.jpg) Tulip Tree Flowers
Tulip Trees (Liriodendron tulipifera) are native to eastern North America, and in these Appalachian cove forests, they can grow to almost 180 ft (24 m). The trees don’t produce their unique tulip-like flowers until they are 8-9 years old. You could spend weeks – or even years – exploring the scenic views, the mountain trails, the towns and villages, and the flora, fauna, music, culture and craft along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Meandering along the spine of the Blue Ridge Mountains in America’s Appalachians, the National Parkway starts at Rockfish Gap, Virginia, where it continues south from the Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park (see: In the Virginia Woods), and runs 469 miles (755 km) to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Cherokee Indian Reservation in North Carolina.
It was this time last year, late in an American spring, that my husband and I were driving south along this “National Scenic Byway”. The timing of our trip had been determined long before by family functions, not by the parkway’s peak blooming season. Shrubs and plants come into flower according to whim, location, and weather; but we got lucky: various ground-dwelling wildflowers were in bloom, and the flowers on the rhododendron and azalea bushes and the mountain laurel and tulip trees, were out in full glory.
We had only a little over three days – which sounds like a lot for the relatively short distance, but when you consider that the very maximum speed anywhere along the Parkway is 45 mph (72 kph), and when you factor in all the excuses to stop, we could have used more time. Still, we did manage lots of scenic breaks for flowers and views, explorations of historic and cultural sights, a few walks, and time out for wild berry pies and other Appalachian treats.
Join us for the first part of our journey.
.jpg) Humpback Rocks Farm Visitor Center
We were not very far along the Parkway (Mile 6.1) when when we made our first stop at a Visitor Center. There is a walk to Humpback Rocks from here, … .jpg) Blue Ridge Instruments
… but we satisfied ourselves with a look at the static displays …  Outbuildings and Vegetable Patch
…and a walk around the old Appalachian farm buildings. Wood Anemone (Anemone Nemorosa) in the Vegetable Patch Out Building
I always marvel at how hard early farmers had to work, and the ingenious solutions that they came up with for food preparation and storage, in the days before electricity and refrigeration. Fence Posts and Ivy
Split rail fences were common in these heavily-wooded regions. (iPhone6) Fallen Fences
Built from easy to split, rot-resistant wood, they last a long time – but not forever! Afternoon Sun at Ravens Roost
By the time we made our next stop, at Ravens Roost (Mile 10.7), the afternoon sun was angling lower in the sky. Ravens Roost Marker
From this overlook, sitting at a height of 3200ft (975 m), you can see north to the Shenandoah Mountains and south to the Great Smoky Mountains. Fallen Rhododendron
All along the roadway, rhododendron blooms lay where they have fallen. View from a Parkway Overlook
Everywhere we pull over, the trees and mountains extend off into the distance. Sheep Laurel
Definitely a laurel, I think this is too pink to be the “mountain” variety, and I’m guessing it is Kalmia angustifolia, which is found all over eastern North America. Either way, the buds are lovely. White Tailed Deer
Small, timid white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) feed on the verges as twilight drops over the road. Bedford Sunset
We were treated to and old-town sunset as we pulled off the parkway to find our bed for the night. (iPhone6) Rhododendron on the Roadside
I never tire of wild rhododendron! We were not long in the park on our second day – after an overnight break in Bedford just north of Roanoke – when we stopped the car to explore the flowers. Rhododendron
This day fits us just that bit further south, and the blooms are plentiful. Short bushes with their huge flowers cling to inhospitable-looking granite boulders. Flame Azalia
I was especially excited to find the endemic Appalachian flame azalea (Rhododendron calendulaceum) in full flower. Mountain Laurel
Another of my favourite plants native to the eastern United States, is the very pretty mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia). Tulip Tree Flowers
I remember seeing a picture of tulip trees (Liriodendron tulipifera) in a book when I was a child in Canada, and not believing that they could be real. I still think they are pretty amazing. Smart View Loop Trail
Determined not to sit in the car all day, we stopped at Smart View (Mile 154.5) to walk the short (2.6m/4.2km) loop trail … Smart View Loop Trail
… though the wet … Virginia Woods
… and impossibly green … Tall Trees
… Virginia woods. Fungus in the Shadows
The sheltered ground is home to fungi … Frog in the Leaf Litter
… and tiny frogs are almost invisible in the leaf litter at our feet. Trail Cabin
We finally reached the cabin that was home to the Trail family in the 1890s. We are meant to have a “right smart view” here, but the dogwood blooms are finished, and the clouds are coming in. Rock Castle Gorge (Mile 170)
The rains are starting to roll our way again when we stop at the overlook near Rocky Knob. The Parkway originated during the administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, with work started late in 1935 and mostly finished by the end of 1966. The project required negotiation with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, whose lands were affected, and displaced many existing farm-holding residents and landowners.
