Black Mountain Departure

Fall comes to Black Mountain, NC

 During our final two weeks in Black Mountain, we drove north to Damascus, VA for a couple of days so we could experience our 4th trip down the Virginia Creeper Trail.  Though the trail is lovely at any time of year, the orange, crimson, and golden foliage of the Fall is splendid.  Stops for fishing were unsuccessful but nonetheless, they were a great way to break up the ride.

After our return to NC, we explored the nearby community of Old Fort.  The tiny town offers little, but we enjoyed our visit to the Mountain Gateway Museum.  It consists of the Stepp cabin built in the 1860s and 70s and the Morgan cabin built in the 1880s.  Both were moved to their current location in the 1970s and became part of the Museum.  Permanent exhibits cover a range from the history of the Appalachian culture including folk medicine, moonshining, agriculture, and crafts.  Following a picnic lunch along the riverfront next to the cabins, we headed back toward Black Mountain and stopped for a hike up to Catawba Falls.

Fishing and painting along the Broad River near Bat Cave rounded out the rest of the week.  The Asheville Lyric Opera produced a free, public event at Pack Square Park our final weekend with selections for the program drawn from The Barber of Seville.  The area has offered a wonderful diversity of cultural amenities along with the best of mother nature.

Finally headed back home, we stopped a couple days in Brevard, NC.  A bike trip through the Pisgah Forest along the Davidson River provided the opportunity to enjoy more of the fall foliage.  The following day, as I walked around the Cradle of the Forestry, Alan completed a plein air painting of one of the cabins.

What a change we have experienced over the past week as we made the drive south from North Carolina to Florida.  With highs in the mid-60's in NC, we transitioned into the mid to high 80's in Florida.  We've gotten spoiled. 

Between South America, Mexico, New Mexico, Maine, and North Carolina, we have only been home about 2 months this year, so we have missed our friends, our home, and our bed.  It's good to be back home.

Biking in Pisgah Forest near Brevard, NC -- 14-mile round trip

At Cradle of the Forestry

Alan completing a watercolor at the Cradle of Forest, Pisgah Forest

Davidson River along our bike trail in Pisgah Forest

Beginning of leaves changing in Pisgah Forest

Along the Broad River near Bat Cave, NC

Fishing along the Broad River

Alan painting along the Broad River

At Old Fort, NC

Cairn marking the trail on our walk to Catawba Falls

Catawba Falls

Along the Virginia Creeper Trail

Hikers on the Appalachian/Creeper Trail. 

Along the Creeper Trail

Asheville Lyric Opera at Pack Square Park