Very aptly named. Our Blue Ridge Parkway (469 miles) experience this visit was between miles 380 and 410 around Ashville, NC.Two nights in the Pisgah National Forest at Lake Powhatan in the Appalachian Mountains – a full day to explore.Lots of nice overlooks to enjoy the view.We hiked a couple miles in this area, seeing the foundation remains of where the Vanderbilt’s had their mountain retreat.We went to the folk center and appreciated the intricacy of many of the crafts.A colorful quilt that felt like spring was in the air.We enjoyed a long visit at 17th PresidentAndrew JohnsonNational Historic Site on the other side of the mountains in Tennessee. For us it tied together history of the civil War and the Reconstruction Era. Also 1867 was when Alaska was purchased from Russia by Secretary of State William Steward.
Congaree National Park protects the largest intact expanse of old growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the southeastern US.Spring wildflowers blooming made the boardwalk part of the trail extra special.In 2003, it gained National Park status and has since been designated an International Biosphere Reserve, a National Natural Landmark and Globally Important Bird Area. It is named after the local Native American tribe and was been preserved since1976 as a National Monument.Unique tall trees included bald cypress with the knobby knees above as well as Tupelo trees, Loblolly pines, and giant oaks.This is really beautiful with all the reflections.We enjoyed a 6 mile hike and a picnic lunch to absorb the enormity of this park. Perfect day.Ninety Six National Historic Site we learned more about the Revolutionary War. This was a nice park to walk around but the VC was not open.Lake Greenwood SP is one of 16 S Carolina State Parks built by the CCC. They had an amazing exhibit in their VC. The previous night we were at Givens Ferry SP on the Edisto River also built by the CCC .Kings Mountain National Military Park and Cowpens National Battlefieldwe learned more of our Revolutionary War history. Both had walking trails to contemplate the enormity of this war.A walk through the woods and rolling hills brings to life the fighting conditions that the armies faced.We enjoyed a stroll to the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site just across the border in North Carolina. He enjoyed life here from 1945 until his death in 1967. This was the only interpretation available about “America’s Voice” (January 6, 1878 – July 22, 1967) an American poet, biographer, journalist, and editor. He won three Pulitzer Prizes: two for his poetry and one for his biography of Abraham Lincoln
Crossing into Brunswick/St Simons Island on a beautiful crystal clear day.Looking over the salt marshes towards the Atlantic Ocean – very flat.Fort Frederica was established in 1736 by James Oglethorpe to protect the southern boundary of his new colony of Georgia from the Spanish in Florida. He had started Savannah in 1733 laid out with many park squares highlighting the grid layout.Now we move into the revolutionary wars visiting a few of these forts: Pulaski, and Sumter.Ft Pulaski National Monument: completion of an interesting “modern” brick fortress built in 1847 put it on the front lines in 1861 when S Carolina and Georgia seceded from the United States. The Union forces took control of Savannah harbor from here in the American Civil War.Now the huge shipping containers have full use of the harbor keeping our supply chain active.Skidaway Island State Park, near Savannah was another outstanding Georgia State Park. A short walk took us to this overlook over the inland Salt Marsh, or the renamed “Moon River” after the song.Archeological remains from the not so distance past history of prohibition.Enjoying the water front in Charleston after exploring Beaufort with is interesting history and the new Reconstruction Era National Historical Park.This is our turning point to head back West…How far is that?Chatting up a new friend…
The Ribault Monument commemorates the 1562 landing of Jean Ribault. France’s first attempt to stake a permanent claim in North America was at La Caroline, a settlement near the mouth of the St. Johns River in Florida (North of Jacksonville)Que bon! Ribault erected a stone column bearing the coats of arms of his French King Charles IX to claim Florida for France. There is much history to Fort Caroline National Memorial.The Atlantic Ocean ~ an early morning walk before a rainy day.This pine carved owl totem, preserved from around 1400 at Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve, is the largest wooden effigy recovered from an archaeological site in North or South America.We had a great campsite where the Live Oak trees dwarfed the van.The camp ground had wonderful bird viewing pavilion.Luckily we didn’t spot any crocs or alligators! But we kept our distance from the wild humans.Beautiful drive in the Timucuan Preserve and its maritime hammock.Azaleas blooming in front the Ribault Club, built in 1928, a renovated monument to the resort era on Fort George Island.We spent the day enjoying the Atlantic Coast and barrier islands, driving through Amelia Island before ending at Crooked River SP in Georgia.
We felt like we had conquered Florida like Hernando DeSoto!Hillsburo Lighthouse near Pompano BeachLots of boats and fishing activity to entertain us.Good Cuban black beans for lunch with Mima.Reconnecting with other family by the pool.The five year old teaching her uncle how to count to 100.Paint the pizza box after dinner – reuse before recycling!
Madam President. A replica of Carter’s oval office in Plains Georgia.1976 was our first presidential election to vote in. We enjoyed the high school museum in President Carter’s hometown.Ocmulgee National Monument in Macon has the only Art Deco visitor center in the National Park Service. These mounds here were excavated by the Smithsonian in the 1930’s.This exhibit demonstrated how much work it was to build the mounds. The baskets when filled with mud weighed about 60 pounds.Governor Jimmy Carter was involved with developing this State Park.A variety of wildlife to see including herons, overwintering vultures, and common moorhens.We stayed 2 nights so had plenty of time to walk the trails.And to stretch our muscles a bit from all the driving!2,836 miles completed to Florida!
We crossed the Mississippi at Memphis. Through the hills of Tennessee…Chickasaw State Park had this great lakeside campsite for us to relax.We found some mound builders! Many tributaries to the Mississippi have mounds.Pinson Mounds State Park had a great museum as well. One of the tallest mounds.At Shiloh National Military Battlefield there was also a trail to the Tennessee River with Indian Mounds.Enjoying sunset at Whitten Corp of Engineer Campground.Birmingham, Alabama Civil Rights Park was worth contemplating.The historic A.G. Gaston motel is being renovated.We visited Tuskegee University as well as the airfield which had a great museum. We spent the night in Opaleka, Alabama – a pleasant county park.
After a few weeks of enjoying the comforts of home…We started a trip to Florida – glad for the dry roads near South Fork.Capulin Volcano National Monument (NM) was our first lunch stop.We walked the rim of the cauldera.We camped at Clayton Lakes State Park with these amazing dinosaur tracks.After a great dinner/camp with family, we paid our respects to Oklahoma City National Memorial honoring the lives lost April 19,1995.We spent the night at Chickasaw National Rec Area. We are going to follow the sad trail to Shiloh. Such tragic history to displace people from their home land.Historic Washington State Park in Arkansas had this magnolia tree planted in 1839.Bois D’Arc Lake near Hope after visiting President Clinton’s boyhood home.We enjoyed relaxing and watching the sunset on Bois D’Arc Lake.We walked around the grounds of President Clinton’s library in Little Rock on the Arkansas River.An interesting art exhibit of climate change globes like this on pollinators.We drove by the 1915 state capitol, a replica of the national capitol.Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site commemorated the bravery of black students that were our nation’s first to desegregate here in 1957.
Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site commemorated the bravery of black students that were our nation’s first to desegregate here in 1957.