Waynesville NC - last 2 weeks May

Another ride 

Onto the Blue Ridge Parkway 

A stop at the Cradle of Forestry Overlook 

The through several tunnels 

To our destination - Mt. Mitchell 

But first a stop for lunch 

Then a short but uphill climb up to the observation tower

At 6,684 feet it's the highest peak East of the Mississippi.

We pick up the guys who stopped 1/2 way up.

Then head home

We had a great fish fry at the local VFW

Spring is in the air everywhere

Another perfect day for another ride

1st stop Fontana Dam

Then our final destination, the popular Tail of the Dragon ride.

This ride has 318 curves in 11 miles and passes into Tennessee 

It is bordered by the Great Smoky Mountains and the Cherokee National Forest.  There are  intersecting roads or driveways to slow down your travel. 

However repaving projects can slow you down

We loved the Dragon!

 My good friend Laura from Rochester came with her husband and daughter to visit and camped right behind us.

We took them for a walk around Lake Junaluska 

And introduced Elizabeth to Bushy the dog.

.

And we helped her knock Mt. Mitchell of her list of State Highest Peaks

Elisha Mitchell, Scientist and professor, died in attempt to prove this mountain highest in eastern U.S.   In November 1835, Mitchell announced that a peak in the Black Mountains was the highest in the eastern United States, which would exceed that of Mt. Washington in NH. He estimated its height at 6,672 feet, only twelve feet short of the present official height of 6,684 feet.  

In the 1850s Thomas L. Clingman, a former student of Mitchell's, called into question the accuracy of the earlier observations and measurements. He believed a nearby peak, now known as Clingmans Dome, was higher.

In an attempt to prove his measurements correct, he embarked on a hike up Mount Mitchell. However, his hike proved fatal “when he slipped and fell from cliff near a 40-foot waterfall, hitting his head and drowning”.  He is buried next to the observation tower.

A lot of fun! And Summer isn't even here yet!