Asheville, NC

Oct 20-27, 2010 - This week we started by checking out the Biltmore Estate:

Couldn't take any pictures inside but it was very impressive.  We walked the gardens which were meticulously maintained:



Another day we drove about 80 miles north on the Blue Ridge Pkwy from Asheville.  Again the scenery all along the way was beautiful:

As we got to high altitude, you could see the tree lines where there were mostly no leafs on the trees:

We stopped at Craggy Gardens to stretch our legs and take a few pics (including one of the many tunnels we passed through today):

We continued to work our way to Mt Mitchell - more beautiful scenery along the way:

And this day I learned that Mt Washington wasn't the highest point east of the Rockies, Mt Mitchell is:

The road to and from leaves little room for error . . .

From Mt Mitchell we made our way up the Pkwy toward Grandfather Mtn. - stopped to do a quick hike up Linville Falls:

Grandfather Mtn was a very steep climb but worth it for the views:

The Mile High "Swinging" bridge joins peaks over at the top.  It was swinging in the winds the day we were there:

You have to watch your step up here, one step backwards and you'll be taking the quick way down . . .

Did we mention our little friends we saw while hiking Grandfather Mtn?:

We took it easy another day and just biked the bike path that runs through the camp ground and along the river for a ways.  Another day we drove to Chimney Rock where we hiked up to the top.  On the way up, we detoured to hike to Hickory Nut Falls (very dry fall here so little water flowing):

From the top of Chimney Rock, the view of Lake Lure:



 and the town of Chimney Rock (cool little downtown to walk too):

Then back to camp to watch the Pats whoop up on the Chargers!!! OK, maybe not whoop-up but a win is a win!  One of the last afternoons here, I noticed our neighbors doing a dance with a Miami Dolphins helmet on . . . made no sense as the Steelers just stole the game from them . . . so I asked.  Turns out it was just a feel good, happy dance (in costume).  Chi'd-up! Jimi & good friend Tony (Toe-knee) pictured and straggler G-man Jay (who had already departed for his next mission) . . . Great guys, interesting stories, check out the new business venture Chi-Up!  at http://www.chiup.org/   Buy a shirt and Chi Up!  Thanks for the laughs guys!