With the addition of two renowned roots music groups – Los Lobos, considered by critics and fans as one of America’s most distinctive and original bands, and Assembly of Dust, known for their stellar live performances from Bonnaroo to Carnegie Hall – MerleFest 25, presented by  Lowe’s Hardware, firms up another diverse, crowd-pleasing collection of performers for the festival’s 2012 lineup. Los Lobos will perform on Friday, April 27, delivering the closing performance of the evening, and Assembly of Dust will perform on various stages on Saturday and Sunday, April 28-29.

Slated for April 26 – 29, 2012, MerleFest will once again take place on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. MerleFest is an annual homecoming of musicians and music fans, gathering to celebrate the memory of musician Eddy Merle Watson, beloved son of American music icon Doc Watson.

Over the years, MerleFest has become known for spontaneous moments, collaborations and last-minute performance additions. To keep up with any additional changes and additions to this year’s lineup – even during the festival – MerleFest encourages fans to sign up for the e-newsletter and to follow the festival through Facebook and Twitter. Links are available at www.merlefest.org.

Rolling Stone magazine has said that, “With the exception of U2, no other band has stayed on top of its game as long as Los Lobos.” Now in their 38th year of making music, the three-time Grammy-winning band is still creating inventive and inspiring music. Though they may have come to the attention of many with their huge hit “La Bamba,” Los Lobos’ rich musicality has continued to evolve and expand with each project and with each tour. Drawing equally from rock, Tex-Mex, country, folk, R&B, blues, and traditional Spanish and Mexican music, this internationally renowned group of performers delivers a graceful, gritty sound that never strays from the musical traditions that form the heart and soul of the band. About their most recent album, the Grammy-nominated Tin Can Trust, NPR’s Ken Tucker said, “Los Lobos is a master of creating moods, of summoning up a setting and putting you in the center of it. From the band’s major-label debut Will The Wolf Survive to Tin Can Trust, the band has always sung about people who take their pleasures where they can find them and who lead rich imaginative lives.

All Music has described the New York-based Assembly of Dust as “melding the deep grooves of blues and R&B with guitar work that recalls J. J. Cale and Little Feat.” AOD’s 2011 release Found Sound represents a “behind the curtain” look at a band that has gained notoriety as a studio/live performance hybrid. The energy captured on Found Sound represents what fans from coast to coast have known for years: music’s best kept secret may have just been found.

Ticket purchases for MerleFest 25 can be made on the web at www.merlefest.org or by calling 1-800-343-7857. An early bird ticket discount is available through March 12, 2012.

With over 90 artists performing on 14 stages during the course of the event, MerleFest 25 is an excellent entertainment value. A complete list of confirmed performers is available at www.merlefest.org.

MerleFest, considered one of the premier music festivals in the country, is held on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. MerleFest was founded in 1988 in memory of Eddy Merle Watson and is a celebration of what Doc Watson calls “traditional plus” music, meaning the traditional music of the Appalachian regional plus whatever other styles we were in the mood to play.” The annual festival has become the primary fundraiser for the WCC Endowment Corporation, funding scholarships, capital projects and other educational needs.

The first hints of color near Asheville yesterday

While it’s just a teaser now, the first hints of coming fall color are starting to appear on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Photos from my motorcycle cruise yesterday -

It’s been a beautiful summer on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The lush green mountain views which envelope the entire 469 mile ride on warm summer days have drawn me to ride the park road more than usual this year on my motorcycle. I just can’t seem to get enough of it.

Warm sunny days and clear blue skies make for spectacular riding

As August draws to its close, cooler morning temperatures and clear blue skies announce the start of the change of season. Yesterday, taking the roundabout way home from Asheville to Waynesville, I made the long Blue Ridge Parkway climb from the French Broad River to the heights of Mt. Pisgah and noted the first real evidence of the fabulous leaf show to come.

While the experts predict the cold winter, early wet spring, and warm summer will yield a spectacular fall leaf show, motorcycle traffic in the park has been strong all summer. It’s such a close and affordable trip that many riders have already come to enjoy the splendid scenery and relaxing ride.

Put your bike here! It's easier than you think.

If you haven’t started making your motorcycle vacation plans yet or are just wondering about how easy it is to make a Blue Ridge Parkway motorcycle trip, http://blueridgemotorcycling.com will show you the easy way to put together a memorable and enjoyable vacation with motorcycle friendly places, lots of great rides to enjoy along the parkway, and how to get the most out of your precious vacation time.

