Clebrating Autumn in the WNC Mountains

[SeaDawg]

Back in October, we met up with several Oliver friends, and a Casita friend, too, and camped in the mountains of North Carolina and Tennesee. Some nights (and days!) were a bit chilly, but overall we had fantastic weather, and were rewarded by Mother Nature with the splendor of fall--the brilliance of changing leaves, deep blue skies, sparkling sunlight and lovely soft moonlit nights.

 

Mid-October in the Banner Elk, NC area is celebrated in many ways including The Valle Crucis Country Fair and The Woolly Worm Festival, two outstanding, fun, family-oriented festivals in small towns. Both attract what seems to be the entire population of Western North Carolina, and both are lively and interesting, with music, crafts, and arts to suit all. And, kids and adults alike enjoy watching the Woolly Worms (the Ground Hog of WNC) race down strings to determine the big champion owner in this festival that benefits charities throughout the area.

 

A friend of mine suggested that we stop and enjoy dinner and music at a newer development outside of Banner Elk after the Woolly Worm and Valle Crucis Fair. Five of us drove up the mountain for an al fresco BBQ dinner and retro music from a talented local band. The view from our mile-high picnic table beside the open air lodge, overlooking the bandshell that jutted out off the mountainside, was utterly amazing. Our afternoon brought a whole new dimension to the phrase dinner with a view:

 

You can see just the corner of the lodge style bandshell here, and the view from our picnic table.

 

Dinner with friends, mountain views, and great music. Who could ask for more?

Great music by a talented local band

 

As sunset approached, we moved to the library deck to watch the brilliant sun drop behind the mountain

 

A whimsical bit of "tree art"

 

With both joy and sadness, we watched the afternoon end.

[SeaDawg]

Today probably marks the end of Autumn in Banner Elk and Avery County. It is snowing, and Sugar Mountain opened for skiing and snowboarding today; Beech Mountain opens in two weeks. Cataloochie in Maggie Valley opened today as well, with both the early openers reporting a gift of real snow from Mother Nature to supplement their snow gun efforts. It is not quite 24 degrees on Sugar at this moment.

Ok, my daughter and I are off to the local sports store for the snowboard sale!

Sherry

[tumbleweed]

Gorgeous pictures!!!! Are ya'll headed back to FL? We be in central Texas headin' thataway!!

[SeaDawg]

We made another (short) trip back to NC. The leaves are, amazingly, still beautiful at lower elevations. All down on the ground at the higher elevations. We're back in Florida since about midnight last night.

Sherry