Blueridge parkway day 2
We got an early start again, leaving camp by 8:30 AM. Our first destination for the day? Scaling a mountain!
The hike up Mt. Pisgah took us about 40 minutes of steady uphill walking, but the payoff was worth it. From the summit, we were treated to breathtaking 360-degree views of the Blueridge Mountains. It was amazing to see as far as the Great Smoky Mountains, where we had been just a few days prior.
After our hike, we continued our journey along the Blueridge Parkway. The weather was perfect with clear, blue skies, making the vistas even more stunning than the day before.
During our travels, we encountered a couple from Florida who were camping for free at the overlooks. They mentioned it wasn’t exactly allowed, but they hadn’t encountered any issues. It got us thinking about trying it out ourselves, minus the handgun part, of course. The idea of camping with such incredible views definitely appealed to us.
The highlight of the day was spotting a bear dart across the road ahead of us, although it was too quick for us to capture on film.
We also made a stop at the top of Mt. Mitchell, the highest point east of the Mississippi River. Surprisingly, it was only a 300-foot uphill walk.
We didn’t arrive at our campsite until after 6 PM, and to our delight, we were greeted by a big owl perched in a nearby tree. It was a first-time sighting for me, and I managed to snap some nice photos of the majestic bird.
Our current campsite, while lacking in amenities like electricity and showers, has proven to be comfortable enough. Mike’s adjustments to our battery system seem to have paid off, as we didn’t have any issues with power last night.
We also had the pleasure of meeting a pair of South African guys who are on an incredible cycling adventure. They’ve pedaled all the way from Argentina and are en route to New York, with plans to continue on to Ireland and eventually France. It’s truly an inspiring journey!
As for dinner, we kept it simple with bacon and scrambled eggs wrapped in tortillas. After such a full day of activities, we were absolutely exhausted but content.