Thursday, August 21, 2014

Driving the Mountain Roads

There is so much beauty to be seen on the mountain roads of Western North Carolina.

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We drove up into Madison County one day last week and saw some amazing scenery.

I was shooting photos through the glass and got quite a bit of glare in many of them. But there’s no where to pull over to take photos.

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You’re between a rock (wall) and a sheer drop off.

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Do you feel better when the rock wall is next to you or the drop off (with NO guard rails!)

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I used to get car sick on these winding roads when I moved here 20 something years ago. Now I love it! These are some of my favorite trips!

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I’m joining Tex for the Good Fences party!

I hope you are having a wonderful day!

(wanna go for a ride? I’ll drive! lol)

42 comments:

Anonymous said...

All this just a day trip away? Lovely. I think I would prefer the rock side of the road.

Montanagirl said...

You're right - you saw some amazing scenery! Love those old buildings, and how green it is! Oh, and I don't do "drop-off" roads! LOL. Heights frighten me.

ann said...

There really is a beautiful country out there beyond where we all live. Born and raised traveling the night country roads of Colorado, I have never gotten used to steep cliffs and no gard rails. Gorgeous country, gorgeous photos, glared included.

Hootin Anni said...

Pretty scenery. For me personally, I'll take the wall next to me instead of the sheer drop off [if you've ever been to Colorado on the Western Slope, there is a highway that goes over Red Mountain Pass...now THAT is a sheer drop off...for miles below!!!]

Anyway, great post. Am enjoying all your greenery since my area of Texas is nothing but ... well, dried up browns.

Kim@Snug Harbor said...

What a beautiful area of the country and such a different view than Florida, don't you think?

bj said...

Glare didn't hurt these photos a bit...still just beautiful.

EG CameraGirl said...

I would love to travel around this area. So much to see, enjoy and photograph.

Diane said...

Gorgeous! Have never been there. I get car sick sometimes if I'm not driving. Boo...

Cranberry Morning said...

Beautiful photos, Diane! I know that when we were in Virginia I wanted to get some photos in the amazing mountains but decided I'd rather live. LOL Even around here, there are many wonderful photos I'd like to get, but can't stop on the freeway and take them.

Have a wonderful Thursday!

TexWisGirl said...

they really squeezed the roads through, didn't they? lots of buildings right up close to them. thanks for sharing the twisty turns!

Vee said...

You pose an interesting question...I think I prefer the monster I know so I'd rather have the cliff there than the drop-off. Very pretty road and scenes and wonderful, rustic barns.

PatC - All is Bright said...

Beautiful scenery makes beautiful photos.

Sweet hugs
Pat

Sherry@Back2Vintage said...

I love those mountain photos! So beautiful! Thanks for taking us along for the drive!

Donna said...

As your photos prove, there are a lot of beautiful rural scenes in that whole area of NC! And your'e right about a lack of places to stop to take photos. To reduce or eliminate glare, you can always use a polarizing lens. If you are using a point and shoot that doesn't accept a polarizing lens, then you can pop your polarizing sunglasses in front of the lens in a pinch. As a bonus, you'll get richer looking colors, particularly in the skies.

Carola Bartz said...

These are beautiful images of a stunning landscape. I actually love roads like that, and we have many of those around here. I don't mind driving them. I love the barn in the last picture.

Susie said...

I absolutely love driving back roads. No, that drop off makes me lean the other way.LOL. Too scary. I like seeing all those old buildings and barns . xoxo,Susie

Linda Walker said...

Beautiful photos! I love the old farm photo! Have fun!
Linda

Anonymous said...

Great photos! These drop offs are intimidating in an 18 wheeler/semi-truck!

Arlene G said...

You would have to drive if we went riding in the mountains...the look offs just make me very frightened! And I grew up in the mountains but still!:) Some of my roots are in Rutherford County NC. Some of my ancestors traveled from there to Georgia. Thanks for sharing the pretty photos.

