 and he is still there today. While in Mt. Airy we like to visit North Carolina Granite Corp. to see the World’s Largest Open-face Granite Mine In The World. This year we visited Pilot Mt. State Park. There is an incredible 360 deg view from the top of the mountain.

We also enjoyed stopping a couple of years ago to see the D-Day Memorial in Bedford Va. There are so many great things around the Parkway to see that it would take a long time to see all of them. That’s not counting all of the sights on the Parkway itself. I feel fortunate that I live close enough to get up on the Parkway within 1hr and 45 minutes. Even when its real hot in Gray TN, it’s almost always very pleasant up on the Parkway. I’ve got lots of great pictures of my time on the Parkway and I plan on getting many more. Thanks.

We completed “enders” in ‘05 and ‘06.!

Saving the "Good Stuff" - The Historic Orchard at Altapass

The Historic Orchard at Altapass

When Kit Trubey purchased an apple orchard near Spruce Pine, NC in 1994 on a big sweeping balcony curve of the Blue Ridge Parkway, her intent along with her brother and sister-in-law, Bill and Judy Carson, was to save one of the Parkway’s most significant views. But from the beginning, there became more to the story and MORE to the story and MORE to the story.

On September 29, 1780, the location that is now the orchard saw the passage of the Overmountain Men, coming from settlements in Indian Territory, across Bright’s Trace and the Blue Ridge to defeat the British at King’s Mountain and change the course of the Revolutionary War.

In the next decade, a prolific procreating local by the name of Charles McKinney produced 48 children via 4 separate wives who lived in 4 separate houses but attended church as a passel of five plus kids.

Then the railroad came (which they all do eventually) in 1908 produced the Alta Pass Inn, a railroad station, and an apple orchard.

When Bill and Judy started trying to make some thing out of it, both on paper and in their heads, one of the old orchard managers (now deceased) said “you ought’ta have a feed and some music”. It took a rocket scientist (Bill was an engineer on the Apollo moon shot) to figure it out but as anyone who grew up here knows, when that you mix food and music, you have the ingredients for a meal with it own unique cultural and historical heritage which will sooth a man’s soul and weaken a woman’s heart.

Every major holiday during season – Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day – there is a community feed with BBQ and and an overabundance of covered dishes. It’s $10 or a covered dish to get in. The lit-up expressions on people’s faces, the lively chatter of kids underfoot, and an 8-sheet dance floor that is full for every dance says it all. This is as rich as it gets.

Check out Orchard at Altapass products available at the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation Store.

Pamela Bowden's first Parkway adventure was at the age of 8; now since her two children are grown, she travels the Parkway via motorcycle with her husband, Danny. (1984)

Pamela: My parents made the trip almost every year camping along the way. I loved it so much once I was married, Danny and I made the same trip camping with our children. Our youngest child was in diapers when he made the first trip. Once our children left home, we have made the trip every year on a motorcycle. The first five or six years we carried a tent and sleeping bags to camp. Now we stay in the wonderful lodges along the way. To us, traveling the length of the Parkway is a legacy.

Authors Darrell (kneeling by the stop sign) and Gina King (standing by the stop sign).

Our most recent trip was just a week ago with some PA friends — priceless!

(l to r) Harvey Server, Web, Ed Taylor, Melvin Hogge

Cleanest best manicured stretch of blacktop I’ve ever been on, and although a little foggy, a beautiful ride! The inns I stayed in were awesome! Rode with 72 year old brother-in-law on a Road King, me on my BMW R1200C, Web on his C/C, C-liner on his 12C and a few others from the “Chromeheads” forum. Great Ride! Total of 3200 + miles on this trip for me.

Tom and Joanne on the Skyline Drive. How do we know this is the Skyline Drive and not the Blue Ridge Parkway? There are no lines on the side of the road on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

We were traveling on our 1984 Honda Goldwing along with another couple. This was our first time on the Blue Ridge. On a bike, the tight curves were very enjoyable. The smells of the flowers, the forest when it rained, the pine trees and the site of the deer were incredible experiences. The overlooks all have big areas in which to pull over and park. The tunnels also were fun. Our first experience leaves us with lasting memories and we will return someday for another adventure.

Fans Enjoying a Live Show at the Blue Ridge Music Center

The last time that my wife and I were at the Blue Ridge Music Center at Milepost 213 was two years ago. It was for a major performance evening featuring Ralph Stanley. The venue was what you would expect — packed!

But twice and in the last two weeks my wife and I have driven from our home in Winston-Salem to see the announced talent. What a pleasant surprise … a very comfortable sized crowd and an intimate experience. The concerts started at 7:00 p.m which meant the evening was going to be predictably over by 10:00 p.m. — only an hour past my official bedtime.

One of our reticences about starting out from Winston-Salem an hour an a half away is our experience with weather in the mountains. It is totally unpredictable. But now with real time weather radar, we could make the decision for ourselves. Yep, that front should be through there by the time of our arrival — and it was! Remember, the weather for Galax comes from the west. In the event of inclement weather, the performances are moved to the Rex Theater in downtown Galax.

Please treat yourself to one of the prettiest places on the Blue Ridge Parkway and one of the most enjoyable evenings. And remember to take a folding chair!

The Blaine Family

As a result of our October 11-19, 2005 trip, we fell in love with the area around Floyd and Meadows of Dan so much, that we purchased 14 acres on top of a mountain, complete with mobile home, pond and stream. Our love of nature and mountain music, as well as our “getaway home” have enabled us to truly experience the mystique of Floyd and Patrick counties. It all takes you back to a simpler place and time, and in this crazy world we need that every now and then.

Steve Talevi at the end of his journey and the Blue Ridge Parkway

These are words I could use countless times to describe my recent nine-day bicycle journey along the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP) from Waynesboro, Va., to Cherokee, N.C. Indeed, their use would become monotonous if I described only the views of the mountains and valleys from my bicycle. However, the people I met and my experiences along the 469-mile long parkway resulted in lifetime memories.