Go to http://blueridgemotorcycling.com now and see how easy it is to visit the nations favorite motorcycle ride!

Floyd Fandango

If the true definition of ‘Fandango’ is a lively dance done in triple time, then Floyd Fandango, a weekend-long Independence Day celebration, is not too far off the mark. This unique event, which is held annually off the Blue Ridge Parkway near Floyd, Virginia, has garnered somewhat of a cult following since its 2004 inception. Unorthodox festivities are often the headline, including past performances by Junior Brown playing under an Italian carnival tent with snake charmers and a trained dog show, and other carnival-themed attractions. This year’s attendees can expect an equally solid roster of non-traditional entertainment and merriments.

Upon arrival at the pristine mountain venue, located at milepost 170.5 off the beautiful, and non-commercial, Blue Ridge Parkway, attendees exchange a ticket for a commemorative wine or beer glass and wooden pogs for beer tasting (wine tastings are free throughout the day). Meander along a shady garden path, past a small stage of string musicians, and onto the main field- a 40-acre expanse culminating with a jaw-dropping, timber framed stage set against the tree-lined backdrop of Rock Castle Gorge. Set up a chair or shade tent and relax to the alt-country sounds of the aptly-chosen band These United States and Big Easy musical favorite Anders Osborne, both opening acts for headliner JJ Grey and Mofro, a southern-born crooner with a large southwest Virginia following.

Two large covered tents feature wine tastings on one side of the field and beer tastings on the other, with a competition for ‘best in show,’ ‘people’s choice’ and ‘judges choice,’ as well as best red wine, best white wine, and best light, medium, and dark beer. This year’s event showcases over 50 vintages of wine from local favorites Chateau Morisette, Villa Appalaccia and AmRhein wineries, as well as Cooper Vineyards, Davis Valley, Fincastle, Horton, Mattaponi, and Rockbridge vineyards. Craft beer options include Long Trail Brewing, Highland Brewery, Starr Hill, Blue Mountain Brewery, Breckenridge Brewing, Bull and Bones Brewhaus, Crispin Hard Apple Cider, Foothills Brewing, Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales, Old Dominion, River Company, Stillwater Artisanal Brewing Company, and Woodchuck Hard Cider.

With the 4th of July falling on a Monday, there’s no reason to rush back to school or work – weekend tickets include on-site camping and a low-key, high-octane Saturday night party, held after hours for those with a weekend camping ticket, extending the fun until midnight. All told, Floyd Fandango shares many of the attributes that might be used to describe the beverages it showcases- lively, full-bodied, and with a hint of blush.

For tickets or more information on this fine event, visit www.floydfandango.com or call 1-888-VAFESTS

FloydFest

2011 marks the 10-year anniversary of an event that has become a model for the independent, grassroots, multi-genre family friendly outdoor music festival. In the way of marketing imagery, this anniversary edition of FloydFest X, the experience is aptly named.

The “X”, according to spokespersons for the Floyd, Virginia based Production Company, Across-The-Way-Productions, stands for all things ‘X’ (eXcept ‘X-rated’). It is eXponential, that ticket sales for the festival are hovering at 100% over last year, trending to an early sell-out for an event that started in 2002 with 3,000 people on a farm off the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway near Floyd, Virginia.

It is ‘eXtraordinary’ that the aforementioned parkway locale gives the venue a breathtaking beauty. Watching performers on the custom timber framed Dreaming Creek main stage against a backdrop of trees and stars, with not a commercial building or vehicle in sight is a near-spiritual experience for anyone attending.

The 2011 line-up could be called ‘eXtreme’. It’s being touted as the “best of a decade” and includes these performers: Robert Randolph & the Family Band, Old Crow Medicine Show, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Taj Mahal, The Tony Rice Unit, The David Grisman Sextet, Peter Rowan’s Bluegrass Band, Railroad Earth, North Mississippi All Stars, Sam Bush Band, Hot Tuna Electric and Acoustic, Del McCoury Band, Cyro Baptista & Beat the Donkey, Toubab Krewe, Carolina Chocolate Drops, and many more.

With over one hundred bands showcased on nine uniquely different performance stages and spanning Wednesday through Sunday, it could also be named ‘FloydFest the eXtended version’.