Thank heavens for Roosevelt’s effort and foresight! Today, the Parkway is a priceless ecological and historical resource. “The parkway has been the most visited unit of the National Park System [almost] every year since 1946…”
These wonderful green spaces are so hard to recover once lost.
Until next time,
Enjoy the green spaces!
Pictures: 25-26May2016
Posted in America,Nature,Travel,USATags: America,Blue Ridge Parkway,drive,flowers,landscape,National Park,National Parkway,National Scenic Byway,nature,Photo Blog,road trip,Travel Blog,Ursula Wall,VA,Virginia,walk,woods
“El Faro” in Albir
It’s an easy walk from the Valencian seaside resort town of Albir to the lighthouse at the top of Sierra Helada, or “Ice Mountain”, in the Sierra Helada Natural Park in southern Spain. We’d heard the stories about the Costa Blanca (White Coast) on the Mediterranean in Southern Spain: cheap flights from the northern parts of Europe makes this area a playground for “hens parties”, retirees, and school-leavers.
On our recent stay in Alicante Province, Spain, my husband and I met representatives of all these groups. We were staying in the planned resort of Platja de l’Albir (also called Albir, El Albir or L’Albir) – part of the Valencian town of L’Alfàs del Pi – and we discovered (like countless tourists before us) a region with a magnificent climate, good infrastructure, and innumerable reasonably-priced options for food, accommodation, and recreation.
One of Albir’s top attractions is the short walk from the Playa de Racó (“beach corner”) waterfront to El Faro (the lighthouse) in the Parque Natural de la Serra Gelada.
Join us for a stroll.
Anchor on the Mediterranean
A giant sculpture of an anchor give visitors to Albir a distinct sense of place. Lovers on Playa Albir
The Mediterranean Sea entertained us with endless blues. Playa Albir
It is mid-May; the northern-European tourists have not yet arrived in their full numbers, but the beach is already busy. Costa Blanca – White Coast
As we walk towards the Sierra Helad National Park, we have views over the Mediterranean towards the rocky outcrop at Peñón de Ifach. Pathway Markers
There are a number of walking trails in the park. Tunnel on Ruta Amarilla
Our trail to the lighthouse is on a short, well-marked and smoothly-surfaced section of the Ruta Amarilla (Yellow Route). Fringed Pinks – Dianthus
The first section of the trail is a little steep – especially in the afternoon heat after a late Spanish lunch! Fringed Pinks – Dianthus
The many herbs and wildflowers make good excuses to pause for rest. El Faro in Albir
The lighthouse comes into view 439 meters above sea level on Serra Gelada – Frozen Mountain. The mountain’s name was reputedly given to it by fishermen who though it looked like an iceberg from the sea on moonlit nights. Wild Daisies – Calendula Arvensis El Faro on Serra Gelada
The lighthouse is another bend closer, sitting amid its scrubby vegetation. The smells from the Mediterranean heather, thyme, and lavender bushes are delightful on the warm air. Yellow Thistles
I had no idea thistles came in any colours other than purple! These yellow ones were all along the trail. Ancient Ruins
The base of the mountain is dotted with caves that were used by smugglers and pirates between the 16th and 18th centuries, and lookouts were built along the ridge tops to keep watch. Down to the Ochre Mines
The hillside also has ruins from 19th century ochre mining enterprises that you can visit. The stone pylons in the valley were part of the supports for the wagon rails. Path up to El Faro
Today the lighthouse operates a few hours a day as an information centre, … The Light
… but it was closed long before we arrived. Marine Mists and Fish Farms
The views from the hilltop are stunning and well worth the walk. Sign Posting
The whole walk is dotted with informative signs in Spanish and English. Yellow Thistle and Ruins Spanish Lavender (Lavandula Stoechas)
Spanish Lavender grows wild in this arid Mediterranean climate… Smell the Spanish Lavender!
