Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Chimney Rock State Park

Candler, NC  (high 76, low 54)

We had planned on spending the day at Chimney Rock State Park, but it was pretty cloudy this morning and it was supposed to stay that way.  We knew this place needed a bright sunny sky to really see it at it’s best.

However, since we didn’t have a plan “B” we decided to head that way anyway.  We’re glad we did because it turned into a beautiful sunny day.

We arrived at the park and immediately had to drive on a very curvy road, straight up the mountain!   Go figure.

I wondered what would happen if someone met us going the other way in some of the narrower spots.

We parked right below the giant rock mountain.  Looking up from the parking lot, this is what we saw.

Chimney Rock, North Carolina

  The same shot, zoomed in.

Chimney Rock, North Carolina

There was a gift shop with some memorabilia from the movie,  The Last of the Mohicans.  It was filmed at Chimney Rock.  Here is Al beside the costume that Daniel Day Lewis wore in the movie.

 

Al alongside costume from Last of the MochicansThere are two ways to get up to the top of Chimney Rock.

The hard way:

Chimney Rock, North Carolina

Chimney Rock, North Carolina

On this trail you could stop off at Chimney Rock, or go up another few hundred feed to about a 2400 foot elevation.   Do you want to see the view from 2400 feet?   So do I!   Take some pictures next time you get up there, because I pooped out about half way there.  

The views we saw were spectacular though.

Chimney Rock, North Carolina

al at Chimney Rock, North Carolina

Karen at Chimney Rock, North Carolina

Chimney Rock, North Carolina

We decided to go back down and go back up to Chimney Rock the easy way:

Chimney Rock, North Carolina, elevator...the easy way

That’s not a great picture, but that’s an elevator, that goes up 26 floors! Smile

We got to the elevator through a tunnel that was carved through rock that was 509 millions years old, which is about 300 million years before the dinosaurs.

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Chimney Rock, North Carolina

Al and I at Chimney Rock, North Carolina

2280 feet.

Chimney Rock, North Carolina

Chimney Rock, North Carolina the top of the world

 

After we left, we drove on through town, and by  all the little touristy shops.  There was a pretty picnic area by the river.

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By this time, we were hungry and decided to blow our vegan diet.  We stopped at a nice little waterfront restaurant along Lake Lure.  Al had a burger and I had a barbeque pork sandwich.  North Carolina is famous for it’s barbeque, but this place wasn’t.  The view was beautiful, but the food was just average.  It didn’t leave us craving more…unless I can find some good eastern style North Carolina barbeque.   They had black bean burgers and we both agreed afterwards we should have had that instead.

This was our view for lunch.

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We stopped at Whole Foods on the way home and then came home to check on Chatty.  We had him locked in the bedroom, away from the “bad” kitty litter that he isn’t supposed to be using yet.  Today, unlike yesterday, he was still locked in the bedroom and didn’t get into any trouble.  Smile  We have a few more days until the sutures can be removed….and we can’t wait!

We don’t have any definite plans yet for tomorrow.  There is so  much to do, you could easily spend months here.  We are not in any hurry to go back to Florida.

9 comments:

  1. Those are so great vistas, will have make sure we get there next time thru NC.

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  2. That was surely a nice view from the top!

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  3. Awesome view from the both locations! Oh.. and the lunch view too! I didn't care at all for the vinegar taste of NC barbq when we went to visit our son when he lived there! Next time cheat on seafood! lol

    Hope Chatty is getting much better!

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  4. You have spent sooooo much time in Florida this year that it is no wonder you aren't in any hurry to rush back. So nice to see you getting a taste of something fun and different. Great photos today!

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  5. Great views. Glad you are getting out to enjoy NC

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  6. I'm with you, girl. No hurry to get to Florida! I'm lovin' this weather too much! Great views and trip to Chimney Rock. Love North Carolina and hope to spend lots more time there.

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  7. Chimney Rock looks amazing. Thanks for the tour and the great photos. Those stairs looked pretty steep, I think I'd have taken the elevator up for sure.

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  8. Did you feel like you cheated when you took the elevator up to the top?

    Heck, I'd would have done it too!!! :c)

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  9. As you know, I've gotten behind in my blog reading. But I'm so glad to hear that Chatty is doing well and so are you two. Looks like you are having a great time there in the mountains. Love the pictures of you two having fun. Life as it should be for sure.

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