Blue Ridge Skyline Drive

Jacob is home for the weekend and wanted to take a drive up to the mountains, so yesterday we did. We usually go in the fall to see the change of colors, so it was nice to see everything lush and green for a change. We always get on at Thornton Gap and go South to Big Meadows. One of these days we need to head north. It was a beautiful day!

Jacob & Megan

Stoney Man ( Can you see him - looks like he is laying down looking up at the sky)

We saw lots of deer out grazing by the road.

Just before you get to Big Meadow, there is a hiking trail up to Dark Hollow Falls. We dropped Jacob and Meghan off for them to take it. Here are some pictures and a video they took of it. Harold and Jacob hiked up there last year (too far and steep for me), but there was hardly any water that time, so with all the rain lately it was nicer this time.

Harold and I went on to Big Meadows (just around the corner from where we dropped them off) to wait and we went on a more level trail for a short distance. This is a deer we saw while on it.

Big Meadows is where the Visitor Center and a restaurant and store are located. We sat under a tree after our hike that looked out over Big Meadows. Here are a few shots of it. We asked a Ranger why the Meadows were not overtaken by trees. It is a huge area. They divided it into thirds and 1/3 they burn, 1/3 they mow and 1/3 they leave alone and they rotate that each year. You could see the difference in each area in person.

Big Meadows

On the way back we saw more deer and a wild turkey. The turkey was right next to the road, so I was able to get a good picture of it.

These deer walked right up to a car coming from the other direction that stopped.

Below are some shots I was able to snap on the way back as well.

Looking east.

Looking west.

Meghan and Jacob

Cindy & Harold

We went out to dinner at our favorite restaurant, Carlos O'Kelly's, afterwards...MMMmmmm Good!