… and it smells wonderful! Looking towards Albir
The walk down was much quicker than the walk up, and before long we could see the town of Albir and the mountains behind through the rock-slide tunnel. Ardilla Roja
Our final treat was a red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) peaking out from behind an Aleppo pine (pinus halepensus) tree. Red Squirrel (Sciurus Vulgaris)
I was especially excited because I had never seen one in the wild. The numbers of red squirrels have decreased markedly in much of Europe. It was a pleasant walk, and we had absolutely perfect weather: sunny and clear but not too hot. I was glad not to be doing it in the heat or crowds of summer!
Until next time –
Happy Rambling!
Pictures: 15May2017
Posted in Animals,Landscapes,Spain,TravelTags: animals,flowers,landscape,National Park,nature,Photo Blog,Spain,Ursula Wall,walk
Sun Setting over Ho Chi Minh City
The classic Level 23 Wine Bar at Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers is a great place to round out a day’s exploration of Vietnam’s old southern capitol, and to watch the sun set over the expanding contemporary city. Oh, Saigon!
It was a name familiar to those of us who grew up in the West: first as an exotic part of France’s colonial empire, until – as Saïgon – it achieved a hard-won independence in 1955, and then as a component of the evening news for its pivotal role in the Vietnam War; the city now known as Ho Chi Minh (HCM) has been at a crossroads of history and culture for centuries. It started life as a small Khmer fishing village long before the expansion of colonisation by Vietnamese settlers in the 17th century.
The city today reflects this very mixed heritage: it is the most populous metropolitan area in Vietnam, and the county’s fast-growing economic centre. But, it still looks to the past, with magnificent French architecture rubbing shoulders with Asian street food and traditional temples, and reminders of the terrible legacy of the Vietnam War share space with tributes to “Reunification” under the current regime.
The last time I was in HCM, I was only overnighting en route to the Mekong Delta, and I had virtually no memory of the city itself. So, it was with interest that I mapped out a day’s walking-tour for my husband and myself.
I was pleased to find that there was still a roof-top bar at the Sheraton Saigon, as mentioned in my very ancient Lonely Planet guide; watching the sun go down in style over a mojito was a nice reward after a lot of walking!
Join me for some of the sights of old Sài Gòn.
Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon
Our shuttle drop-off and pick-up point was outside the amazing Nhà Thờ Đức Bà, officially called the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of The Immaculate Conception. Built between 1863 and 1880 to service a growing Roman Catholic community in Saigon, all the materials used in its construction were imported from France. The two 58 metre (190 ft) bell towers were added in 1895. Wedding Couple
The bright red bricks of the cathedral’s exterior were imported from Toulouse. Today they are ‘graffitied’ with sponsors’ names, and provide a colourful backdrop for happy wedding photos. Font Area inside Notre Dame Cathedral
The stained glass in the cathedral is from Chartres province in France. Merci à Notre Dame
Countless tiles inside the cathedral give thanks to Our Lady (Tạ Ơn Đức Mẹ ; Merci à Notre Dame). Although the original tiles were all from France, many new ones have been locally made to replace those that were damaged during the war. The Nave
Built in neo-Romanesque style, the interior of the cathedral is quite elegant. Reunification Palace
Our next stop was at the Independence Palace (Dinh Độc Lập) or Reunification Palace. Inside the Reunification Palace
Built between 1962 and 1966 on the site of the former Norodom Palace, this Vietnamese-designed building was the home and workplace of the President of South Vietnam and Chairman of the National Leadership Committee, General Nguyễn Văn Thiệu, during the Vietnam War. Guide in the Reunification Palace
Tours through the palace recount the long and troubled history of the war years. Vietnamese Visitors to the Reunification Palace
Fortified rooms under the palace are where the South Vietnamese managed their war effort … Communication Centre in the Reunification Palace
… until a North Vietnamese tank bulldozed through the main gate on 30 April 1975, bringing the Vietnam War to an end. War Remnants Museum
Located in what was the US Information Service building, this is a challenging, but important museum. Tank – War Remnants Museum
Originally called the Exhibition House for Crimes of War and Aggression, presentations inside the building illustrate the brutal effects of war, especially on civilians. Horrifying experimental weapons are on display, as are sobering photos documenting the effects of US bombing and napalming. One section, the Requiem Exhibition, compiled by legendary war photographer Tim Page, is devoted to the works of photographers from both sides, who were killed during the conflict. Ho Chi Minh Streets