The hills and mountains of the BRP define it. I quickly learned that on the BRP, either I would be going up or down; level ground does not occur often. Indeed, the nearly nine-mile long climb from Glendale Springs to north of Benge Gap allowed me to coast (and rest) three miles to milepost (MP) 270. Similarly, the very next climb was rewarded with a three mile downhill coast into Deep Gap. The downgrade extending from U.S. 221 near MP 305 to Linville Falls Visitors Center at MP 316 would only serve as a respite and warning for what was to come: the approach to Mount Mitchell and the 17-mile climb from south of the French Broad River at MP 393 to Frying Pan Tunnel at MP 410.

“Gap.” I learned to despise the word. Whenever I saw signs that read something like “Deep Gap,” or “Gillespie Gap,” I knew that my downhill ride was soon to end and that an uphill climb would soon begin. “Enjoy it while you can,” I told myself many times as I sped down a hill. Indeed, at the end of many such runs, I found myself throwing the bike into 21st gear in a vain attempt to pedal and coast to the top of the next hill. I finally realized what a true cyclist or a physicist already knows: what takes two hours to ascend takes only 15 minutes to descend.

After having spent the night at Bluff’s Lodge at MP 241, I planned to pedal to Price Campground at MP 297. A great motivator for the nearly 60-mile trip was my belief that an all-you-can-eat restaurant was only 18 miles away at MP 259. I stopped along the way about two miles before reaching the much-anticipated restaurant, and the clerk, upon learning my plans for an early lunch, exclaimed, “The Gathering Place? Oh, Honey, that place has been closed for at least three years!” I never even saw the remains of the restaurant as I pedaled down the road.

Three detours along the BRP were in place at the time I took my trip. The first detour was at MP 287. The detour was necessary due to work being done on a bridge. A big step over the gap in the bridge, bike in hand, and a wave to the workers, and I continued on my way. I was not so lucky with the second detour. As I approached the barricade, a Park Ranger approached me from the other direction. In response to my questions, he politely advised me that the rangers were not allowing anyone on the closed portion of the BRP, that the gap in the bridge under repair was about five feet wide, and that the gorge over which the bridge spanned was over 150 feet deep. He offered to show me a short cut through the detour and gave me a bottle of water.

Visitors come from miles around to see and traverse Linn Cove Viaduct at MP 304. The Linn Cove Viaduct is a stretch of highway that sticks out over the mountainside and is a feat of engineering to behold. From a great distance away, that is. The viaduct is not popular with bicyclists who have a fear of heights and a fear of going over bridges. I could not pedal fast enough over the viaduct.

After having spent the night at Price Campground, Christa’s Country Corner at MP 312 provided just the right respite. I had enjoyed a large dinner the night before of freeze-dried chicken and rice teriyaki, but I decided not to eat breakfast in favor of trying to reach my goal of Mount Mitchell at MP 355. I arrived at Christa’s at about 10 a.m. and met the energetic ladies who make Christa’s a special stop along the BRP; the homemade soup hit the spot.

At MP 333, I encountered the first of 26 tunnels in North Carolina along the BRP, Little Switzerland Tunnel. This 542 foot-long structure made of stone and mortar was thrilling and interesting through which to ride because of its natural appearance and convenience. (Going through a mountain beats the heck out of going over it.) Eventually, however, I would learn that tunnels, with their sudden darkness and less maintenance, are a greater hazard for a bicyclist than the ordinary roadway of the BRP. My first lesson occurred when I went from bright daylight to the pitch black of an unlit tunnel. My eyes, not yet adjusted to the new conditions, offered no help as I tried to figure out where in the roadway I was. As if being visually impaired was not bad enough, I was distracted from my task of staying on the paved roadway by the roar of a passing Harley-Davidson motorcycle that was amplified by the tunnel. By the time I reached Rattlesnake Mountain Tunnel at MP 465, only the name prevented me from attempting to traverse the mountain it went through.

My trip ended at Oconaluftee Visitor Center at MP 469. While I was waiting for my ride home, a well-traveled East German gal and I chatted about our bicycling experiences. Hers occurred mostly in Europe on a three-speed bike that she cobbled together from used parts from other bikes. After listening to my just-concluded adventure, she told me, “If a lawyer can take the bike, there is hope for the world.”

I hope that she is more right than not.

To be at a high overlook after a night rain and the day dawns crisp and clear, you gaze over the mountains high, you realize that you’re about as close to God as you can ever be!

The Wades at Mabry Mill

We rode our motorcycle the entire length with the exception of where the Parkway was closed near Boone, NC and also near Mt. Mitchell. We enjoyed the higher mountains in North Carolina. Our overnight stays were in Mt. Airy and Asheville. We visited Mabry Mill, Grandfather Mountain and the Music Center. A very pleasant and relaxing trip!

The Andersons as campground hosts at the Peaks of Otter

My wife and I began traveling the Blue Ridge Parkway soon after we were married in 1950. Since then, we have been on the Parkway in excess of 40 times and traveled on it from Cherokee to Waynesboro or vice versus over eight times. In October 2007 we traveled the length of it from south to north. We have just returned from a trip from Waynesboro to Roanoke this month. We were fortunate enough to have been campground hosts at the Peaks of Otter for eight years (our favorite place along the Parkway). We have traveled all 50 states, either by car or motorhome and have seen many beautiful sights, but the Blue Ridge Parkway is the greatest stretch of roadway in the country. We have had too many wonderful experiences and seen too many beautiful things to list them.

The Andersons

My opening question: “Do you know about the new Blue Ridge Parkway license tag for motorcycles?” His response: “Do I know about it? I have distributed over a thousand of your applications and I just finished talking to those two guys over there asking them the same thing. By the way, who are you, anyway?” Well, I had to tell him.

I knew Bob only from the telephone conversations that I had overheard with Lynne Fletcher (our director of donor services) when he was asking her to send him more tag applications, almost on a monthly basis. Our Doughton Park conversation was the first that we had ever had in person.

