Ashe and Alleghany Counties in NC just look different from NC mountain counties farther south. Welcome to today's Travelogue which simply features some snapshots from the Blue Ridge Parkway through those areas.
Though it was mid-October on the calendar, the color was delayed due to the drought mostly, and warm temperatures secondly...
...the sunny and relatively clear skies still yielded beautiful vistas, if not a touch on the hazy side...
Most elevations ran in the 3,000 to 4,000 foot range through this area, which included Doughton State Park in Alleghany County...
Just looking at some of the mapped trails that descended the mountain side made my knees tremble and say "NO THANKS!" to any possibility of a little side hike...
The other nice sidelight was that it was a Monday, when tourist traffic, and traffic in general, was significantly reduced on the popular roadway...
At the restaurant and gift store at Doughton State Park was this stately Sugar Maple below, which beckoned to be walked around and photographed...
...it's always worthwhile simply to get in close and revel in the colored shadows cast by the sun shining through the golden boughs...
In general, the color simply wasn't there, overall, save the above maple...but with million dollar views, who was caring? The lazy drive alone was worth it...
"I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes."
~ e.e. cummings
Though it was mid-October on the calendar, the color was delayed due to the drought mostly, and warm temperatures secondly...
...the sunny and relatively clear skies still yielded beautiful vistas, if not a touch on the hazy side...
Most elevations ran in the 3,000 to 4,000 foot range through this area, which included Doughton State Park in Alleghany County...
Just looking at some of the mapped trails that descended the mountain side made my knees tremble and say "NO THANKS!" to any possibility of a little side hike...
The other nice sidelight was that it was a Monday, when tourist traffic, and traffic in general, was significantly reduced on the popular roadway...
At the restaurant and gift store at Doughton State Park was this stately Sugar Maple below, which beckoned to be walked around and photographed...
...it's always worthwhile simply to get in close and revel in the colored shadows cast by the sun shining through the golden boughs...
In general, the color simply wasn't there, overall, save the above maple...but with million dollar views, who was caring? The lazy drive alone was worth it...
"I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes."
~ e.e. cummings
No comments:
Post a Comment