We needed some time out after the harrowing War Remnants Museum, so set off on a brisk 2 kilometre walk across the old city … Jade Emperor Pagoda
… to the Chùa Ngọc Hoàng, the little temple built in 1909 by the local Chinese community in honour of the supreme Taoist god: the Jade Emperor or King of Heaven, Ngoc Hoang. Lighting Incense
Inside the Jade Emperor Pagoda, it is hot, dark, and heavy with the smell of incense and oil. Prayers and Incense
The majority of people in Ho Chi Minh City practice Mahayana Buddhism, often mixed with Taoism and Confucianism (via ancestor worship). It is not uncommon to see symbols of Buddhism in a Taoist temple like this one. Pouring Oil
Religious practice is an integral part of daily life. Lucky Turtles
Back outside, in the courtyard of the Jade Emperor Pagoda, countless turtles – some with lucky symbols carved into their shells – clamber over each other. Preparing “Street” Food
We got very lucky! Tired and hungry, we managed to remember the name of the restaurant we had seen opposite the Reunification Palace, and took a taxi back to Quan An Ngon 138. Spring Rolls
It turns out that the Quan An Ngon Restaurant is known for presenting diverse regional Vietnamese cuisines in a village market style. We enjoyed our late lunch before setting off again, … Ho Chi Minh City Supreme People’s Court
… past the courthouse … Ho Chi Minh City Hall
… and the magnificent French Colonial City Hall … Saigon Central Post Office
… to the Saigon Central Post Office, the most celebrated example of Renaissance architecture in Vietnam. Saigon Central Post Office
The building, completed in 1891, was designed by the renowned French architect Gustave Eiffel. Stepping inside is like walking into the past. Saigon Opera House
We paused briefly to admire the stylish French Colonial Municipal Theatre of Ho Chi Minh City, also known as Saigon Opera House … Ho Chi Minh Skyline after Dark
… before ending our self-guided tour with drinks on the roof and city lights. As I said at the outset, it was the perfect way to round out a long but fascinating day.
Until next time,
Happy Travels!
Photos: 29February2016
Posted in Architecture,History,Museum,Travel,VietnamTags: architecture,blog,environmental portrait,environmental portraits,history,Photo Blog,religion,Religious Practice,travel,Travel Blog,Ursula Wall,Vietnam,worship
Ian Neville
Talent runs deep in some families! Ian Neville, one of the guitars with Dumpstaphunk, and his cousin Ivan Neville, the group’s founder, represent the next generation of The Neville Brothers, the soul, funk and R&B group formed in 1977. One of the many joys of Byron Bay Bluesfest, that annual Easter long-weekend festival of blues, roots, and just about every other kind of music, is – for me – the very range of styles packed into five days, and the depth of talent offered up on the five+ stages.
Although Americans tended to dominate the “imported” acts I saw this year, they themselves represented such divergent backgrounds and styles that the international flavour was maintained.
I’ve said before (Women Rock!) that it is a photographic challenge for me to process the photos I take under these low light settings. I was a long way back most of the time, so all the pictures included here are taken with the ISO cranked right up on my “noisy” old Canon 5D Mark II, using a 2.8 70-200mm lens without image stabilisation.
Still, I hope you enjoy!
Eric Gales (aka Raw Dawg)
Hailed as a child prodigy, blues-rock guitarist Eric Gales started playing at age four, learning an unconventional left-handed style from his older brother. Videoing the California Honeydrops
These days, thanks to smart phones, anyone can make a recording. I came by the attached sound track legitimately!
(Double click for When it was Wrong by the California Honeydrops)
The California Honeydrops
Laying a New Orleans style over their roots, blues, R&B and soul music, The California Honeydrops are big, bold and brassy. Lech Wierzynski
Band leader and front man, Warsaw born Lech Wierzynski is an accomplished trumpeter, singer, … Lech Wierzynski
… and guitarist. Larry “Mud” Morganfield
Eldest son of legendary Muddy Waters, Mud Morganfield performs his own original Chicago blues songs … Mud Morganfield
… and reprises some of his father’s best-known numbers. The Mountain Goats
I was intrigued by the write-up on John Darnielle, who until recently was the sum total of The Mountain Goats. Rolling Stone has called him the “Best Storyteller in Rock”: Darnielle has over 600 detail-rich songs that tell stories about the human condition. The mostly-male audience around me knew all the words to the songs from a recent concept album about wrestling; I’ll need to give them another try under clearer sound conditions. Ian Neville
I often marvel how wonderful it would be to make a living playing music – especially joyful music.