Country Crow said...

Very beautiful landscapes! I love old red barns, cows and horses! After looking at your photos I miss Iowa!

Jody Wakefield studio said...

Wow, so so beautiful!! I especially love the old Barn pic, what a mood that one has! :-) Hugs
Jody

eileeninmd said...

Very pretty country scenes! The barn shot is one of my favorites! And I always love the critters! Thanks for taking me along on the ride!

cucki said...

Wow so beautiful :)
Hugs x

Karen @ Beatrice Euphemie said...

So beautiful - I love the rolling hills and lush farmlands. Looks like you were between a rock and a hard place there! I close my eyes going either way. Good thing I wasn't driving! xo Karen

Maggie Ann said...

I'd take the rock wall over the drop-off....they scare me. And curves still make me carsick. But the scenery is gorgeous. I'll bet you had a wonderful day.

Julie's Lifestyle said...

Hi Diane,wow how beautiful it is there and thank you for sharing these pretty photos with us. I love your header. Wishing you a nice afternoon and weekend.
Julie

Musings from Kim K. said...

Gorgeous but I can relate to car sickness. We had fun driving in the mountains on our trip out west last summer. My husband was terrified the entire time, but he wouldn't let anyone else drive. We weren't allowed to talk on some parts of the mountains because he was so stressed out. Loads of fun!

Trace4J said...

I just love mountain roads.
Awesome barn too.
Hugs

Elizabeth said...

Beautiful pics Diane! I love N.C. and hope we can make a trip that way soon!

Suzan said...

So much fun driving NC and Tenn country roads!! As a kid, I'd get car sick when Dad would drive us up to my Aunt Lucy's in Knox. Tenn. i had to sit in front of the air conditioner. I still get car sick, unless I'm doing the driving!!

susanne said...

Hello friend, it has been awhile since I have stopped in to see you and I see you have been doing so neat and niffty things. I had a friend who could read, knit or crochet while riding in the car. Oh my, I could never do that, I have to keep my eyes on the road when traveling. It always gave me the heebee jeebees to look over the edge of the road while in the mountains. Then of course while traveling you always had to "Beware, Fallen Rock Zone" too, so there were times I didn't know which side of the road was the worst. Have a great weekend.
(((HUGS))) Susanne :)

cynthia lee designs said...

Beautiful photos!! I love going out into the hills or mountains just to see the pretty countryside...but I do get car sick if the roads are too curvy and I do get nervous when there is a drop off on one side of the mountain.
hugs,
Cindy

Deborah Montgomery said...

just beautiful country! My son moved to NC after he graduated from college two years ago, and we have had a chance to visit. so lovely, with all the mountains and hills. I'm pretty terrified of heights, so I'd definitely stay close to the rock wall!

Diane Writes said...

Yes I will definitely go on a road trip with you!!! If only USA means one bus ride away from Ph :)

The photos don't look like being obstructed by the car's glass windows. Perfect!

Anonymous said...

What pretty scenery!

Roses, Lace and Brocante said...

I'll come with you Diane!
It looks so picturesque - love the beautiful old barns.
Enjoy your weekend!

Boopnut said...

I think I would like NC. It is beautiful and I can see you were between a rock and drop off!...Yikes! I would rather be on the side of the rock. Read your other post too, and Hendersonville looks like a lot of fun!

Deb

GardenOfDaisies said...

Absolutely beautiful!! I don't think I'd be able to pull myself away from that to go to FL each year.

Breathtaking said...

Thank you for the ride along your beautiful country roads.
Greetings from Portugal.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful country!

Debby Ray said...

Absolutely beautiful country! I'll go with you too, Diane....can you run down I-40 a few miles and pick me up? I'll be the one with my thumb in the air...lol!

Anonymous said...

I think I'd prefer the rock side. In a perfect world, there be a required pull-off space on life's highways for photographers.