Leaves on the trail at Elk Knob State Park
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Leaves on the trail at Elk Knob State Park |
During our all too short North Carolina vacation in the second half of October, 2015, we decided to take a weekend trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains with David and Amelia. Up to a couple of days before we were due to leave, we considered canceling the excursion as the weather forecast called for nothing but rain. As it turned out, we got no rain at all, but when we reached the Blue Ridge Parkway, we were met by very dense fog. Amelia drove us through the pea soup safely and expertly, and by the time we arrived in Blowing Rock, visibility had improved a little bit. I started taking pictures of trees behind the Village Inn while David chose a different subject.
After a tasty and copious lunch in Blowing Rock, Amelia drove us to the Moses H. Cone Memorial Park. We walked through lovely woods down to Bass Lake; even though the weather was still nothing to write home about, the fog had started to lift. After we got to the lake, David and Amelia suggested that they go back up to get the car to give us a chance to walk around the lake, an offer we gratefully accepted. When we got back to Blowing Rock, no one was very hungry, so we stopped at a local supermarket and bought a bottle of wine and some nibbles we could all have in the Village Inn community room which, as it turned out, we had all to ourselves.
The next day, we went to Elk Knob State Park in Todd, had lunch in Boone, and stopped at Thunder Hill Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Unlike the day before, we could actually see something and enjoy the view. That evening, Amelia got us back to Chapel Hill in plenty of time to start looking at some of our photographs, many of which are posted on this page. We had a wonderful time!
Click on any image to see a larger (2100 x 1400 pixel) version!
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The little brook behind the Village Inn of Blowing Rock |
View from our hotel |
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Mostly red with a little yellow |
Mostly yellow with a little red |
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On the hotel terrace |
The pond in front of the Village Inn in the fog |
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One can buy French antiques in Blowing Rock! |
The Martin House features High Country Candles |
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Blowing Rock City Park in the fog |
The fog is muting the colors |
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Arriving at the Moses H. Cone Memorial Park |
The Moses Cone Manor |
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Even though the fog is still pretty dense... |
...one can see the colorful leaves. |
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Walking down to Bass Lake |
Walking down to Bass Lake |
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Every once in a while, one is treated to color bursts |
We covered the last short bit by walking down the access road |
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We have arrived at the lake |
Horseback riding is allowed on most trails |
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The walk around the lake is just under one mile |
The Moses Cone Manor seen from the lake |
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Even on this overcast day the fall colors are lovely |
Some trees are completely barren already |
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On the other side of the lake |
Some leaves are still hanging on... |
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At the Elk Knob State Park |
Most of the leaves are on the ground already |
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Some color can still be found |
After climbing for one mile, we reached an observation point |
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Heading back down |
The trails are very nicely maintained |
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The Blue Ridge Parkway |
The view to the north |
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The view to the south |
A closer look |
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A variety of colors |
The photos on this page were taken on October 24 and 25, 2015.
They and a few other images may also be viewed in a gallery.
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