Thank you Bob, you are a real champion for the Blue Ridge Parkway. Your very praising word-of-mouth referrals make you one of the best missionaries we could ever have. Thank you!

Under the banner of Cruis’in the Blues, Richard McDevitt of Charlotte and Ray Mayeu of Asheville have provided the leadership for a very small scale event when they ride from one end of the Parkway to the other — sometimes, north; sometimes, south but always staying in the best that the Parkway has to offer — Peaks of Otter Lodge, Doughton Park, and the Pisgah Inn. I have accused them of riding, eating, and sleeping; riding,eating, and sleeping; riding, eating, sleeping. They do not deny the accusation and I witnessed the same when after what I consider a very full meal at Tuggles Gap Restaurant, deserts were ordered almost all the way around.

Their perennial grins are what bring me back every year to offer my encouragement; to congratulate them on their accomplishment and endearing enthusiasm for the Blue Ridge Parkway.

The check that they present to us every year for the “money raised” pales to their sincere patronage that is genuinely portrayed in the expressions on their faces.

We thank them for sharing in the journey of the Blue Ridge Parkway which connects, as they have discovered, a lifetime of enriching memories.

(the black dog is "Schipp" and the beagle is "Schoot" -- Skip and Skoot)

Using “Guide to the Blue Ridge Parkway“, I traveled from Rockfish Gap to the Oconaluftee River. My trip started September 30, 2007 at Milepost 0 and ended October 4, 2007 at Milepost 469. I traveled with my two dogs (the black dog is “Schipp” and the beagle is “Schoot” — Skip and Skoot) and we stopped at every overlook and exhibit. I photographed each stop. The next time I take this trip, and there will be a next time, I will give myself a minimum of 7 full days.

Jim Davidson returns each year from Australia to ride the Blue Ridge Parkway.

The most magnificent road that I have ever been on. As far as I am concerned, that is God’s own country. I have been back every year since my first visit in 2004 and have driven various parts each time to get to know it properly. Will be back again in October, 2008. You can quote me on anything you like and I have thousands of photos if you wish to see any. God bless America!

(L-R) John Sprouse, Travis Sprouse, David Terry, Larry Bethea, Larry O'Byrne, Carlton Ballowe

On June 19th, 2008 six motorcycle riders started at Milepost 0. It was 5:45 am and we traveled end-to-end in one day. We arrived at Milepost 469 at 8:39 pm.

With the early start, we woke up the forrest and chased deer, turkey, and song birds off the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway. Every rider thought the last 100 miles were the toughest, with a setting sun in our faces along with curved tunnels and energy stores near zero, when we arrived in Cherokee, the motel beds never felt so good.

Peggy and Ron Thompson on The Assault

June 9 – Completed the Assault on Mt. Mitchell on a tandem – really a hot day!

June 11 – 19 – Started our tour of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Single bikes with packs. Camped. South to north. Beautiful weather, rhodos, flame azalea and kalmia. It’s a whole different world living on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Already thinking about going back!

Enjoy the View but Watch the Road

We recently collected an end-to-ender story where a group of friends who are all motorcycle buddies did the whole Parkway in a day!

Whew!

We do not recommend this, simply from the safety issue and the overwhelming physical exertion. I know! There is something called the iron butt club but this not the way TO SEE the Parkway.

For anyone that is seriously considering this, I will buy you dinner to try and talk you out of it.

“Enjoy the View but Watch the Road”. You can’t do both when you are tired.

Steve Elliott, Parkway End to Ender

Two friends and I traveled the entire Parkway prior to graduation from Wake Forest University in May 2004. It was a wonderful trip highlighted by hikes at Apple Orchard Falls in Virginia Devil’s Courthouse in North Carolina.

Gary Conlan, Jim Conlan, Bill Bushong, John Harkness

My three friends and I have ridden the Blue Ridge Parkway from end to end the last three years on our motorcycles. We will be doing a fourth year this coming June when we will also include the Skyline Drive. Our names are Gary Conlan; my son, Jim Conlan, Bill Bushong, and John Harkness.

We absolutely love riding the Parkway on motorcycles and begin planning the following year’s ride immediately after the current ride.

Our bug with tent poles attached! Near Doughton Park MP-245

We completed all of the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Skyline Drive in August of 1968. We tent camped at first and then bought a fold-out camper. My wife suggests a bumper sticker instead of a certificate which would be nice and provide some publicity to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Though in a wheelchair the last 14 years, I still try to get to the campgrounds once or twice a year.

P.S. Here’s a picture near Doughton Park with our tent poles tied on the back of our VW in 1965.

General Riding the Blue Ridge Parkway

In 2005, I purchased a very small dog (a Papillion) with the intentions that he would ride the motorcycle with me. I named him “General” and he was born 1-8-2005 (Elvis’s 70th birthday). In 2006, we started at Rockfish Gap and rode the entire length of the Parkway. The Blue Ridge Parkway is my “Heaven on Earth”.

I know of no other place that is so beautiful with no stop signs, no stoplights, no commercial signage, no commercial vehicles for 469 miles (Nirvana!). It is my intention to ride the full length with “General” along every even year until I am physically unable to. I have a Parkway map laminated and hanging in my cubicle here at work. I will get a calendar each year to keep me company for the in between years. I tell every motorcycle rider that I meet that they have to ride the Parkway at least once before leaving this world.

This year (2008) “General” and I will be a part of the RFTW (Run for the Wall) in May to Washington, D.C,. on May 25th. We will leave Washington, D.C. from Front Royal and then onto the Parkway for my 3rd, “General’s” second full length trip. We will end up in Gatlinburg and ride some roads in that area.

I wish that I could personally thank President Roosevelt and all the many workers for creating such a beautiful, peaceful, and heavenly experience. The people of the area all along the Parkway experience are magnificent and wonderfully friendly true Americans.