You can’t forget ‘X marks the spot’ – FloydFest X offers as much diversity in the non-musical arena as it does within it. Children are well occupied in a safe and central ‘Children’s Universe’ that features open-mic performances, stage entertainment, waterslide, martial arts workshops, free trapeze lessons, and a gaming tent. Alternative-trending adults (and those just looking for a great massage) will thrill at the array of workshops and variants of therapy from tai chi to qigong. Food offerings range from organic vegetarian to brick oven pizza to gator bites, solar smoothies, homemade doughnuts, local coffee, Virginia wines and craft beer including Magic Hat, Starr Hill and Foothills Brewing. Over 100 regional artisans offer a selection of superior products from handcrafted moccasins to instruments, clothes, jewelry and fine art.

‘EXponential, eXtreme, eXtended, FloydFest X is definitely shaping up to be all that it proclaims- basically the music eXperience of the summer.

For more information, please visit www.floydfest.com.

In planning for MerleFest 2011, challenges were faced given the economic climate. However, the festival team agreed that it would not cut back on the quality of the event or in any way diminish the experience their fans have come to expect. At the same time, they renewed their commitment to Wilkes Community College – determined to maintain the fundraising levels already established. After a year of hard work, we are presented with the 24th edition of the festival. It’s sure to be as good as every prior year where everyone enjoys the Music, experiences a MerleFest Moment, and makes Memories at MerleFest 2011!

Here’s a video preview:

And a photo gallery:

View the Merlefest 2011 lineup and purchase your tickets.  We’ll see you there!

MerleFest was founded in 1988 in memory of Eddy Merle Watson as a fundraiser for Wilkes Community College Endowment Corporation and a celebration of “traditional plus” music. Scheduled for April 28 – May 1, 2011, the event is held on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina.

This year it comes to Boone for the 15th annual “best of the festival” world tour on Friday April 1st and Saturday April 2nd @ 7:30 pm at Farthing Auditorium. The Banff Mountain Film Festival features the world’s best films on mountain adventure, culture, and the environment selected from hundreds of entries submitted from around the world. Appalachian State University’s Outdoor Programs choose screenings designed to educate, entertain, and inspire you. Tickets are currently on sale at Farthing Auditorium and Footsloggers in Downtown Boone for $7 (students) and $9 (all others).

It’s always been the case that the Boone stop for the tour has had the biggest turnout, and more importantly those that watch the films show the most enthusiasm for the festival and the filmmakers that make it possible.  It’s definitely a must-see event for the travel and outdoor enthusiast.

Here are some more clips from this year’s films:

I look forward to seeing you there!

By the way, Devil’s Courthouse is the closest the Blue Ridge Parkway gets to the South Carolina border.  As the crow flies, there’s about 20 miles between the two.  So, when you’re exploring that neck of the woods and you’re looking south/southeast, you will be seeing parts of the South Carolina countryside.  Here is a home video of the long range views this area affords:

Now, let’s get back to my adventure.  February is not the best time of the year to be in North Carolina mountains, but there are still several things to do.  Sapphire Valley Ski Resort (more like a hill than a mountain) offers snow-tubing and ski lifts.  It doesn’t attract a lot of people during the peak ski season, so it’s a good place to take the kids without the crowds you might have in the bigger ski areas located in the Boone area.

Transylvania County is known as the “Land of Waterfalls“.  The area is a sub-tropical rain forest receiving more rainfall per annum than any locale east of the Mississippi.  Couple that with the fact that the area is situated on the eastern escarpment of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and you have the perfect conditions for over 250 waterfalls. In the winter, these waterfalls freeze up and provide for awesome ice formations and an area for local ice-climbers to gear up and have some fun.  Additionally, the barren trees afford the visitor relatively unobstructed views of the Blue Ridge Parkway area waterfalls themselves.

Waterfalls are just just one of the many things the area is known for.  Unfortunately for me, I was on a business trip and didn’t get to partake in any outdoor recreational activities. The high temperature was over 60°F, and I was disappointed I didn’t have more time.  I hope you get to enjoy the area to the fullest when you plan your visit.

My purpose was to visit a potential new client of Horizon Mediaworks and a sponsor of the Virtual Blue Ridge website:  The Preserve at Rock Creek.  They are in the heart of the Sapphire Valley with one of the most unique pieces of property to be found.