Ian Neville (Dumpstaphunk) looks positively transported as he plays under lights. St Paul and the Broken Bones
Paul Janeway is the voice and face of this American six-piece soul band which took Bluesfest by storm last year. Once again, he had the crowd breathless. Sound Mixing
… and of course, there are whole teams of people ‘behind the scenes’, making sure they all look and sound great. Leonard Sumner
The Boomerang Festival of Indigenous Performing Arts ran along-side Bluesfest for three of the five days this year. One of the invited artists was Anishinaabe poet, singer/songwriter and MC Leonard Sumner from Canada’s Little Saskatchewan First Nation. His raps about the troubled history and current difficulties faced by Canada’s indigenous people were heartbreaking and confronting. Trevor Hall
Trevor Hall’s feel-good mix of acoustic rock, roots, folk, reggae and Sanskrit chanting cheered me up again, … Bass Player
… as did watching his bass player strum. Percussion with a Twist
Shells, prayer beads, Tibetan bells, plastic caps, chimes and a wooden box: the percussionist with Trevor Hall was a true sound-artist. Nahko Bear
One of the many beauties of music festivals is the spontaneous combining of musical talents. Nahko Bear, from Nahko and Medicine for the People, joined Trevor Hall on stage. Vintage Trouble
We go back to retro rhythm & blues with the high-octane Vintage Trouble. Nalle Colt with Vintage Trouble
The USA can be a true ‘melting pot’ and ‘land of opportunity’: Nalle Colt, born in Sweden, was a professional skateboarder before he picked up a guitar at age 13! Ty Taylor and Vintage Trouble
Ty Taylor was a gospel singer from New Jersey before he formed Vintage Trouble in 2010 in Hollywood, California, with guitarist Nalle Colt. Jake Shimabukuro
This wasn’t Hawaiian Jake Shimabukuro’s first visit to the Byron Bay Bluesfest, but it was the first time I’d seen the boundary-crossing ukulele virtuoso. I have seen some of his re-worked classics on Youtube. His instrumental compilation including Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’ and Franz Schubert’s ‘Ave Maria’ had me in tears. Jerron “Blind Boy” Paxton
The music of “Blind Boy” Paxton builds on classic American roots and blues traditions. A multi-instrumentalist, Paxton sings old and original songs, plays banjo, guitar, piano, keyboard, fiddle, harmonica, Cajun accordion, and the bones. Blind Boy Paxton
Paxton has a wicked sense of humour, which comes through in his patter and his original songs. Zac Brown Band
If you want to close out your five days of music on a high, the Zac Brown Band is not a bad ways to go. Zac Brown Band
Based in Atlanta, Georgia, and billed as American (Southern) Country-Rock, the Zac Brown Band reminded me of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and the Ozark Mountain Daredevels, and made us all want to dance. And so, after five days of musical breadth and high energy beats, we danced our way out of the festival grounds and back to the car for the long drive home.
Rest assured, we bought our tickets for next year first!
Bluesfest is too good to miss.
Until next Easter,
Let’s Dance!
Photos: 13-17April2017
Posted in Australia,Music,PortraitsTags: blog,Byron Bay Bluesfest,environmental portrait,environmental portraits,lights,low light,music,musicians,performance,performers,Photo Blog,portrait,portraits,Ursula Wall
Dead Trunk
Larch trees lay fallen like modern sculptures on the expansive steppes of central Mongolia. (Ikh-Uul Их-Уул, Zavkhan Завхан) It looks like such a short drive:
From Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur in Tariat, Arkhangai Province, in Mongolia’s central west, it is just 203 kilometres through the Tarvagatai Mountains to Tosontsengel, in the western province of Zavkhan. That is about three and a half hours “without traffic” – and we expected none. Plus, we had the bonus of paved roads for much of our journey.
It was my third day of bumping along in a utilitarian Russian UAZ (Ulyanovsky Avtomobilny Zavod) four-wheel-drive vehicle organised by Within the Frame and local guides G and Segi. It was a short-driving day, considering the overall distance we needed to cover to reach our final destination, but it was off-season, and we were constrained by the availability of ger-camps in the almost deserted countryside.
