We “Rock” at Hiking

We are back in full contact with the world and delighted about that. Traveling along the Blue Ridge Parkway has been an excellent adventure blessed with some of the most impressive scenery in our country. Helen (adorable wife) and I have been unable to drive by the majority of the overlooks without stopping to stare at the peaks as well as the valleys below. It is probably a good thing that cell and internet service is almost nonexistent up here; otherwise, too many of us might be tempted to stare at our devices instead of the beauty God gave us. Nevertheless, the lack of service does put a hold on blogging, although I’m not complaining.

After leaving our beautiful campsite in Newland, NC, Helen and I eased Gracey along the Parkway to Stone Mountain State Park near Roaring Gap, NC. Google Maps said this was a two-hour drive, but at the posted speed limit of 35 mph and a lot of stops at overlooks, we were on the road for nearly five hours. By then we were ready to get settled in our new home for the next four nights. The park attendant allowed us to drive through the campground to inspect our site, or to choose another one that we liked better. Helen always does the picking because she is pick-yyy! Helen chose a cozy campsite along a small creek. We couldn’t have done better. We still had great weather, so our windows remained open and, after a hot dog dinner, we crashed for the night.

The next morning we decided that it was time to try out Helen’s new knees and my new hip on one of the many hiking trails in the park. My hip was now seven weeks old and, while still a bit stiff, I felt comfortable enough to walk a short trail accompanied by a hiking pole for added safety. We took a path to the top of Stone Mountain Falls, a 1.2-mile hike roundtrip. According to the Park map, this is a moderate trail. Game on!

The trail had an abundant amount of wildflowers and ferns which made it very enjoyable.  We rose a bit in elevation, but otherwise, there was no difficulty reaching the waterfall. Helen made one stop at the remains of an old stone chimney before continuing. At the end of the trail, we met a couple who had hiked from the far end of the park and up the 255 steps from the base of the falls.  They looked worn out and suggested we not make the same hike. We agreed to take their advice.

We derived three benefits from this activity. First, the falls were beautiful although a better view was probably available from the base. Second, both of us felt fine after the hike and were ready to take a long walk the next day.  Third, we found that we had excellent cell service at the top of the falls, so we took the time to catch up on email and phone calls. I have to admit that I was a bit embarrassed in my delight at being connected, but that’s the world we live in now.

The day following, we were feeling a tad bit cocky about our hiking prowess. We decided to take a three-mile round trip hike, on a trail listed as moderate, to the base of the same waterfall from the trailhead near the campground.  One feature of this trail was a view of the massive stone cliff which gives the park its name, as well as a gentle creek that flowed from the waterfall along most of the trail. We were in the shade for almost the entire time, and the moist forest floor provided excellent conditions for ferns and shade-loving wildflowers. I confess that I have never been much of a hiker, but this trip was truly joyful, and I was more grateful than ever for the skill of my hip surgeon. After spending time taking a few pictures of the enhanced view at the base of the waterfall, we returned along the same trail.

Our time at Stone Mountain was restful and fun.  We were able to spend some time completing a few projects in Gracey like mounting some pictures and installing a new screen door handle, as well as reorganizing our storage compartments. We took one side trip that I have to share, however.  We visited Mayberry. Well, not Mayberry, but close enough to think so.

 

Mt. Airy, NC is the home of Andy Griffith and a forty-five-minute drive from our campground.  Everyone we met told us we had to go and, while there, eat at the Snappy Lunch, a small diner mentioned by Andy in his television show. Since food is one of the foundations of Easin’ Along, we were obligated to fulfill this mission. We were so excited; we didn’t eat breakfast that morning.

The town of Mt Airy is charming, and one does not have to look long to see its relationship to The Andy Griffith Show. You would think that the town was named Mayberry because almost every shop had some mention of a character from the show or the word Mayberry in its sign on the street. We found the Snappy Lunch next to Floyd’s Barber Shop (a real barbershop).

Helen and I sat at the lunch counter alongside a regular customer with a thick Carolina accent and an outgoing personality.  This gentleman let us know that we had to order the fried pork chop sandwich, the house specialty often mentioned by Andy Griffith on television. We were all in, and our cute young waitress had it out to us in a split second. The sandwich was as good as advertised. During lunch, we enjoyed looking at all of the Andy Griffith memorabilia on the walls. Some of it is visible in this picture of Helen chatting with her new best friend. After lunch, we walked Main Street and finished our visit by stopping in an excellent antique and consignment store where I found three souvenir thimbles to add to my growing collection. What a great way to cap off a fun day and a great stop on our Blue Ridge journey.

Next stop – Horseshoe Point Recreation Area, Henry, VA. Thanks for Easin’ Along!