Beautiful North Carolina

For our third and final full day we decided to spend the morning driving along the Blue Ridge Parkway and into Pisgah National Forest. It was absolutely beautiful, especially with the leaves changing color.

We grabbed some Jersey Mike sandwiches and found a lovely spot for a picnic. The traffic in the area was horrible; I couldn't believe how many people were out and about, crowding up the road.

We watched the Trump car parade...

and then David took a nap. I tried to go down by the little stream that was nearby but slipped and fell on my bum! Thank goodness there's not a picture of that graceful moment.

Next we headed into Chimney Rock State Park. Earlier in the afternoon we had driven by but the line to get into the park was so long we decided to keep driving to a different area for our picnic. When we finally decided to give it another go, we were able to get right in.

Yep, that's where we're headed!

Taking a breather. We had opted to hike up rather than taking the elevator and around this point I was regretting that decision.

Almost there...

we just have to go up this staircase that's built over air. One misstep and it's a free fall to your death WAY below. No bigee!

We made it! We're not frighened at all!

Chimney Rock is the 535 million year old monolith that offers a beautiful view of the surrounding countryside, including Hickory Nut Gorge and Lake Lure.

We then decided to take a trail through the woods to see the bottom of Hickory Nut Falls.

The final scene of Last of the Mohicans was filmed here and it was at the top, along Peregrine's Point, that Magua took Alice. That's a hike for another time.

The falls were beautiful!

Feeling adventurous, we decided to hike the Four Seasons Trail back to the car rather than take the shuttle. I mean, downhill hiking is much easier than uphill, right?!?!? And of course David is way ahead of me, blazing a trail!

I had to get a picture in front of this cute old church.

And then, on our drive down the mountain, as we rounded a corner, there it was - this perfect scene. I made David stop so I could quickly grab a picture. Absolute perfection - mountains, forest, an old fence, and horses!