The Fifth Day - Price Lake

Originally I had planned on staying at the campsites that were part of the Parkway system. This was the first time where I came to a camping area around the time I wanted to stop for the day.

The campground at Price Lake was large and was split into 3 different sections, or loops, if I recall. Two of the loops were set on the far side of the Parkway from the lake. Driving through, I could have had my choice of campsites and could have been there all by myself. Or I could choose one of the few remaining sites by the lake. Although I really wanted the solitude, I opted for the lake view. A couple of minutes after I registered, the last waterfront site, the one next to mine, was filled.



Price Lake as it appeared when I arrived. Rainfall seemed likely.



After setting up camp, I decided to take a walk around the lake. This is roughly where the first picture was taken as I walked along the path.



Getting ready to head away from the road.



A small beaver dam along the trail.



The sun finally makes an appearance.



Looking over Price Lake towards camp.



Camp Sweet Camp.

The Fifth Day - Moses H. Cone Memorial Park

Moses H. Cone Memorial Park is the estate of Moses Cone. On his 3600 acres he had 75 varieties of apples in his orchards and constructed 25 miles of roadways. The park looked very nice. It was getting late and I still didn't know where I was going to spend the night and it looked like the weather was ready to turn rainy again so I didn't do much more than take a cursory look.

The old house is now a craft shop. The upstairs was off limits. While I was there, the front steps were being painted. The house is 13,000 square feet and is called Flat Top Manor. The carriage house has some carriage equipment and a cider press, I think.

Unfortunately, the few pics I took looking from the front of the home are of pretty poor quality so I have nothing to show you of the view from the home.

Approaching the side of the house.





The Carriage House.








Flat Top Manor

The roadway in front of the home.

The Fifth Day - Mount Jefferson

Mount Jefferson stands over the town of Jefferson. Runaway slaves are reported to have hidden out on the mountain on their trek north. The mountain is now a State Park.

Signs like this are at many of the stops letting you know elevations of where you are and what you're looking at.



Mount Jefferson.

The Fifth Day

I pulled in at this roadside stop and climbed the hill. There was an airplane flying very low when I pulled in, but by the time I'd gotten to the top, it had moved off.




Looking back down the hill towards the parking lot.


Looking back the way I came. The Parkway is visible on the hillside.





What you can't tell is how strong the wind was here. The photos don't capture it well, but the tall grass was waving in the wind.

The Fifth Day - Along the Blue Ridge

These are some random photos along the way





I believe that this was a picnic area. It was fairly sizable and looked very nice. I didn't stop and look to look around, I just drove through.





Stairs leading down the hill.


Overlooking the Blue Ridge.

The Fifth Day - Basin Creek Cove

A short ways down the Parkway, I came to Basin Creek Cove. At first, I just viewed it as another pulloff. There was an informational sign, but then I saw a couple standing on the wall separating the sidewalk from the side of the mountain. I climbed up on it and was able to see what the informational sign was talking about.



Basin Creek Cove



The Parkway snaking through the mountains.





In 1916 prolonged rain caused the hillsides to let go. Several homes were destroyed and three people were killed. The community of Basin Cove never recovered. The home, 1500 feet below, is one of the few buildings that survived the storm.



The sun shines on Basin Creek Cove.



Looking right from the overlook.

The Fifth Day - A Mountain Home

Many of the roadside stops have examples of mountain life and the kind of places that people would live. This one was called "A Mountain Home."

This is the homestead as seen as you approach. Unfortnately, the sun reflecting off the wood shingles caused the rest of the image to be under exposed. I should have realized this earlier, but I couldn't see the camera screen well in the light and this was the first day where the weather was really nice.



From behind the house. The house was built on the side of the hill, as many are in this area.



I don't recall what the light colored building to the left of the house is.


I am standing next to the homes refrigerator. A small spring bubbles up and keeps the building cool. This is where they stored things to keep them cool. I did not get a picture of the springhouse itself, but I thought about its location and what people today would think of having to walk down the hill to get their milk.

The Fifth Day

I got off to a good start the next day. The sun was out and the weather was beautiful.



Crossing the border between Virginia and North Carolina.




This looked like the oldest roadside sign along the route.




Along the Blue Ridge.




This is one of the mile markers you find along the road.




Along the Blue Ridge.

The Fifth Day - Puckett Cabin and surrounding area

The fifth day dawned nice and clear.


What you can't tell here is how hard the wind was blowing and just how cold it really was. I didn't spend too much time outside the car for this photo.




This is the Puckett homestead. None of Mrs. Puckett's 24 children survived infancy. In her 50s she began being a midwife and delivered over 1000 babies, the last being in 1939 at the age of 102. She died later that year. At the homestead the informational sign bears a picture of her with the last child she delivered.




The Cabin Mrs. Puckett lived in the later part of her life.




The only other building on the homestead.




Driving along, I came across this church. I don't know the denomination.

The Fourth Day - Mabry Mill Area

I stopped at an area just south of Mabry Mill called Meadows of Dan. I stayed at a private campground. The campground had cabins, areas for RVs, campers and tents. I was the only one in the tent area, which was down in a little hill and sort of separated from the rest of the campground. A few camper sites were at the top of the hill above my site, but it wasn't too bad.


I saw this truck at my first stop on the Parkway and saw it off and on almost every day. I figured I was putzing around quite a bit and was surprised that I kept seeing this because I figured most people would have been blowing by me.



The entrance to the campground I stayed at.




The sign for the town of Meadows of Dan which seemed to consist of a couple of gas stations/tourist gift shops.




Camp.