It’s now the end of March, and we are excited to announce our partnership with The Preserve at Rock Creek. In the coming months, we will be helping to showcase a truly conservation minded development in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Preserve is an example of a well-conceived earth friendly footprint, with emphasis on land conservation and large estate lots.

Here’s the low-down:

The Preserve at Rock Creek is 320 acres of beautiful forest land that rests on Toxaway Mountain-the highest privately owned mountain in the area with elevations up to 4400 feet.

By blending low density encroachment with nature, the Preserve makes the most of its natural surroundings in an organic layout where 115 species of flora and 100 species of animals make their home.

Large estate lots are cut to take advantage of the incredible long range views the mountain offers. Green minded homes are built to maximize the views for the occupants while minimizing the visibility of homes from adjacent lots. Views, privacy, and being a part of nature are paramount.

The Developer, Tim Bright, is a true land steward. He is creating an entire community using conservation based principals by permanently placing sixty-six percent of the mountain in a conservation easement.

Tim’s land use plan lowers the impact on this piece of heaven on earth using state-of-the-art water erosion and drainage techniques. The infrastructure is well planned with 18 foot wide paved roads, underground utilities, and a state certified water system.

We invite those of you seeking an exclusive and incredible lifestyle living in harmony with nature to explore all that The Preserve At Rock Creek has to offer. Only a limited number of home owners will be able to enjoy this unique mountain property.

I hope you find a chance to visit Transylvania Country and the Sapphire Valley area.  While you’re there, pay a little tribute to our friends at The Preserve.

“Our board is unanimous in expressing deep appreciation for Houck’s and K.B’s (his wife) perseverance over the years in creating and growing our foundation so that citizens and organizations can have a tax deductible conduit through which they can contribute in a meaningful way to enhancing the Blue Ridge Parkway,” Shepherd said.

In 1997, Medford and a group of civic leaders organized the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation in Winston-Salem after Medford retired from a successful dental practice. The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, under a cooperative agreement with the National Park Service and the U.S. Department of the Interior, is the primary private fundraising organization for the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Foundation has provided more than three-million dollars in endowments and direct allocations for projects and programs which enhance the visitors’ experience and help preserve the Blue Ridge Parkway’s scenic, cultural and environmental quality.

Over the past few years, the foundation has contributed to numerous capital improvements along the Parkway, including renovation of the North Carolina Mineral Museum, preservation of the Moses H. Cone Memorial Park, improvements at Graveyard Fields and other projects.

Parks As Classrooms is one of the flagship programs funded by the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation. This program instills values of Parkway protection, history, ecology and culture among students in all 29 Virginia and North Carolina Parkway counties where the program is presented.

Now in its third year, the Foundation’s “Kids in Parks” program is a special initiative to combat childhood obesity and to engage children and their families with our national parks. The sponsorship of special Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation license tags in North Carolina generates around a half-million dollars a year for the parkway’s benefit and is the most popular specialty tag in the state.

Dr. Ward joined the foundation in 2008 as the first director of the Kids in Parks program and became president and chief operating officer in March of this year. Before joining the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, The Wytheville, Virginia native taught at Humboldt State University in Arcata, California for nearly ten years. An award winning researcher and author, she is the editor of the National Association of Interpretation Journal for Interpretation Research. She received her master and doctorate degrees in outdoor recreation from Virginia Tech.

For more information:

• Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation
• Kids in Parks
• Virtual Blue Ridge Parkway Guide

"Poleing Day" on Wilson Creek

L to R: Susie Hamrick Jones, executive director of the Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina, which has secured a number of conservation easements on Wilson Creek; Houck Medford, founder and chief executive officer of the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation; Martha Townes, wife of “B” Townes; Congressman Ballenger, who has led several Foundation’s funding efforts; “B” Townes, a Foundation and Conservancy donor, as well as a member of the Blue Ridge Conservancy board of trustees, also a member of the Edgemont Fishing Club which has donated a conservation easement on Wilson Creek; and DeeDee Weaver, daughter of Congressman Ballenger.

On May 11, 1999 Congressman Cass Ballenger introduced H.R. 1749 to designate the Wilson Creek drainage a National Wild and Scenic River.  The bill eventually became law.  He had never returned to Wilson Creek which drains from the southern slopes of Calloway Peak on Grandfather Mountain until November 2, 2010.  This arranged visit coincidentally synced with election day, and the event was playfully named “Poleling Day”, appropriate for this Congressman who represented North Carolina for more than 20 years and caught his first fish from Wilson Creek on this visit.  The day was arranged by the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation.

