Blog Category: Share Your Journey

Parkway visitors have their own remembrances of the Blue Ridge Parkway; in a sense, their own heritage paths — their favorite places which are often childhood memories. The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation collects stories and memories because people add a historical dimension to the Parkway, not unlike the physical dimension and experience that overlooks add to scenery.

To Share Your Journey with the world, please email Dr. Houck Medford at hmedford@blueridgeparkwayblog.com. A picture from your journey should be included. Please be sure that your image is a minimum of 560 pixels wide at 72 dpi resolution.

Black Dog Wine and Jazz Festival

August 18th, 2010 Chateau Morrisette No comments

As we put up the welcome tents and polished the souvenir glasses last Saturday, we eyed the darkening sky and wondered what the day would bring. Would it rain cats and dogs, or would the sun break through the clouds? Would people brave the weather, or would they stay at home? When cars started to trickle into the parking lot around 11am, our worries were forgotten and we got down to the business of having fun. Despite the rain and grey weather, folks came out in droves for this year’s Black Dog Wine and Jazz Festival. Along with their usual lawn chairs and wine glass holders, they brought tents, umbrellas, ponchos, and even plastic bags to cover themselves.

The first band, Beleza Brazil, wasted no time in attempting to chase the clouds away with their inventive rhythms and soulful harmonies. A husband and wife duo, Madeline and Humberto Sales used loop tracks of traditional Brazilian drums and percussion instruments to beef up their guitar and vocals. Sure enough, if you closed your eyes, you would swear there were five people on the stage.

Madeline’s voice was as sweet as Our Dog Blue, but as sultry as the fiery red dress she was wearing. In between songs, she explained the history and complexity of the Brazilian jazz tradition. Crowd favorites included their lively rendition of “Sunshine on a Saturday,” in which Madeline literally tried to sing the blues away, and the jazz classic, “Girl from Impanema.” Beleza Brazil left the stage to enthusiastic cheering, and believe it or not, a few rays of sunshine peeking through the clouds.

Between sets, our friend Edgar took the stage to teach a little impromptu Salsa lesson for the crowd. Folks made their way from their seats on the hill down to the stage to learn the simple but sexy moves of this popular Latin dance. “It’s all in the hips,” Edgar kept telling us. “The feet are simple, it’s the hips that make the dance.” Well, we shook our hips and moved our feet, and by the end of the quick lesson, some of us were really getting the hang of it.

Warmed up and ready to dance, the crowd was obviously excited when the second band, Los Gatos hit the stage. The six-piece Latin jazz ensemble brought a few friends to help them out, plus some unusual instruments: traditional drums and percussion pieces, and something that looked like a piece of coiled tubing with a horn on one end. Los Gatos played an upbeat mix of Latin-influenced jazz standards, classics tributes to greats like the Buena Vista Social Club, and even “Happy Birthday” to a lucky festival-goer.

While the music played below, the wine flowed at the top of the hill. Complimentary tastings were served all day, and wine was sold by the glass or bottle. Folks enjoyed a variety of delicious food choices in the courtyard, and in the tasting room, tours and tastings were offered as usual, along with our special festival treat: the Wine-a-Rita.

Despite the rain and wind, this year’s Black Dog Wine and Jazz Festival was a success. Guests and staff alike brightened the grey day with their smiles and laughter, and of course, the music helped too. We look forward to October’s Black Dog Wine and Beach Music Festival, and hope that you can join us for what promises to be another great day. More information can be found in the events section at our website www.thedogs.com.

Patience – Spring Will Come Some Day

March 8th, 2010 Bruce Bytnar 1 comment

Snow and ice continues to melt and break up in the lower elevations leading up to the Blue Ridge Mountains.  The mountains themselves remain locked in winter’s icy grasp with melting involved in a much slower process.   The higher elevations where temperatures are significantly lower, received more snow than below in the valleys.  That snow was then pushed and sculpted by high winds to produce drifts that stood in excess of seven feet in depth at many locations.  Limited daily radiant sunlight then started to melt on the surface of the drifts on those few clear days that allowed the rays to peak through.  That melting then refroze turning the snow drifts into ice bergs blocking roads.

Read more »

BRP Is Our Favorite Road

July 11th, 2009 Dr. Houck Medford No comments
Dan Propst with his new tag!

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

Home Grown Event Yields High Return

LaCosteFamilyThe LaCoste Family and friends are the best examples of southwestern Virginia family ingenuity. The family patriarch, Paul, has had a passion for his family, his friends, Floyd County, and the Blue Ridge Parkway for all his life. What better way to celebrate all four than to combine them all into one event – the Tour de Floyd.

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?”

I Hope To Celebrate My 50th Birthday

April 22nd, 2009 Dr. Houck Medford No comments
Scott Berry at the North Carolina / Virginia line ...

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