We started out at 630 am. This being the first week of daylight saving, it was still dark. We hit I-85 in a new white Hyundai Elantra. We’d taken with us music cds and they were on at full blast.
You know, there is this thing about traveling in the mornings in India. There's something about the cool, chill, crisp air as it plays upon my face that gives me a high. But one can't really keep windows open when traveling on freeways in this country. For one thing, the noise of the wind would be deafening; moreover at this time of the year, it would be freezing.So I have to be content with letting the cool, chill, crisp air-conditioned air play on my face !
Blue ridge parkway, by the way, is a 500 mile long scenic stretch of asphalt that stretches across 3 US states (I think). It is not a freeway. In fact, it is just a 2 lane road with 45mph as its maximum speed.
I did some research before starting out. I knew that fall would be the ideal time to travel on it. But I'll not be here till fall. So March, it has to be. I discovered that Ashville would be my closest access point to the parkway. Ashville is around 2 hours from Charlotte.
Well anyway, back to our drive. We stopped at a McD outlet for our breakfast at around 830 am. After a refreshing meal of pancakes and the inevitable cup of coffee, we set out again. Reached Asheville at around 10ish.
We walked into an information center to find out how to get onto the parkway. Information centers in this nation are totally cool. The staff is always so friendly and so helpful; always a joke ready ! Why can't we replicate such things in India? You never get the feeling that they are doing us a favour by giving out information. On the contrary, you get the feeling that you are doing them a favour by taking time out to visit the place. Amazing !
We came out of the information center with a cartload of brochures and maps. They recommended to us a Folk Art center some 5 miles away to start our drive with. Not surprisingly, their directions to it proved to be accurate.
The folk art center turned out to be a Khadi emporium kind of a place with exhibitions of artifacts and pottery. In fact there was a potter at the place actually making pots. It was simply fascinating to watch. As i was going around the place, i happened to see a notice that appeared to say that the Blue Ridge parkway was closed because of bad weather. Immediately concerned, i make enquiries. Sure enough, I was told that the road was closed 8 miles up north and 38 miles down south. That was certainly a blow.
Anyway, there was nothing much to be done but head south to drive till we reached the barricade. The Blue Ridge parkway is along the Appalachian mountain ranges. The road itself was a narrow winding road. As we climbed, I could feel the familiar 'pop' in my ear. We were really climbing ! The views all along the route were something ! Of course we constantly reminded ourselves that this was nowhere near its best. Fall was the season to be doing this drive in !There were a lot of tunnels along the way. We could see streams and rivers all along the way amidst thick vegetation. This country is certainly blessed with abundant natural beauty !
We made a lot of stops along the way to take photos.It took us almost 90 minutes to cover the 30 miles. (On freeways, it would take around 20-25 minutes. Just gives an idea how leisurely we were driving). It took us a little less time to come back.
Having come back to Asheville, we headed back home. We stopped at a Burger King to have lunch. we reached home at around 5 in the evening.
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