Last weekend my wife and I went to Graveyard Fields at MP 419. I had read much about the hiking trail there and wanted to check it and the foliage out. The trailhead started with a tunnel of rhododendron. We had a great time hiking all the way to the Upper Falls which was about 1.6 miles, with great variation of terrain and trails.

It was a good workout but not too tough. The falls were a little light but the rock formations all around it were awesome. As we traveled back we took the upper trail to the Lower Falls. Oh by the way the colors, mostly reds were beautiful. It was quite a hike down to the falls but it was well worth it! They were absolutely gorgeous! I took about 60 pictures on this trip and we will certainly return.

Brack Llewellyn, who writes and directs this year’s play, “The Morrigan Society,” brings over 27 years of theater and storytelling experience to the NoneSuch Playmakers. In that time, he has acted in, directed, and written well over 100 productions, as well as told tales to live and radio audiences all over North Carolina and Virginia. 

“The Morrigan Society” is a thriller in two acts. It is the tale of the “Morrigan Society,” an elite group of adventurers with high-risk professions, hedonistic tastes and outsized egos. Some of the members have gathered at their isolated headquarters in New York for a lavish meeting. Late in the evening, after everyone except the butler has retired, the Society’s newest member makes his drunken entrance. He is a brash young mountain climber and media star, and the self-proclaimed black sheep of the group. The next morning he is found murdered, a crossbow arrow through his heart. Detective Iris Ford and her rough-hewn partner, Jimmy Esposito are on the case. Which Society member could be driven to such an act? Or–did the butler do it? The case takes a dizzying course of twists and turns as the detectives learn some of the Society’s deeply guarded secrets. Then, just as Ford thinks she’s closing in on the killer, a bizarre chain of events takes the case to a horrifying new level! (Synopisis adapted from the NoneSuch Playmakers Facebook page.)

Chateau Morrisette is proud to present an elegant three-course meal before the play. This year’s menu includes roasted autumn squash bisque with cinnamon creme fraiche, and a duo of pepper-seared jerk pork chop and shrimp scampi skewer, served with wild rice and sautéed green beans and shitake mushrooms. Dessert is a luscious ricotta cheese cake with apple-walnut chutney.

Dinner will start at 7pm, with the curtains opening just after dessert and coffee are served. Tickets for the entire evening are $65, with a cash bar available. Visit www.thedogs.com or call 540-593-2865 for reservations and pre-payment.

Remember, you can’t solve the case unless you’re at the scene of the crime. Don’t miss this year’s Tale of Suspense: “The Morrigan Society.”

Rich and Sherri of Roanoke, VA took home an Australian cattle dog named Payton. Payton, a sweet young bundle of love, is a present for Rich’s mother, who recently lost her companion dog of many years.

Heather of Martinsville, VA filled out an application for a lovely little puppy called Willow. Willow, aptly named because of her long, and somewhat unsure, puppy legs, had nothing but kisses for Heather’s young son Eland.

This is the fourth year the Floyd County Humane Society has brought their adoptable pets to Chateau Morrisette, and each year has been a success. As fun as this annual event is, volunteers at the Humane Society work tirelessly all year trying to find homes for the many dogs and cats that face euthanasia if they aren’t placed.

Would you like to help? Of course, pet adoption is a great way to help. But if a permanent pet is not an option for you, consider foster care. The Humane Society cannot house all the pets it takes in, so relies on the generous work of foster owners in the area. Some dedicated volunteers take in dozens of dogs or cats, but even bringing just one or two pets into your home until they are placed makes a big difference.

Monetary donations are another invaluable way to help. The Humane Society provides veterinary care, vaccinations, de-worming, tick control, spay/neuter surgeries, and of course, food to all animals. They also provide food and support to foster volunteers. The costs add up, and are far from covered by the low adoption fees.

To find out more about the Floyd County Humane Society, and how you can help, please visit their website: www.floydhumanesociety.org or leave a message at (540) 745-7207.

