Adventures in Camping....part 2

In an effort to get some camping in before the cool weather hits, we wanted to go out this past weekend for a Friday and Saturday night camping trip. On Friday am it was raining so we had to decide - go or stay?

We decided to go, packed up the trailer -which was pretty easy since most everything is already there, hitched the truck and waited for hannah to get home from school. We were on the road by 4pm and heading to Julian Price Park, a National Park right on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

On the way up the mountain, just as we hit 2 lane mountain roads, the skies opened up and it started to pour. Sheets of rain. Uh-oh, did we make a mistake?

But we drove thru the rain and came out on the ridge top to clear skies, clouds clustered in valleys and GORGEOUS fall colors. Really, they were probably as pretty as I have seen them in years.

We got to camp and set up. We did learn that we need to make faster decisions on what site, where to park etc... because it was dark quickly and there was still things to do. like make beds and cook dinner and get water

The next day we enjoyed cool, almost chilly weather, with a strong breeze. We walked the park, scoping out future sites and went down to the lake to check it out. Here is our camp:



Then we drove up the parkway to see the colors. The parkway was mobbed - at every overlook and bridge there were lines of cars on the side of the road. We went on down - our goal was a 30 minute hike to overlook grandfather mtn. When we got there, the parking lot was only half full. I guess the spots you pull over at are popular but if you have to get out and walk then no one does it.

The hike was nice and the views spectacular. The rock was called flat top and the winds and water did fun things to it.

From there we drove back down the parkway to Moses Cone Park. Here there is an old house with a craft center and 25 miles of old carriage roads for hiking and horseback riding. We would like to return and hike to the tower at some point.

The next day, Sunday, we packed up but before we left, we went back to the lake so Hannah could do a little fishing. Sunday was so nice, warmer and much less wind.

All in all, a short but very nice trip. And I am glad we did not miss all the fall colors!