Saturday in Black Mountain

Now what shall we do? 

Early morning we should hit the Tailgate Market (it's only open 9-12) and pick up fresh produce, fish, trinkets to give friends or keep, soaps, plants, yarns, coffee, baked goods, pies, cheese, meats...and of course Mud Buddies Pottery.  We've got new items out this week waiting to go to their forever homes.  Of course if it's raining hard, we may choose to stay home too.

By noon go to one of those wonderful small restaurants in town.  Now where to hike?

The Blueridge Parkway has lots of trails, (but you need to know where they are before hand) and there are some great ones right in Montreat.  Or if you are like me and prefer a walk that's more of a stroll on mostly level ground, ask about walking along the Swannanoa River...someone will know how to get to that trail.  A very short and easy trail is along Flat Creek in Montreat, just inside the stone gates, park in the first lot on your right as you go up into town.  It's also a trail head for several other trails...look on the sign for proper markers to follow. 

An hours drive from Black Mountain takes you to Mt. Mitchell, Spruce Pine, Bakersville, Brevard, Hendersonville etc.  Less than that and you can get to Asheville (20 min.) and Marion and Hickory.

But there are also lots of great little shops here in Black Mountain, as well as a couple of taverns where you might enjoy a cool local brew.  If you're with kiddies, there's the favorite ice cream shop, right across from the knitting store...just saying, every thing for a family!

OK, I'm in love with living here...can't you tell?  I want to share it with lots of people, but only if you're like me, supportive of local business, recycle, have green consciousness and won't litter on a trail, and of course use hand made pottery.

I'm reestablishing my "Quote of the Day" here.  It seemed of interest to a few people.

Travel ennobles the spirit and does away with our prejudices.  Oscar Wilde

 

Craft Show

This exhibit of all kinds of crafts is indoors and continues till Sun. afternoon.  It's at The Celular One Center (used to be called the Civic Center, which anyone will call it when you ask for directions).

Steve Lloyd made the pot on the program cover, and his wife Becky decorated it with scraffito.  Steve died suddenly this year.  His work is not exhibited in the show, unfortunately.

I saw some interesting crafts, and won't give any pictures.  HA, you say, what happened to Barb's camera or iPhone?  I just decided to talk to the crafs-people, and admire their handiwork...and not capture any of their inspirations other than in my heart.

I do have some strange sites to share that were outside the exhibition hall however.

An amazing old and well restored Cadillac Seville was parked in the garage a couple of cars down from mine.

 Looking northeast from the parking garage, you can see those rain clouds.

Due east, then southeast next...

Quote for today:

When the bridge is gone, the narrowest plank becomes precious.

Hungarian Proverb

Tailgators of Black Mountain: farmers

Cove Creeke Nursery/Farms of Old Fort.  Not only organic, but G.M.O. free.

June flowers - Art in Bloom 2

A plein air artist captured the garden for paintings to be displayed at the Center for the Arts

 Susan toured many visitors around her lovely "frog garden."  No live frogs!

Wherever there's a space, Susan created a little garden.  

 A nice white on white arrangement.

Cold Mountain, NC

Last night I was trying to watch the movie.  Yes, I read the book first.

I loved the scenery, which was in Romania rather than right here in Western North Carolina.  Something about lack of old growth forest.  Excuse me?  It's more likely that getting to it would have been difficult for film crews, not to mention finding places they could eat and sleep in comfort...that would have been a lot of people.  And the local folks in NC now get paid minimum wages for whatever they might do, usually.  There are lots of lovely places to stay, but not giving easy access to the forests.  Actually I think they would have had a negative effect on our environment, so I'm glad the filming was in Romania.

Photo by Ken Thomas, public domain

The struggles of the people in this area were felt in much the same way across the whole south during and after the Civil War.  It was very uncivil.

I did have trouble concentrating during the film.  When I saw it in a theater in 2003, I remember feeling it was much longer than it should have been.  It felt like a second Gone With the Wind attempt.

Romantic Asheville.com says:

Cold Mountain is located 35 miles from Asheville North Carolina. There is not an actual town of Cold Mountain. The mountain itself (elevation 6,030 feet) is part of the Shining Rock Wilderness area in Pisgah National Forest. Since Cold Mountain is in a national forest, it is still in its natural state (much as it was during the Civil War) and requires a strenuous 10-mile hike to reach its summit. However, you can enjoy beautiful views of the mountain from your car via the Blue Ridge Parkway or a shorter hike to the top of Mount Pisgah (see below).

SEEING AND HIKING TO COLD MOUNTAIN (Source: Romantic Asheville)

The easiest way to see Cold Mountain is from the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 412, about 30 miles from downtown Asheville. You can view the south side of Cold Mountain from an overlook near the U.S. Highway 276 exchange at Milepost 411.9. The views from the overlook are spotty with overgrown trees blocking most of the view. For the best view, go to the Wagon Gap Road Parking area at Milepost 412.2. Then walk north on the Parkway a short distance (see top photo). 

A more extensive view of Cold Mountain is enjoyed from the top of Mount Pisgah (5,700 feet), located at Milepost 407 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, 26 miles southwest of Asheville (read about the Mt. Pisgah hike). A 3-mile roundtrip hike takes you to the top for a grand view of Cold Mountain. The hike is a bit strenuous, but the view will be a nice reward.  Another extensive view via an easier hike (1.5 miles roundtrip) is from Fryingpan Mountain Lookout Tower.

The mountain is one of the Great Balsam Mountains which are a part of the Blue Ridge Mountains within the Appalachian Mountains.  It's height is 6,030 feet above sea level.

Town Centre Park - Part 2

An artificial hill in the middle creates a water feature

Tailgators of Black Mountain: Dynamite Coffee

A true tailgator, Dynamite Roasting has their locally roasted coffee for sale.  On cooler mornings this is where the first line forms. 

Tailgators of Black Mountain: Moonacre Soap

Scented fun soaps and lotions.

Tailgators of Black Mountain: Jewelry

Jewelry of all kinds...great gifts for yourself or another pretty lady.

Town Centre Park

There's plenty of parking on all sides, and this is looking toward the north on Montreat Rd as it crosses State St.

The restroom building is finished, and most of the landscaping is also.

More pictures will be coming along soon...