"We'll get there early...at 11:15...and they won't be crowded." WRONG. Tables were close together and had 4 people at each one (mostly) and there was only ONE poor waitress taking care of everyone.
Helen and I kept our masks on...finally got to give the one waitress our take-out order of vegetables...and then had 30 more minutes to wait. It was because that one waitress was busy...and then we had the nerve to ask for plastic forks to go with our lunches...so the gal had to walk all the way back to the back to get them.
I don't think this was a working phone, because when one rang, another woman came along looking for the cell phone. Waitress said she didn't know where she put it. The other woman took our money and we left...and more people were coming in the door.
They had some nice seasonal decorations too.
Also, see the little green sign hanging from the ceiling? It tells where the border of one of the 3 counties goes...yes, the restaurant sits on that junction, and has a sign for each county. I posted about this restaurant several years ago on another day-trip
HERE.
We took our lunches, found a spot in the crowded parking lot at Linville Falls, and pulled our 2 folding chairs out of the trunk of the car. As we were heading up to a sunny spot, the woman who was sitting at the picnic table helped us and invited us to sit at the table...so we happily did while she waited for who she was meeting. Her 2 children were playing with leaves and bugs nearby.
There were thousands of people going to see the falls (over the whole day I imagine that many, maybe we saw only 50.) We hadn't been for 2 years...and there certainly hadn't been this many people before. On a Thursday no less!
Going down hill, we stopped frequently as Helen marveled at mossy logs...and people passed us by.
There were beautiful trees and leaves overhead.
And roots on rocks frequently. That's Helen further down the path.
Our first view of the falls. Again, stopping meant people would pass behind me on their way down.
There were places where only one person could go at a time. So the pedestrian traffic blocked up going one way or the other.
More tomorrow on the falls!
Today's Quote:
When external factors shift, we have an opportunity to rediscover our core, the only truly safe place to call home.
It looks like a fine spot for an autumn outing. Such spots around here, if we have any, tend to shut down after our TG as the weather becomes untenable.
ReplyDeleteYes, having more winter weather must take the Canadian fortitude for which you are so famous.
DeleteThat looks like a beautiful place for a hike.
ReplyDeleteAnd it was a challenge this time to do even minor social distancing. Much too crowded! But that's what happens in the fall around here.
DeleteA beautiful spot but why so many there on a week day? We're you a bit nervous about all the people? I know when we lived in Columbia and went for a walk, there were times we looked at each other and both said let's go back. Too many people walking, jogging, and biking. Many without masks.
ReplyDeleteI agree completely, and I certainly stopped if being followed by unmasked folks. Most people were aware of social distancing, but it was hard just because the end of our hike was a limited size to stand/sit and enjoy the view.
DeleteI would be nervous about all the people. (no masks?) I love the pumpkins and it makes me want more fall decorations. I have a metal pumpkin that I love. Thanks for sharing the beauty and the fall colors.
ReplyDeleteYes, it did make be a bit nervous...but I can either turn away from unmasked folks, or just wait for them to pass, while social distancing. There was a sense of almost all of us trying to be courteous and waiting for others to pass, but when it came to narrow steps, everyone (I imagine) used the nearby rocks to steady themselves. We just used our hand santitizer when we got back to the car...and were careful not to touch eye, nose or mouth until then. What a life. All in all, the view was well worth the trip...and getting very out of breath as we came back up the hill.
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