We got an early start to the day so we could spend most of it at some targeted stops and our final destination campsite. We did a quick first stop at Puckett Cabin because it looked so inviting and was conveniently located right on the parkway.
Other than the campsite, the main destination for the day was the Blue Ridge Music Center
. The Blue Ridge Music Center, located at milepost 213, celebrates music indigenous to Virginia and North Carolina by featuring various artists every day of the week. Established by the U.S. Congress in 1985, the site includes an outdoor amphitheater and indoor interpretive center used to highlight this important strand of American musical culture. By featuring local artists, the center's staff can best show the longstanding traditions of this genre.
I was genuinely impressed by the technology employed in this rural enclave. There was one exhibit that had a timeline with a slider device. As you advanced the slider through time, the videos displayed on the wall changed to inform and entertain you. There was a lot of oral history recorded here and a variety of performance clips that educated as well as entertained. They had a good selection of music to buy which we previewed by using their computer, Windows Media and a set of headphones. Casey selected "Fiddler's Green by Tim O'Brien
. Delightful!
Make sure to enjoy the two videos. They must be selected by hand and will not automatically play in Slideshow mode.
They had an impressive covered stage surrounded by a naturally sloping hill that formed an amphitheater. I could not help myself so I climbed to the stage and belted out "I am a man, of constant sorrowwwwww".
Thankfully, the live music started early so we stopped in and sat through a variety of songs performed by these two volunteers. The fellow on the left has his own music label and recording company and I think claimed to have the largest selection of Appalachian regional music performed by a variety of artists. The guy on the right sold his pencil drawings which were phenomenal. They were all $35. Some looked like photographs. We would later see his work selling for more than twice that at a Shoney’s restaurant on I-81 going home.
Perhaps the nicest day of our trip so far, we stopped at several locations along the way to take in the views
.
The number one destination for this trip was Julian Price Park. It is 3,900 acres of magnificence and enjoyment. The park provides picnic grounds, campgrounds, rest rooms, nature walks, an amphitheater, hiking trails, trout fishing and boat rental. The trails in the park take you through the forests, by the streams and into the meadows of this fertile land. The pull through campsite at this location was basically a wide section of the campsite road where I could pull over. My 25 foot RV barely fit in the spot. That probably was because it was 30 feet.
We hiked the 2.7 mile Lake Price trail. It was magnificent. Heavily overgrown with Rhododendron and scenic views of the lake were everywhere. Please enjoy the pictures.
Typically, when we hike I am in the lead under the theory ...“Asps, very dangerous, you go first" (One of our favorite movie lines). Every once in a while Casey will pass me and take up the lead
. I’m not sure why since a respectful wife should follow at least 5 steps behind her husband. Anyway, just as we were getting to this swampy area, she passes me and is about to step on this big brown stick when the stick slithered away. I have never seen her jump so high in the air! Brown Water Moccasins, very dangerous, you go first.
I was taking a picture of a feature across the lake when Casey informed me there was a deer ahead. Later, when I got home and uploaded the pictures, I saw I had actually captured a picture of the deer in the water and did not know it! As we moved forward on the trail, Casey saw a fawn! I snuck of the trail and tried to get some good shots. Most of them did not turn out. Hope you like the ones that did.
Fired up the grill for some tasty pork chops for dinner. No firewood in this area and the ground was fairly wet from prior rains. Therefore, no campfire tonight. Later, we walked down to the lake from our campsite to take in our lakeside view.
Journey to Julian Price Memorial Park Campsite
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Julian Price Memorial Park, North Carolina, United States
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2025-02-10
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Terry
2011-09-28
Liked this camp the best - the lake looks wonderful!