Going to Pisgah Inn last Sunday

 A partly cloudy cool day in Black Mountain. What would it be like up on Pisgah Mountain, an elevation change of at least a thousand feet..maybe more.

We drove up the Blue Ridge Parkway which had a little color in the leaves as we left Asheville going south...but up in elevation! There were some good bright yellows, oranges and reds as we went along, and we decided where we'd like to stop on the way back, at an overlook which had pretty colors in the trees as we passed on the way to lunch.

We arrived within a quarter mile of the Pisgah Inn to find clouds had dropped to 20 feet off the ground. Sometimes there was mist on the windshield. But driving was clear on the road at least.

It may have been 43, but that cloud sure made it colder, and did I mention the wind?

We kind of rushed inside, and were a half hour before our reservation for 3, but there were just 2 of us, so that changed our status. Nobody said for better or worse! 

We had no intention of going out on the deck while waiting!

So we wandered between the gift shop and the waiting area looking into the dining room. Finally my name was called and we were led to a table for 4 by the window! Wow. I'd never expected that.

These were our views

But we kept hoping the sun might dry it out a bit by the time we were done eating.

We actually got a glimpse of the sky over the mountains for a while, and the little colorful trees below us on the side of the mountain.

I had the small beet salad and my friend had a hamburger. I forgot to take a photo of the French Silk Pie, which was good as always...and I inwardly bemoaned the increased price. But I brought home half the salad which I'll have for another meal.

We did step on the balcony to take a few photos, but it was really really cold, and just a bit windy. 

While I took the obligatory selfie, my friend declined the favor. Now there is no record of J. having been there with me.

My un-retouched photo as it came out of the iPhone.

I did capture the pretty yellows as we left the restaurant.

Yes, people are renting rooms here, who go on hikes as well as enjoy the food. We even passed the camp store on the way out...brr, can't imagine camping on a mountain in this weather!

We rushed to the car and hoped the cloud/fog was just on the peak, and we'd be able to stop and get some better leaf photos on the way down. (Yes we did.)

Just a reminder to all women over 45 years old...including us over 80.

And another sweet reminder of the season. The rest of my photos will follow soon - at least I added some in the headers!

Today's quote:

Wanting to meet an author because you like his work is like wanting to meet a duck because you like paté. -Margaret Atwood, novelist and poet (b. 18 Nov 1939)

So sayeth an author!

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.

Pisgah Inn lunch

 

My beet and greens and shaved fenugreek salad.

My friends each had a chicken pot pie

First bite of the French Silk Pie. This time I noticed the crust made me cough...it's just nuts.

We were enjoying after meal conversation when the waitperson asked us to leave because someone was waiting for our table. Just rude! But their paychecks depend upon as many meals served as possible. Still if we'd had coffee in front of us...

And a kind person let us have a shot of the three of us. I'm on the far right.

Today's quote:

"Happiness comes of the capacity to feel deeply, to enjoy simply, to think freely, to risk life, to be needed." (Margaret) Storm Jameson 

Enjoying Mount Pisgah

Some shots to share a mountain joy - 19 days apart!

 The view to the south does point to beautiful mountains. First trip April 10, 2019

 There's a rather abrupt drop-off, so we stayed on the path! Hope nobody brings little kids here unattended!

The changes in 19 days are to turn all these mountains green soon.

April 29, 2019.

April 10...

April 29

The lookout platforms behind us.

There's the hotel/inn behind me.

We loved these rocking chairs below the hotel and restaurant!  I got sunburned a bit!