This year’s trip I will explore Little Switzerland, Linville Falls, and make a stop in Mt. Airy to visit my favorite TV show’s home town. “General” and I will be traveling on our new motorcycle this time (2007 Harley Davidson Ultra Classic).

To the Parkway Foundation keep up the good work and thank you for creating the End to Ender program. I will proudly display my certificates at work and always tell all that I meet about the Blue Ridge Parkway.

“The Blue Ridge Parkway is as good as it gets in America.”

— Michael E. Jones

Black Mountain and Club Gap from the Pounding Mill Overlook

I consider myself only an average photographer, but one that keeps improving. That “improving” can be attributed to a lot of things but mostly about developing connoisseurship. I have always liked student/ teacher relationships having been in both roles professionally for most of my life. An expectant religious moment of rapture almost always occurs if the relationship endures and I have recently had mine, with a new mentor in this particular incident being Bill Lea.

I have heard Bill speak twice in the last eight months and I was even more impressed the second time. I had thought that I was going to hear the same presentation again (titles were similar!) but it was new, fresh, and filled with unseen images (to me) and new stories. A good photographer has to be a good storyteller, too!

It rained last night on Big East Fork. The sky was only beginning to show its first light. Time to go!!! There was still coffee in the pot from the day before and the microwave quickly provided warm cups to stimulate our innards.

Hurray! Let’s go! The sun will just be coming up.

Our routine and short-line destination is the Pounding Mill Overlook. We anticipate not only what the sunrise will bring us but who else that we find in the parking lot. We greeted one soul, already at work. I always gauge the seriousness of the photographer by a simple question “Got a permit?” I am teasing of course, but if he mumbles back — I don’t talk to him or her any more because they immediately label themselves as all too serious. This guy was great. He immediate said “I do!” and started fumbling in his pocket to produce it. (there is no permit required).

In the direction of the sunrise was the expected perfunctory sunrise with low clouds settled in the Pink Beds. Wow! But to the south was an acute edge of a storm that was making its way across the the Davidson River headwaters and shoulder of Looking Glass. I shot furiously with bracketed sets and my wife holding the umbrella until the rain and lightening strikes forced us to dash for the protection and security of the car.

Bill, in his presentations had told me that a storm often has two edges, and this being the summer time, the cell would probably be small. Well, we did find the back edge of the storm at Devil’s Courthouse — more wonderful light.

Thank you, Bill Lea.

Devil's Courthouse from the Courthouse Overlook; lucky lightning flash on the distant horizon

Fireworks visible from two different communities as seen from the Funnel Top Overlook

Hobie Cawood, our board chairman, was in our office last week to wish everyone a happy 4th of July. He remarked as he was leaving that “I have attended 19 consecutive 4th of July celebrations at Independence Hall.” That did not strike me as particularly noteworthy because he had served as superintendent of Independence Hall National Historic Site — one of the country’s over 390 national park units — for 20 years. The significance of that did not strike me until after he left.

Imagine! To be able to celebrate the birth of our nation right where it actually happened …

For me, our national parks create the same sense of awe and wonder as has the Parkway this 4th of July weekend. Every campsite was taken at the Mt. Pisgah campground, a very rare occurrence. What is particular significant about this location, from Mt. Pisgah itself (6,000 feet) one can witness 12 different fire works displays at the same time. We saved the 3.0 mile round-trip hike in the dark and instead chose the Funnel Top overlook south of Pisgah as a preferred alternative location. We bagged eight different displays as did the multitude of overlook onlookers who joined us.

The Parkway,too, like Independence Hall can be the place where it actually happens. The palpable feeling on that moonless night was that everyone in the overlook was proud to be an American.

Dr. Jolley in 1985

The first time that I met Harley Jolley was in 1985 at the 50th birthday party of the Blue Ridge Parkway, celebrated at the Parkway’s birthplace — Cumberland Knob near the North Carolina and Virginia line. I was there then just an average Parkway visitor who had driven up from Winston-Salem to see what was going on. What struck me most about Dr. Jolley was his navy blue blazer with its smartly sewn embroidered Blue Ridge Parkway logotype insignia. When I first saw him, my reaction then as it is now is that “this guy must be official”. He was official because he was regarded for years on end as the Parkway’s historian and author of the book called nothing else but simply the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Dr. Jolley with CCC Veteran Petro Kulynych in 2008

My wife and I had the distinction in pre-Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation days to serve as volunteers in the Blue Ridge Parkway’s Volunteer-in-Parks program. We must have done something right because our boss lady asked us if we would like to attend staff training at Crossnore — the North Carolina Forest Service training facility just north of Linville Falls where all newbie and returning seasonal Parkway employees went to be indoctrinated.

The curriculum was basically four days with outside speakers – most motivational, some not. Dr. Jolley was the guest lecturer whose responsibility was to give the audience a sense of history about the Blue Ridge Parkway. Well, half-way through his presentation, he stands upon the desk to dramatize the famous to this day controversy about the location of the Parkway in North Carolina vs. Tennessee. In Patrick Henry fashion, Dr. Jolley exclaimed nearly at the top of his lungs and with animate arms waving “Taking the Parkway into Tennessee would be like taking a sinner to the gates of heaven, turning them around and then sending them into Purgatory” — not exact, but close…

Share the Journey!

Joel, Jannell, Josiah, Jonathan, Jordan and Joshua

I always insist driving when my wife and I are on the Parkway, not because I am a road hog or control freak but because we keep our camera loaded between us, ready to aim and fire. Some of our best Parkway photos are those prospect shots that you see out of the corner of your eye driving at 45 miles per hour. I have learned to stop sharply, but safely to avoid the inconvenience of having to go down the Parkway to turn around and come back to find that the shot has been lost.

One recent case was the classic family photo that was being set up at a popular overlook, tripod set with all the family members tightly grouped sans dad. Whoa! “Would you like for us to take that shot for you?”

