June 3 to June 6, 2010 - Blue Ridge Parkway

Here is a blog of our trip along the Blue Ridge Parkway -

Kathy and I went on a driving vacation the week before Memorial Weekend. We started from our home, then drove Chapman Highway (US441) to the Parkway (US441) to Highway 19, to 40 to Asheville. We had already been on this section of the Blue Ridge Parkway, so we started at the last place we had driven. We started the BRP at Tunnel Road in east Asheville.

At first there were a few dump trucks where they were working on the road. After a few miles the scenery get better with beautiful views to the east and west.

We stopped for the night at the Switzerland Inn in Little Switzerland, NC. This was an older hotel, with multiple rooms, chalets, homes and biker barracks. The grounds where in beautiful bloom and the weather was nice. We had dinner on site at the restaurant, with Kenai in tow, and the food was really good. Kathy got to sleep in a little, while Kenai and I took a long (3 mile) hike along the road checking out the houses for sale in the town. None were in our price range.

The next day we drove towards Roanoke for our next night's stay. Near the town of Boone, NC the transmission in the Buick Rondy started acting up. I called around and found one man who would take the time to look at it. It took a bit of time and turn-arounds to get to the place. The man came out, hooked up a car computer diagnostic and told us that the parts were wearing out. A complete rebuild might be needed sometime soon. But he reset the error code and the problems all we away. We drove on back to the Blue Ridge Parkway and north toward Roanoke. We could find any interesting hotels near the Parkway, so we stayed at the Hampton Inn Roanoke/Salem. We had pizza at the "Humble Pie Pizza" across the street and it was really good (4 stars of 5).

We got up the next morning and went to the "WoofStock" festival for dogs in downtown Roanoke. It was really hot and there wasn't much there but it was fun for Kenai to get out of the car and sniff a few dogs.

We continued north on the Blue Ridge Parkway all the way to around Glasgow, then decided it was time to go home to the bed. We started to stop at the "Natural Bridge" but decided not to do the tourist thing.

All in all it was a nice scenic drive, especially being able to spend the time with my wonderful wife "Kathy" and the best dog in the world "Kenai".

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