It's a wrap -- eight years later!

This two-week October vacation into the Blue Ridge Mountains took place in 2006, before I began blogging, but I wanted to record it on our blog site.  We lived in Tallahassee, FL at the time, didn't own a motor home yet, and Jimmy was still working!  I kept notes on our vacations, perhaps to bring back warm memories in our old age.  In the next few posts, I'll condense our wonderful two weeks Out and About.  Click here to see the two-week chronicle. (Or click on 2006 on the left side of your screen.)  It's full of wonderful bike trails, fun and interesting places to visit, and a tidbit about Florida.... 

Into Virginia ... Oct 10th, 2006

Tuesday, 10/10 – It's no surprise to us that we slept ten straight hours over-nite, following our Greenbrier River bike ride yesterday -- we needed it! This morning we drove the short hop from Lewisburg WV to Roanoke/Salem, VA, on winding roads amid autumn colors, a mighty pretty October drive. In Salem, we hooked up with a Holiday Inn Express for the nite.

We stopped at the Roanoke Visitor Center first, ate Cuban food at the food mart, and then walked to the nearby Virginia Museum of Transportation, where we wandered for two-plus hours, beginning with the model railroad above. So much to see here -- we walked all over the yard, climbed aboard full sized trains, sat in massive locomotive seats, cabooses, and so forth. This museum's collection includes approx 2,500 transportation objects. It's a great place to visit, lots of fun, with much history represented. We recommend! We took lots of pictures, and even bought our condo a present.

My engineer! 

Imagine the power!

When we left the museum, we returned to the Holiday Inn Express and washed our grungy bike clothes (from the past couple of days), whether they needed it or not (haha). At the front desk we asked, "Where's a good place to eat dinner," and we were told about Mac and Bobs in Salem. They had it right on – we had a superb dinner. In bed early, and had a restful sleep.

GSMR! Oct 11/12, 2006

(Remember, we had no RV in 2006.)

Wednesday, 10/11 – From Roanoke, we made a decision to head south today, still in the mountains, toward NC and the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad (GSMR) in Bryson City. Drizzling gray skies turned into rain by Bristol, TN. Having the laptop computer and cell phones have proved very beneficial for us, as we could check weather, find things to do and places to stay online, and call for “price and availability.”

We stayed at Ridgetop Motel in Bryson City, up a winding road, with a fine view of the Blue Ridge Mtns. Our room is kind of sparse, but so is the price. Still, it’s clean and adequate; bed is comfy. Made reservations for the train from Bryson City along the Nantahala Gorge, departing @ 9 AM tomorrow – despite predictions of MORE RAIN. We walked around Bryson City this evening, peeking in a few shops, and ate a fine Italian dinner. The antipasto we ordered was so generous, that we had much of it boxed up to add to tomorrow’s lunch. Rain falling at dusk chased us back to our room, where we snuggled under the covers to watch an old (1948) weird movie, “Naked City.” Tis very quiet here. Slept well.

Thursday, 10/12 – Made it to the RR station by 8:15 on this crystal clear morning; we could see forever from our motel, across verdant valleys and hazy blue mountains. No clouds, no rain, no fog… the sun came up bright and blinding! (If we listened to every weather forecast, we’d just stay home!)

Ready to roll at Bryson City!

Our train was long and we were in the last car (closed coach – chilly jacket weather in the mornings and evenings). With a few final blasts of the train whistle, we chugged off on a delightful 4½-hour excursion, carrying us 44 miles along the Nantahala Gorge and back.

We traveled the Little Tennessee and Nantahala Rivers, across Fontana Lake, with a one-hour layover at Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) for our picnic lunch. What an enjoyable ride! Fall colors were marvelous. Nantahala is a rip-roaring boulder-strewn, narrow river, foaming with rapids – very picturesque, but not something I’d want to be on or in; plus, the water is cold!

At NOC, the engine detached, reversed, and then reattached to our car, so we were now the lead car. We watched the process (photographed it!), and then hiked to a flat area of river rock for our fine lunch. (Maybe by the time we get home we’ll be tired of PBnJ?) Very lovely area. After five blasts of the whistle, we departed for Bryson City. Everything looked different on our return trip, and we sat spellbound. At the gift shop, we bought our condo another present, not something we usually do.

After the train ride, we drove to Fontana Dam (conductor’s recommendation) and walked around, across the dam. At 480' it's the tallest dam east of the Rocky Mountains! Awesome to look down.

We spent another night at Ridgetop. Asking about good places to eat, we were directed to Rilea’s, behind NOC (shorter distance by car), where we had really outstanding fresh trout dinners. We have made terrific choices this trip. Back in our room, we watched a bit of TV again before we turned out the light. Tired. But, oh so happy.