What greeted us was not the perfunctory, “well, yeah,” but “this place is great and we want this photo to be the one to go on our Christmas card.” We always ask where people are from but it was obvious from the get-go that they were from “Minnes-soda” and that this was their first trip to the Parkway. “Actually, we were looking for Panera Bread (Hiway 25 south and the Parkway in Asheville) and we discovered the Blue Ridge Parkway! Wow, what a place!”

I had to take my own classic photo with them grouped around the overlook sign and as I was filling out the photogrpahy model release which we do with all of our photography (the parents names are Joel and Janell), the mom began to list the name of her five boys. “Josiah, Jonathan”, …and let me guess where this was going, all the rest of the names would begin with ‘J’ … “Jordan and Joshua”.

Yes, a Blue Ridge Parkway Perfect Family. I hope they will come back!

The North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles has favored the three number position with the suffix BR. Tags would be numbered like 123BR.

Four positions allows more options for vanity combinations. A copy of the letter will be posted as soon as it is available. We will meet with DMV soon to get their commitment to the design.

This decision will be important to the success of the program.

More later … we are appreciative of your patience.

Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel

The National Park Service (NPS) has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) for proposed vista management within high altitude Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel habitats along the Blue Ridge Parkway (BLRI) in North Carolina.

The project area is in four locations at Craggy Gardens, Mt. Pisgah, the Graveyard Fields area to Richland Balsam, and Waterrock Knob. The project proposal is to set forth a long-term management strategy that would best protect and preserve Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel (CNFS) while providing for an enjoyable visitor experience of traveling the BLRI. The EA analyzes three alternatives:

1. No action (allowing the overlooks and vistas grow up without any periodic cutting),
2. Historic management methods (cutting every 3 years according to rotating schedule as the Parkway currently prescribes)
3. Developing management guidelines and mitigation objectives utilizing mechanical treatment techniques for each individual vista within potential CNFS habitat to satisfy National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) and NPS Management Policies .

The Blue Ridge Parkway is proposing as its third and preferred alternative a very labor intensive approach whereas the landscape architect and resource manager for the Parkway will personally supervise the vista management. This assumes that these individuals will be on site when the cutting of these vistas actually occurs. These contracts will be more expensive as the prescription for these will be from on the ground instructions which would go some thing like this: “cut right here, yep, leave that tree; no, not that one — yes, it is ok to leave that one.”

This is not a model for any efficient and effective program of vista management that I have personally witnessed, the crew simply does there job with regard to exclusive plant species which are left standing. Every three years, presumably, this scene would be repeated and the decisions on the ground will be subjective in park manager’s verbal directions to cutting crews.

Currently, the Parkway does not have the staff to manage the preferred alternative. The preferred alternative states that “Biologists and Landscape Architects in the Resource Planning and Professional Services Division would be responsible for the vista management program with potential CNFS habitat and would determine which trees can be cut at each individual vista and any other mitigation measures that are needed.” The Blue Ridge Parkway does not have a traditional resident landscape architect who has the time commitment to give to this program. There are only two park biologists qualified to serve this requirement and their offices are not even in the districts where the program will be administered.

NPS Management Policies of 2006 has language which states that the Service must protect and strive to recover rare, threatened, or endangered species native to national park system units that are listed under (NEPA), and undertake management programs to inventory, monitor, and restore and maintain listed species’ habitats. It is the opinion of this author that continued vista clearing as prescribed in the Historical Management Method (Alternative 2) does not diminish habitat as the CNFS never had this area as habitat in the first place. NPS / BLRI listing of disadvantages in its 127 page document expresses its own self-doubt in stating that “cyclic maintenance of vistas could have an impact…” and that the “Park Service could be out of compliance…” This author contends that there is a big difference in “could” and “would.”

Documented studies (references are available) have shown that the rate of increase of visits to the Blue Ridge Parkway diminishes when Parkway views are compromised or lost. This factor has a direct impact on local tourism revenues.

The operating budget for the Blue Ridge Parkway has only increased one-half of one per cent since 1980. Funding for the National Park Service or the Blue Ridge Parkway is not expected to be increased significantly in the years ahead despite current funding initiatives. A quarter of the permanent work force of the Blue Ridge Parkway has been lost since 2002 and those vacancies still remain unfilled – including the positions of a landscape architect, community planner, and public information officer.

Another twenty-five per cent of the work force is eligible for retirement in the next four years. If the Park Service commits to its preferred alternative, it will more than likely find itself down the road unable to service the highly labor intensive management alternative, give up because it can’t keep up, and then completely abandon any vista clearing management program in the CNFS critical habitat areas. The originally conceived and designed historical views of the Blue Ridge Parkway would (I didn’t say could) be lost forever.

Responses are encouraged as the issues are multi-facetted. Individual questions can be responded to in postings.

A detailed history of this unique bridge can be found here.

Alan Hollister, who oversees federal highways projects for the parkway, said the bridge’s structure will remain intact but the road surface and deck will be replaced and the bridge rails and steel will be repainted. The $2 million contract was awarded to Taylor & Murphy Construction Company of Asheville. Work could begin as early as March 1, though it’s possible it won’t start until April 1.

Hollister said signs notifying of the pending detour have been uncovered this week and a closure is in effect. “That section of the parkway could be closed for two seasons,” Hollister said.

“We hope to open in December, but it depends on the progress of the contractor.”

According to the parkway’s road information hotline, the only sections of the road in North Carolina that are open are from milepost 234 to 305 near Grandfather Mountain, milepost 344 to 355 near Mount Mitchell, and milepost 376 to 394 near the French Broad River. For updated parkway road conditions and closings, call (828) 298-0398.

Bike Safely - Be Visible!

Imagine that it is almost dusk, the sun is low and suddenly you are challenged by a form in front of you that looks like a bicyclist, but is it?

Wearing colors that contrast with the surroundings are a must for Parkway riders. If you are one of the lucky ones to ride on the Parkway when the weather is perfect, you are always riding into and out of shadows.

