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Autumn in the Blue Ridge Mountains

 This weekend turned out to be a glorious wonder to take the country road to the Blue Ridge mountains.  



Americas majesty on the east coast these wonderful peaks are part of the larger Appalachian mountain range that runs from Georgia all the way up to Maine.

The walking trail in these ranges is eponymously called the Appalachian Trail or AT for short.  While we did not get close to the trail we were in for a treat as the fall colors in the maples, oaks and spruce trees were getting started this first week of October.

Our original intent was to visit the tallest eminence on the eastern seaboard called Mount Mitchell at about 6,600 feet but we fell short of it.  The actual drive to the park where the summit is located was closed by the park rangers due to dense fog.

No matter.  The entire episode of driving in the Blue Ridge mountains north of Marion, NC up to about 5,800 feet was spectacular to say the least.  Below are some of the vistas.



Highway colors


Lookout to see Mt Mitchell which was shrouded in fog




Through the tunnels we go

We then continued our journey due east to visit one of nature's yet another creations in the form of a waterfall.  This named for a once explorer Mr. Linville it was roaring after the recent rains.







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