It was my fifth day of living in hastily-purchased and borrowed clothing; Air China had finally found my suitcase, but they were offering no provisions to get it to me! Fortunately, our brilliant guides had connections everywhere and – at my own expense – my belongings and I should meet up by the end of the day. Even better: we had been promised ready-access to hot showers (which might be our last for several days), so it would be good to get into camp early.
We started our morning with a short hike up Khorgo Uul, a volcano in the Tariat district in the mid-western Arkhangai Province (see: Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur), then pointed the trucks west through the steppes and forest-steppes of Mongolia.
Cashmere Goats
Driving is slower when you have to give way to the regular flocks of goats and sheep that wander into the roadways. (iPhone6) Lunch Stop
Like a wild-west wagon train, we pull over and huddle the UAZs around the lunch tent at a likely looking spot in the Tarvagatai Mountains National Park. If you are looking for a shelter, the patches of larch trees are a long walk away… (iPhone6) Larch in the Wind
There are a few more trees at our next stop: the European larch (larix decidua) is the dominant forest species in Mongolia. With autumnal yellowed needles, the few trees standing on the open steppe are bent by the wind that blows through the passes. Larch Trunk
The twisting, reaching, trunks are very decorative with their roughly textured bark. Dead Trunk
European larch (Larix decidua) trees live between 100 and 350 years, so I had to wonder about the dead trunks around our stop. These trees like well-drained soil, which is why there are more of them on the slopes than on the flat. Almost Abstract
The tree bark presents a beautiful pattern. Grasses on the Steppes
We are in the high plateaus of the Khangai Mountain Range; sparse grasses grow, and the mountains provide a backdrop. Yaks on the Hillside
Domestic yak (Bos grunniens) somehow manage to find grasses and sedges high up on the mountain ridges. The Drone
One of our participants takes the opportunity to fly his drone across the plateau. (iPhone6) Motorcycle Riders
There is not much traffic; two men in their traditional deel coats, and no helmets, smile as they pass us. UAZ
In spite of the dusty roads, our drivers manage to keep the Russian UAZ (Ulyanovsky Avtomobilny Zavod) four-wheel-drive trucks spotlessly clean: … UAZ-Selfie
… so clean you can see yourself in them! Mongolian Drivers View from the Truck
Closer to our destination, the road gets bumpier. Rough wooden planks serve as a bridge to the next patch of gravel. Cabins on the Plain
There is no sense of crowding at Selenge Lodge where we are camped out for the night. Pretty little cabins are located well away from the gers, … Winter Greenhouse
… and away from the greenhouses which sit empty in the winter sun. Winter Greenhouse
The season is clearly finished: nothing is growing inside, and the torn sheeting flaps in the icy cold wind. Family
The people who look after the camp are happy to pose … Proud Mum
… in the brightly angling afternoon sun. The Elder Child In the Firelight
The light falls quickly over the camp. Surprisingly, there are still enough trees for a bonfire! We all gather around it after dinner. (iPhone6) Mother and Child in the Firelight Boy with a Bucket
Early next morning, the son of the owners goes about his chores. Mongolian Sheep Dog Woman in the Kitchen
As we prepare to leave, mum at the counter … Father and Baby
… and dad at the back door, see us off. And so, after a feed of Khorkhog (Xopxoг – an awful lot of mutton and offal stewed with hot stones in a pressure cooker), a hot shower and a night’s sleep, we point the UAZs ever-westward and set off on another day’s drive.
May all your roads be less bumpy!
Happy travels –
Photos: 24-25September2016
Posted in Landscapes,Mongolia,TravelTags: blog,drive,environmental portrait,landscape,Mongolia,nature,portraits,travel,Travel Blog,Ursula Wall
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Beautiful reminder of the preservation of national parks for the benefit of all visitors. Unfortunate we have an administration wishing to destroy parts of it.
Lovely trail and magnificent trees!
Thanks for your visit, Sidran! It is a beautiful area.
[…] The first stop for my husband and myself after entering this “National Scenic Byway” at its northernmost point at Rockfish Gap, Virginia (Mile 0) late last spring, was at the Humpback Rocks Farm Visitor Center,;where we were able to appreciate how how hard these pioneers had to work (see: Driving the Blue Ridge Parkway Part 1). […]