Onward and upward. Boone, NC elevation 3300 feet.

So long Dollywood, hello Blue Ridge Mountains!  It was a long day driving/riding to arrive in Boone, NC at Flintlock Campground.  Even though I was told that we would have 'no problem' getting in and parking and that the campground was 'big rig friendly', it was one of the most difficult places we've ever had to deal with.  The road is very narrow, and a lot of the rigs encroached on it a bit.  Cary had to back in, and given the 12 ft width of the road and the short spot it was pretty scary actually.
Besides that, it only had 30 amps and the site was muddy and sloppy.  Good Grief!  I should have taken pictures, darn!

The next morning we drove on over to Blowing Rock.

As you can see, there was road construction on the highway into the city.  But we wanted to see the actual blowing rock, so we kept going.

We turned in

Were welcomed

and headed for the gift shop and entrance

 To get to see the rock, you had to pay of course, I thought it was worth it, Cary....not so much. 

 This rock is 4000 feet above sea level, and there is an Indian legend that enhances it's appeal.  A local chief left his beautiful daughter there to keep her hidden from 'the white man's admiration' to be raised by a squaw.  A young Cherokee brave wandered nearby and saw the young maiden daydreaming on the cliff.  It was love at first sight.  Days later he saw a reddening sky which he took as a sign that his tribe needed him.  The maiden pleaded with him not to go and he was so torn, he jumped off the rock.

Long way down

 Well the young maiden was heart broken and prayed daily to the Great Spirit.  One evening as the sky reddened, a gust of wind blew her lover back onto the rock and into her arms.  From that day a perpetual wind has blown up onto the rock from the valley below.

Not the young maiden

I told you it was a legend. 

It was a breathtaking view....

Grandfather Mountain

 Just amazing.  You can see why this is the Blue Ridge range.

We spent a while taking in the views and taking lots of pictures.  And then left to find my friend Jan's house.  She and her husband Ross had invited us over for lunch so we got out the detailed map she drew and followed it to their summer home.

We had a nice lunch, then sat on the porch and enjoyed the break in the rain.  There were lots of birds snacking at the feeders and a squirrel that could jump like a kangaroo.

Jan showed me her 'woods garden' which was whimsical and well done.   She said she used to sit on a log bench and have her morning coffee, until one morning a snake slithered out from under the log, YIKES!

We parted ways (it was so good to see you Jan & Ross :-) ) and decided to check out downtown Boone.

We saw Doc Watson

lots of Appalachian State stuff

Lots of art shops where of course......

and a general store that had tons of what used to be penny candy and was now 6.99/lb

The university has grown by leaps and bounds since I had been there last.  Lots of new buildings and lots of new student housing.

What a neat little town, I love it!  Cary, not so much....

We were going to Grandfather Mountain and Banner Elk the next day, but some pesky medical issues motivated me to head for home.  So this morning we packed up and wriggled our way out of the campground from hell to head for home.

So long North Carolina, till next summer.....

We drove/rode for 9.5 hours and ended up in Kingsland, GA one mile from the FL border.  Staying at Country Oaks Campground and RV Park.  Nice, shady, 50 amp, water, sewer and wi-fi.  Close enough to Jacksonville to get TV stations with the antenna.

We should be home tomorrow....whew!