Louise/Helen and Thelma/Barb (6)

 

Ice oozing from cliff faces...making the mountain a bit smaller every winter, as it breaks off boulders.

The greenery above is Rhododendrons, which stay green throughout the winter. They have even set their buds already waiting for spring.

We were glad to find a safe spot to pull off the roadway so I could take pictures. This is the last of our day trip photos. Thanks for coming along with us!

And they actually took a selfie for the movie! Just love the way it was done in 1991...yay poloroids!

I've been calling Helen Thelma, but since I'm taller than she is, and Geena Davis is taller than Susan Sarandon...we've got to switch. 

Betty White said:

“Everybody needs a passion. That’s what keeps life interesting. If you live without passion, you can go through life without leaving any footprints.”

Helen and Barb and the bear hunters (5)

 Then we stopped at an overlook, just to check the elevation...only to find these huge trucks.

There were five of these big pickups, with these dog cages on their backs, and the very large men inside in boots and coveralls. I know because blue pickup guy had his leg sticking out the door which he closed when we parked.

So I know bear hunting season is in session. But at least they had no dogs...no barking at all. And Helen peeked into one of the carriers and said they were empty. From what I have heard, bear hunting is illegal on the Parkway or in State Parks, but only legal on private land with permission. With all these woods around us, I'm sure some would offer lots of places to go. 

But these weren't ATV's...just regular big pickups...so I thought, they must have hiked in from these vehicles and then back, thus half these guys had been asleep when we drove up, and then they started talking on walkie-talkies while I walked over the this sign. We also didn't see any guns.

Another hint of bear season...this was Bear Pen Gap Overlook, elev. 5560.

But there wasn't a view on either side of the overlook...just the tops of evergreen trees.

Perhaps these guys had been out at dawn hunting...and were thus tired. Several of them left before we did.

Betty White said:

 “I may be a senior, but so what? I’m still hot.”
—From her “I’m Still Hot” music video.

Thelma and Louise, aka Helen and Barb (4)

 I don't want to bore you with my many photos of trees in various colors.

And I was surprised to see that some of my photos through Helen's windshield came out ok...or maybe you can see the streaks and bugs and I just can't.

A nice older sign showing some trail information.

I must admit (with gratitude) that I love taking photos while Helen does the driving. If I am, it means stopping and getting out for each photo. But as you can see, I'm sharing the windshield shots also, which of course aren't like other's calendar worthy ones!

It's all part of the adventure!

Another person of adventure, Betty White, said:

"“My answer to anything under the sun, like ‘What have you not done in the business that you’ve always wanted to do?’ is ‘Robert Redford’.” The Insider

Helen and Barb (3)

Highest elevation is at Richland Balsam Overlook, which was mobbed with cars and motorcycles. Elevation was 6053, at Mile marker 431.4 

North facing cliff face. Don't miss the two people at the base of the cliff. Blue Ridge Parkway, near it's highest elevation. (This was the second wall of ice we saw, so I'll post the other one in a few days!)

Helen bravely pulled off on the grassy shoulder of the road, and this was the view from that side.

Looking north toward Canton, or maybe Waynesville...but that tiny lake isn't Lake Juneleska. Somewhere in that direction is Cold Mountain.

All the colorful leaves were at lower elevations. 

Thelma and Louise meet Helen and Barb! (2)

 We had a great time going wherever we pleased, and since we brought our lunches, we were able to eat at our leisure! No being tied down to finding restaurants!

Visibility was for miles, but there was a definitely haze. The Pisgah Inn is at 4925 feet.

At the rocking chair overlook, just below the Pisgah Inn and Restaurant, there were many people with dogs. And one couple was sipping a nice red wine in wine glasses...perhaps from the restaurant, or maybe they brought it! Helen thought up the idea of just eating our lunch there, even though we had brought lawn chairs along in case we had stopped at a stupendous overlook where we wished to eat.

All that spontaneity was fun, and challenging. We'd drive up to an overlook, and Helen would say, do you want to stop? We did stop more often than many times past, because this was our first trip on this strip of the Parkway. So we'd stop either for the view, or to see the elevation there.

Sharing with The Good The Random The Fun.

Thelma and Louise, meet Helen and Barb!

 

Helen and Barb - adventuring on the Blue Ridge Parkway

We left Asheville and headed south on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Peek color was there especially on lower elevations. It had passed on higher ones, and indeed the deciduous trees were bare of any leaves.

But the Parkway goes up and down to follow ridges and connect to good trails. 

Many of the natural forests are oaks, which just turn a delightful brown rather than bright colors.

A bit of red from something not an oak! (Maybe some maple, and perhaps sourwood.) This overlook was to look behind us, rather than through the trees.  I preferred the trees. Sleepy Gap Overlook, eleva. 2930, Crest of Pisgah Ridge. The ridge was really evident as the Parkway followed it along for miles, with our being able to look down into valleys on either side often.