2010 trip - Grandfather Mt, NC

It's a gorgeous day in September, 2010.

We are off to Grandfather Mountain, 19 miles from Boone, NC.

Do hope you have time to join today.

Off we go........

Due to the number of photos am deliberately keeping them small
Please click to enlarge all photos

 On the road below Grandfather Mountain.

That is the mile high suspension bridge you see on the top of the picture.

I did not want to cross it alone despite wanting to get the photos from it!

I hope you can see the layers of the mountains through the fog.

I have hundreds of photo from this day.

None of them capture the awe of those Blue Ridge Mts. up close and personal.

How Great Thou Art!

This may be easier to see the layers, please click to enlarge, so woth it!

If you look to the far right of the screen, between the dark green and lighter green you

can see the road below that we were coming up.

Think it shows better when enlarged.

This one does show the road below better.

You know me, just had to take the wildflowers on top of the mountain

looking down and across the Blue Ridge.

Again, please enlarge.  Even then, you really have to be standing there!

Ok, now we are officially at Grandfather Mountain.

The mountain was named because the peaks and crests naturally resemble

an old man in different position.

Ironically, I did not even know this so I was never looking for "him", lol

Went back over all the pictures and did not capture anything looking like an "old man".

We have been to Sedona, Az and the red rocks have names because they resemble

"teapots, snoopy, Lucy, etc"

Those I could make out and do have pictures I will share in a future blog.

Like, Sedona, being able to see a certain formation depends a lot on the direction in which

you are facing the mountain.

First "official" grandfather mountain photo once we were through the entrance.

So love the texture of the craggy rocks against the flowers.

This is a particular favorite of mine of the otter environmental habitat.

I knew he was doing this just because I was taking his picture.

The environmental habitats allow guests to get up close and personal to the

animals in their natural environments.

We spent a good portion of the day at all of these habitats.

Animals are such fun to watch.

There were three or four otters, but this has to be my favorite picture!

This one obviously is not vain at all!

Mr. black bear had zero interest in having me take his picture!

He must have been a "sensitive" bear and was having one of "those days".

We stayed here a long time thinking we could "wait him out" until he wanted to play.

Never happened.....so we moved on to the awesome cougars.

Yes, I have cougar photos, but first a break to take some wildflowers......

Also leaves.

These were a canopy of leaves over the viewing area in front of the cougars.

We were early to see color and this tree was the only bright foliage color we saw.

Of course, I have 25 pictures of one tree!

What can I say folks, I am a Yankee, born in September and foliage season is my thing!

(by the way, just have to share this and will share it more on Thursday when I join

Dayle at Simple Pleasure.  I actually saw a tree here in Florida that had red leaves today,

so join me here again on Thursday to see!)

There were two cougars in the habitat.  Mostly they ignored each other.

Until this shot. They were playing. Rough play!

Please make sure you enlarge this one to see a closer view of the face.

I love the courgar......in their habitats here.

Would I like to see one in the wild?  No way.

Each of the habitats tugged at my heart. Like nature, I like most animals.

Bugs, crawly things, not!

To pick which was my favorite habitat is like asking me to pick between

oranges, bananas, grapes......I like them all.

However......the white tail deer gave both of us such smiles.

The gentleness of these animals is hard to resist.

Especially after the fierceness of the courgars.

Ok, have to admit something here.

If you enlarge this picture it will be easier to see what I am referring to.

Way over in the left side, almost out of the frame is a wildflower.

Being me.....loving the wildflowers as I do, I had to stay about an hour and watch

to see if they nibbled that beautiful flower.

You can see the wildflower better between them in this one.

See this one looking at it!

I am happy to report that at least while we were there the wildflower lived to see another day.

Don't have a clue if they ever nibbled wildflowers to begin with.

Just being caught up in the moment and totally silly me.

Of all the habitats the deers had the most scenic.

Sure hope you all enjoy our trip to Grandfather Mountain today.

We are driving park to Boone now.

Liked how they "hide" their fire hydrants with "beauty".

The name of the roads are so interesting in this area.

Would like to live on Possom Hollow Rd?

I would, when it comes with the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains surrounding it.

This was a shop right along the main highway into Boone.

We past it every day, some times several times.

All the twiggy chairs, trellis, benchs.

Terry thought it looks horribly uncomfortable.

Do you have twiggy furniture?

I think it just fits in with the mountains.

Would not work here in Florida so I will stick with my white wicker and

Cracker Barrel rocking chairs on my porch.

Yes, I know I said we would do a lot more today, but......it is so hard to not want to

show many, many pictures.

Please come back tomorrow and I will show you a wonderful place to eat if you are in

Boone NC.

You are even going to meet the owner.

I celebrated my birthday there last year!

Then on Thursday I will join Simple Pleasure.

and

Starting again next Mon-Wed I will continue out 2010 trip

in Blowing Rock NC,

our cabin on top of mountain in Bryson City, NC

and then we will move on to Indiana.

My door is always open, usually I am running around barefoot with lavender nail polish on

my toes.

I have tons more albums and stories.

Please come back when your schedule permits.