Biggs Cross Country 2017: Day 24

Day 24! We are halfway through out trip! Our advance plans have worked out perfectly, our daily routine is great, the VW is awesome and we're still speaking! We just passed the 5,000 mile mark!
The weather today is MUCH cooler - upper 60s to low 70s, but still very humid.

Today we left Asheville and immediately got on the Blue Ridge Parkway, heading north. We've been on this road many times over the years - its one of our favorite places. The Parkway runs 469 miles from Cherokee, NC to Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. In most places the road is great, it winds up and down along the ridge, with views first on the right to the east then on the left to the west. No trucks, 40-45mph. Its slow going with so many places to stop and check things out.

We were a bit late to see the Rhodies and Mtn Laurels in full bloom. In mid May its spectacular!

Our first stop was the new-since-we'd-been-here Visitor Center with lots of history displays. The Park was built by the WPA during the depression. A display explained that it was a boon to the new idea of "recreational driving"! Today the Parkway is managed by the National Park Service.

Next stop was the Southern Highlands Craft Guild's Folk Art Center. A large display of some really incredible handiwork by local artisans.

At Mount Mitchell State Park we drove to the summit - 6,684 feet - the highest mountain east of the Mississippi. Great views to the east, a cloud to the west. Interest story about Elisha Mitchell's efforts to measure the height back in the day. Not everyone agreed with him. Tragically, he died after falling off a waterfall while hiking by himself (there's a lesson there!)

The Museum of North Carolina Minerals told about the early days of mining for mica, gold and feldspar. Its all gone now.

It was late afternoon when we stopped at Linville Falls and took a nice one-hour easy hike to the falls.

We finally arrived at our hotel in Boone, NC by about 7:00; Dinner at the diner next door. Boone is the home of Appalachian State University. There are lots of new buildings and a fancy new stadium/arena complex. This town appears to be growing and bustling, even though it is in the middle of nowhere! Even though it seemed like we spent all day in the car, we only drove 110 miles!