WEAR BRIGHT COLORS TO HELP MOTORISTS IDENTIFY YOU FOR YOU YOU ARE!

One of the best additions to the cyclists armamentarium in recent years is the “blinky”. These LED (light emitting diodes) lights are magical for allowing motorist to see you up the road, even in bright sunlight. They send an instant message even to the near asleep end-to-ender Parkway thru driver that there is danger ahead.

WEAR A BLINKY!

Signal Your Intentions

HAND SIGNALS SHOULD BE MADE WITH THE LEFT HAND BECAUSE THAT IS THE SIDE WHERE DRIVERS EXPECT YOU TO MAKE THEM. The photo to the left does not represent the best practice.

There is another reason, particularly if you are preparing to make a turn. The left hand controls the front brake which has the greatest braking power, but the bicycle becomes very unstable if you are applying hand brake pressure with the handle bars slightly turned. I have seen many riders (and motorcyclists particularly) go down when this technique has been used. Remember, give yourself that extra stopping distance needed by applying right brake pressure (i.e. to the rear wheel).

Safe Bicycling on the Blue Ridge Parkway

I confess … I feel safe on the Parkway at all times when I am riding my bike. But I have been doing it all my life and rode competively for many years elbow to elbow in pelotons traveling at 35 miles + down hills and in curves. … at my age now I wouldn’t so my advice to you today is for any age and any level of experience …

RIDE IN A GROUP AND IN SINGLE FILE!

Making it nearly impossible for an automobile to pass a string of bikes except in a good visibility situation is best practice. There will remain the daredevils filled with impatience and road rage which will make an unsafe move no matter what size your line. In a group, the biker at the rear of the string has the responsibility of informing those up the line that there is a “car back!” so that all the riders know that there is a vehicle probably wishing to pass. That gives the cyclists the opportunity to move to the right as close to the right as a rider’s skill level will allow.

Overlooks and pullouts should always be used by cyclists to allow automobile traffic to pass. You don’t need to stop in the overlook, only reduce your speed to allow automobiles to saftely pull through.

Rachael Eldridge, author of the event

Last year this time, there was snow on the ground because my wife and I were planning to go to the Moses Cone Estate to observe our first Blue Ridge Parkway Egg Scramble and Raffle. We didn’t go, but this year I kept a turned eye towards this past Saturday and waffled about going. But last week, Tina White, the Parkway’s district interpreter made a special invitation. The idea of a low impact weekend after some minor surgery seemed to be the right ticket …. and it was.

This is the fifth year of this event; first conceived by Rachael Eldridge, operations manager for the Southern Highland’s Craft Guild’s Craft Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway. I asked Rachael about her idea and she said, “this is the perfect way to get kids and families to the Parkway and to the Cone Mansion at the beginning of our retail season to welcome spring.”

Over 300 adults and youngsters attended and kids scrambled “on signal” to collect the brightly colored plastic and toy-laden eggs that littered the Mansion’s side and front yards. I had never attended one of these events before in my life eventhough I remember growing up and searching for eggs that my parents had hidden for my sister and I in the flower garden.

Ranger Tina White insured that each child left with their own Easter egg

I later saw Ranger Tina with her own basket of eggs which seemed odd to me at the time. I asked my wife about this later on our trip back to Winston-Salem. She said, “Tina made sure that every child who left the Parkway that day left with their very own egg.”

Well, of course. As I have told countless audiences …. “People who return to the Parkway year after year do so because their earliest memory is almost always a pleasant childhood memory.”

Share the Journey!

A video of the event is now posted on the Parkway Foundation’s YouTube Site.

Abhijit at Parkway entrance sign ...

Have you noticed how news becomes more impactful the closer it is to home, or if the event or person is known to you or known by someone you know?

Such was my experience last week when I received a call from a former Parkway staff member who started off by saying “have you seen the photo of the Duke University student (Abhijit Mahato) that was killed? …this guy actually visited the Parkway.”

Abhijit Camping Along the Blue Ridge Parkway

And with a little bit of searching, there it was … the most authority rendering photograph of a young man standing in front of a Blue Ridge Parkway entrance sign. The question still lingers as to what kind of visitor or Parkway champion he might have become. Interesting in the composite of photos available, he is also seen cooking a 2-egg breakfast over a gas stove at a campground in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and . We know of at least three perfect places he visited.

Abhitjit standing on the pedestrian bridge at the Nantahala Outdoor Center

Such a tragedy …

If you wish to know more about this promising young man, visit news coverage here ….

I have only (1) major concern for someone that needs to really give thought about bicyles on the Blue Ridge Parkay. A lot of folks come to bike and enjoy and leave scared to death. If anyone thinks by putting up \”biking\” signs on the side of the road makes its safe really needs a reality check. Lets make funds available to put a bike lane. Today there are more bikers than ever and more trails than ever. Let folks enjoy there family/clubs time but safey should always be #1. There is now and always been only room for two vehicles on the parkway, God forbid if there is camper travling. Either fix the problem or take the signs down. Right now even motorist are in danger as well.

The national audience regards the Blue Ridge Parkway as one of the grandest bike routes in the United States because of its mostly gentle grades and yes, low traffic volume. One would expect that bicycle / automobile incidents would be fairly common; but the fact is, that they are not. Almost no accidents between cars and bikes occur within a season and the belief that the Parkway is unsafe for joint use seems to be untrue. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.

Bike lanes have been suggested a number of times by various interest groups for the Parkway but we must remember that the Parkway was created in 1935 as a pictorial canvas and as the largest landscape architecture construction project in the history of the United States. The Parkway is now poised to be designated National Historic Landmark and to change the Parkway’s aesthetic character by widdening the road, creating bike lanes, whatever … would significantly alter the Parkway’s original design intent and signigicantly alter the subliminal experience that our travelers currently enjoy.

