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Gene Bowker's RustedRail's Ramblings! Who knows what we'll find along the backroads of life.
Mabry Mill - Along the Blue Ridge Parkway
Mabry Mill on the Blue Ridge Parkway is the most photographed location on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It's located in the Virginia portion of the BRP high in the mountains. Visitors can enjoy the chance to see how life "was back then" through living history demonstrations on the weekends during the season. There is also a great giftshop and cafe there with some good eats. Near by in Meadows of Dan are more eating and shopping options. This photo is from 2011 and is one of my favorites of the mill, especially with the ducks on the ponds.
Choices at the local general store
Along US82 in Alabama between nowhere and nowhere, there was a closed General Store along the side of the road. The thing that caught my eye was the 3 soda machines still outside and the full-length Coca-Cola sign on the roof. Being the South, the machines were RC Cola, Coca-Cola, and Dr. Pepper. Pepsi wasn't missing though, there had been bottles in the Dr. Pepper machine if you were interested. Ice cold bottles were priced 50 cents.. but unfortunately they were out of service! I've found out that the store in Three Notch, Alabama used to be a railroad depot, which looking at it now I can see in the building underneath the later additions. Here is more about the history of three notch road. The bathrooms were outside of course and probably had those great "reusable" blue towels on the rollers that I've always looked askew at for their "cleanliness". The chairs under the awning and the bench outside call back to the days where the local general store would have been the place to on a hot summer day before harvest and the farmers would probably be talking about Alabama Football, politics, and the weather. I like to imagine the place in it's railroad days when it would have been the center of the small community and I'm sure everyone came out to see the arrival of the train and who got off in their town or who was leaving town.
Cradle of Forestry Overlook - Blue Ridge Parkway, NC
Patrice and I drove back on Sunday along a section of the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina south from Asheville. This section includes many tunnels and some scenic overlooks. The clouds were not too dramatic but I've always loved this old dead tree which I've taken many photos of over the years. The Cradle of Forestry offers a great visit just down US276 and makes a great stop along the parkway. Brevard is down the mountain and offers hotels, B&Bs, gas and many food selections. If you'd like to see more of my favorite BRP shots.. check out my BRP Spring Gallery.
Time marches on
I always love taking detail shots of wooden structures, especially those that are starting to decay. This barnside had lots of details including the handmade plants, damage from age and termites, and tons of character.
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