We are also working on a few new things! We have a dry rose’ fermenting right now, and it smells heavenly! We are all excited about this, and anxious to taste it when it is done. The crew are scurrying about, preparing to crush and ferment another batch of chambourcin, and another little batch of dry rose’… life in the winery is good!

 Come check out the harvest first hand. There are plenty of grapes still coming in, the leaves are starting to change color, and it’s an exciting time to visit. We’ll even let you taste the grapes! Call ahead to find out if we’re on the crush pad: 540-593-2865.

What a better way to spend a gorgeous summer weekend than visiting two of Asheville’s most popular attractions. Bele Chere, for those of you who don’t know, is an annual festival that covers over half of Asheville’s downtown blocks. And I doubt if anyone doesn’t know what the Biltmore Estate is!

My boyfriend, Dustyn, and I left home last Friday evening to start our mini-vacation. After spending a fun night on Friday hanging out with family we got up early Saturday and arrived at Bele Chere not long after it started.

My first stop, as promised, was to the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation tent. They were promoting the specialized BRP license plates as well as talking up the 75th Anniversary. They had temporary tattoos and stickers for the kids and raffles for the adults where you could enter to win door prizes like a 75th Anniversary serigraph.

After visiting with Lynne and Michelle for a bit we wandered on. There were already hundreds of people filling the streets and it wasn’t even noon yet! We stopped at a few vendor tents to check out some unique artwork and crafts. There was so much to choose from, you could find vendors selling jewelry, paintings, photography, clothing and even lawn ornaments!

We were with my boyfriend’s neice and nephew so of course we visited a few tents with fun things for kids. Their favorite was the booth we found for face painting. The things they could draw on people’s faces were amazing! His nephew choose a scary monster mask and his neice got a glittery butterfly. They got so many compliments on their faces as we walked through the festival.

Not being an Asheville native or resident I wasn’t familiar with the street layout and a map just seemed like too much trouble while on vacation so we just wandered up and down each street till we hit a dead end. Then we would turn around and go the other way. I think we ended up covering almost all of Bele Chere by the time we were done! The nice thing was most of the live music stages were set up at the ends of the main streets so we got to hear a couple neat bands and different genres of music.

After a few hours of walking in the hot sun it was definitely time for a break. A quick rest at our hotel room at the Brookstone Lodge and we were off to the Biltmore Estate. I had never been before but had heard stories about how awesome it was. Just pulling through the front gates was impressive! After a short trek from the parking area the woods opened up to reveal the most enormous house I had ever seen! I read somewhere that Biltmore is the largest privately-owned residence in the US and I believe it. It has 43 bathrooms! 

We toured the inside of the house and learned some of the history of it and the people that lived and visited there. They had so many authentic pieces from the time when the house was built including clothes that they would have worn and furniture they used.

The estate surrounding the house is just as impressive. We walked through the flower gardens and even hiked the trail all the way around the lake to the waterfall! We had a couple fun encounters with wildlife on our journey. A salamander on a rock stood perfectly still and let me take pictures of him as well as a little black snake in a tree. By the time we were done with the house and gardens we were too pooped to investigate the winery although I heard they have free wine tastings every day! I’ll have to save that for the next time I visit.

It was definitely hotter in Asheville than Boone so although I was glad to be back at my usual elevation on Sunday I was sad to see my mini-vacation end. I’m already planning for next year’s Bele Chere trip!

Here are some more photos from my vacation:

These conditions will take longer to disappear as spring approaches.  The now rock solid ice cannot be plowed with equipment.  As a park ranger I remember using a heavy sledge hammer in attempts to break ice that had formed across the road surfaces from water seeping from springs and melting snows.  This was ineffective and normally resulted in the road remaining impassable and my back being sore.

The slopes and aspect of mountain sides and road cuts also contribute to the slowing of thawing and melting.  That legendary location “where the sun don’t shine” can be found all along the Blue Ridge Parkway.  These constantly shaded areas are always the last to warm up enough to melt.

So even if you have a beautiful day at your house, do not be surprised if you visit the Blue Ridge Parkway and find sections still closed to traffic.  The road may not be safe for vehicle travel until there are several days of warm rain that will help break up the stubborn ice.

The reward for our patience promises to be a delayed but spectacular spring.  Trees, shrubs, and wildflowers of the Southern Appalachians are being well watered by the slow melting of natures white carpet.

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

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?”

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

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.

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.

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.

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.!

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.

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

(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!

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

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!