More later about biking the Parkway safetly …

The selected images from the 2008 Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition are now on display at the Mezzanine Gallery of the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts on the ASU campus. The public will be able to view the prints from March 7 through June 7, 2008. These finalists are also eligible for the Footsloggers People’s Choice Award, which kicked off on March 7. To vote for your favorite image, please visit the Virtual Blue Ridge voting gallery.

The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation for six years has been a part of this contest and this year has created a new category to represent the brand and trademark, Share the Journey.

Remember! Your vote counts!

Carolina BMW of Greensboro has promoted the tag from the very beginning, and if you happen to be in the area this Saturday, March 8 — stop in because they are having one of their famous open-houses which features great BBQ and rides of their new machines.

Ride safe!

The Peaks of Otter on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 86 in Virginia is probably the most known area for viewing deer. They have almost become regarded as a nuisance and for years visitors would be inclined to hand feed them which is strictly against park regulations. To alter this behavior, the park service began an extensive poster campaign titled “Dead Doe” which convinced the observer that a fed deer was a dead deer. Deer are not domestic animals (except in the rarest of circumstances) and should be always be regarded as wild and unpredicable.

Approaching wildlife is dangerous … and not a smart move.

Remember to view wildlife at a distance. Not the way this guy did! Close up nature films are best seen on the National Geographic Channel.

A deer, my bumper, and I ...

I grew up in the Blue Ridge in the small town of Waynesville. My weekends were spent in the woods with my dad and granddad, learning the natural history of wildlife — part of which was the behavior of deer. I remember being coached many times “where there is one, there will probably be two — or more”. That advice gave me my first buck at the age of 8.

The same advice still applies as I coached my wife after we were married in 1993 and she began to follow me on her BMW motorbike on the Blue Ridge Parkway. You learn to scan the shoulders of the road, for not to do so could prove fatal. She always follows far enough behind to do an emergency controlled crash stop; for whenever we see a deer on the shoulder, we prepare to come to a complete stop.

My park service friends in high deer population areas like Floyd County Virginia are always reporting their close and real encounters and their hoods and front bumpers are testiment.

My time finally came because I was focused on a glorious sunrise; deer on the shoulder was at the lowest level of consciousness. I saw the motion belatedly and slowed instinctively. The first deer bounded successfully across; the second was not so lucky. The third and fourth that I saw in my rear view mirror were luckier still, as they had not yet made the decision to cross to the other side.

My best advice? Where there is one, there will probably be two — or more. Be prepared for anything.

One of the more common questions we get, is “How can I help?”. Right now, there are 3 main ways you can help:

1.) If you’re a North Carolina resident, and you own a motorcycle, THEN BUY THE TAG! You can get an application on the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation’s web site. Simply download the application now and send it in.

2.) Spread the Word! The main way we will get enough tag registrants to get this specialty tag approved is to let others know about it. We put our heads together and then asked our friends at Virtual Blue Ridge if they could help us develop something for getting the word out on the Internet. They came back with some good ideas. One of those is a “thermometer” that you can place on your web site or blog. You can see it to your right in this blog post. It’s just a few lines of code you can easily add to your site, and it links right to this page. To install the “thermometer” on your site, simply copy the code below and put it in the HTML source of your web site or blog:

<a href=”http://www.blueridgeparkwayblog.com/15-how-can-i-help/“><img src=”http://www.blueridgeparkwayblog.com/scripts/thermometer-new.php” alt=”Blue Ridge Parkway Specialty Motorcycle License Plate” width=”120″ height=”301″ border=”0″></a>

3.) Give us more ideas. So far, we have received some great ideas and we’re continuing to get more. Don’t be afraid to post your comments on this blog. We’re checking them daily and your thoughts can help inspire someone else to even greater thoughts. Comments on the blog are the easiest way to share your ideas with us!

We all look forward to see this great license plate on North Carolina motorcycles next year and your help is what will allow us to do that.

For more information on the specialty tag program, view the press release on the Foundation’s web site.

Family enjoying a picnic at the Chestnut Cove Overlook south of Asheville

For generations people have come to the Parkway to be inspired, soothed, awed and enlightened. Those who journeyed here as children years ago return now with children and grandchildren. For them the promise of the Parkway thrives not only in a quiet escape to natural splendor, but also in the joy of sharing a profound and unforgettable moment in a predictable safe environment. Loaded weapons have no place on the Blue Ridge Parkway or any national park.

There is another picture of reality and that is the one the public is more often to see on the Parkway now than one did even years ago — a national park ranger with a fully loaded firearm on one side of his utility belt and a stun gun Taser on the other. I am somewhat conditioned for this experience because I am around it so often; but I admit, there is a always a slight angst of uncomfortableness in being in this proximity. I resolve my issue each time with the question — am I glad that this guy is here standing next to me or in the overlook? The answer is always “yes”.

Now Senator Tom Coburn – R-Oklahoma – is advocating for guns in our national parks and has introduced a bill that would allow gun owners to carry loaded, accessible firearms into national wildlife refuges and parks, including the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. See related story in the Asheville Citizen Times.

Barbie ready for a drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Just recently, Mattel reported that their U.S. sales of Barbie products dropped 15%, not because of bad paint jobs from China, but because young girls were trading their doll houses in for keyboards. The same report indicated that young girls spend about seven hours a week playing on computers, twice as much as they spent four years ago and that they begin playing on the computer at the age of 5 1/2. This is the same age at which girls typically take up Barbie.

The threat to the Parkway (and Barbie) has come from the surging popularity of Webkinz which is a plush toy that comes with a code allowing children to go online and learn about their toy’s virtual persona and visit with friends in rooms that they can decorate.

A child conditioned to 1280 x 1024 pixels is most likely to never see the Blue Ridge Parkway any other way.

A view off the escarpment ...

I enjoy solitude and the Parkway can provide it – particularly in winter.

Early one morning my decision was to get on the Parkway at Hiway 80 near Burnsville, NC. No one would normally go here because the Parkway is closed north towards Little Switzerland (because of downed trees) and the Parkway is closed south of the Mt. Mitchell turnoff (because of a fallen retainer wall at Craggy Gardens). The evening before I was a guest of Bill and Judy Carson, proprietors of the Orchard at Altapass. And from their front porch at Little Switzerland and looking south off the escarpment, the valley above Marion was a literal sea of sloshing cloudcover. We could see blue sky above and the the tops of the South Mountains below — an occurrence of visuals which only happens maybe once a year.

If only this would wait until morning …

In my round trip to Mt. Mitchell the next morning, I did not encounter one automobile — only a deer which proved fatal only for her. It almost spoiled my day, but what I was to behold was a unique sunrise that must have been prepared just for me.

Share the Journey!

The Parkway and this particular chain of the Appalachians — the Blacks — will always remain an opportunity to be enjoyed by all ages.

Michael Flynn, writer for the Asheville Citizen Times, shares his journey as participant and competitor.

Share the Journey!

<<Full Report Here>>

Von Plott and his Plott Hounds

A recent post on the Mr. Morton “A View to Hugh” blog site prompted childhood memories of hunting bears and growing up in Waynesville, the county seat of Haywood County. The question posed was as to the identity of the person in the photograph who by sleuth was identified as Von Plott (mountainized short name for “Vaughn”), the founder of the cold nose strain of Plott hounds according to our friends at LuckysPlott Website. The black and white photograph was taken by Mr. Morton, the second of sepia tone was provided by the Plott family. Identity confirmed!

The Plott Hound remains a venerable and respected stock of my home town. I am sorry to say that I did not grow up on the head of Plott Creek, but close enought to say that I did.

And even the National Park Service thinks enough of the story to honor it with an interpretive sign at Milepost 458 between Soco Gap and Cherokee.

Our moto friends protesting encroaching development in the Roanoke Valley.

• Senator Joe Sam Queen who introduced this legislation will be having conversations with NCDMV soon about finalizing the design to include 4 number / letter options. This will allow us to produce a promotional counter card similar to the one for the automobile.
• Grandfather Mountain will put this in the hands of every motorcycle that comes through its gates (warmer weather coming!)
• GWRRA – this opportunity is being worked on a number of levels with straegically placed notices from the NC district representative.
• Concourse Owners Group (COG) – we have looked at their website and will look for a point of entry and opportunity.
• Motor Maids – same as COG
• Honda Sport Touring Association (HSTA) – same as COG
• Road Runner Magazine – eventhough this is published in our community, it is a national magazine. Jim Parks, their director of public relations has offered to place their eNEWS. Most all of these groups have discussion forums which have varying degrees of particpation. It will take a little time to figure all of that out.
• Rider Magazine – again, a national publication but we will look for an “in”
• Wing World – the monthly magazine of GWRRA, we just found out about that one to day.
• Roy’s Folks – travel show of WGHP in High Point, one of the editors is a rider and has done stories for us before.
• Raleigh News and Observer – we learned today that one of their editors is a rider and would be in a position to do a story
• Ralph Knox, director of photography, for Main Street teleproductions has offered to produce a 30 second PSA for us that can be used in numerous application.

Thank you! We will be giving updating comments on our pursuits. If any of you have already existing relationships with these opportunities, please let us know. We could use some help without having to start cold.

Houck

Houck and K.B. Medford are motorefs with the United States Cycling Federation

Legislation was passed last summer authorizing this license tag, but the program could not be rolled out until the fall. Cold weather came, and you know what happens to our bikes and our minds when cold weather sets in. They get parked and we go numb!

We (the Foundation and National Park Service) issued independent press releases to all our media outlets, ran three ads and supporting articles in Full Throttle Magazine, sent press releases and applications to all their advertisers which included biker bars, tattoo parlors, and dealerships and have published the story in all Foundation related materials.

As of today (February 4), we have 121 of the 300 applications that we need to put this tag in production. When we introduced the automobile tag program in 2001, we had 400 applications in 4 months.

We know that this program will fly and with warm weather and new options for promotion, we know we will get there and we are anxious to see these on the road.

Please send us your ideas! We will pursue each one with earnest.

Ride safe!

Houck Medford
Executive Director

Mr. Hugh Morton posing at the Linn Cove Viaduct

Guests to the site are invited to add their comments as they go. The interactive nature of the medium is clearly contributing to the cataloguing process as Morton’s friends and relatives chime in with bits and pieces of trivia about photographs that the bloggers have posted for feedback.

To see the blog for yourself, visit the University of North Carolina library on-line.

Examine the Gandfather Newsletter related to this event: http://www.grandfather.com/newsletter/november07/view2hugh.php

Snow Gate at Blowing Rock

The fact is that there may not be a ranger available to respond for an hour or more in the event of an emergency and with the propect of inclement weather, there may not even be a ranger within a hundred miles available to personally inspect the motor road and make a decision about a closure.

It then becomes cost effective to leave the motor road closed and that is the frequent case for much of the Parkway during the winter.

And then, local emergency personnel must contend with the local traveler which “has 4 wheel drive” and “I can go anywhere” attitude.

We all say (myself, included) that “it won’t happen to me”, but it does. This visitor to Blowing Rock (not I) had to wait an hour for a ranger to arrive to investigate before the vehicle could be moved. Fortunately, there were no injuries. Not only did he have to wait, but also the emergency crews from the Town of Blowing Rock who were called out in response to this 911 call.

This popular destination has been popular for as long as I can remember, and becomes more popular with each passing year — more cars, more people, and more trash. But what a great place to stretch your legs, enjoy great views, and have an almost serene over night camping experience within a few hundred yards of your car.

The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation wants this experience to be sustained and has invested in a study (which will actually become a funded project). In the months ahead, we can expect a restroom (pretty much designated for to-the-falls hikers), improved signage and trail maps, and new padded campsites for designated and restricted camping. The campsite component will probably occur in 2009.

Please join us! We want to hear your concerns about this favorite Parkway destination.

Houck Medford
Executive Director
Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation