Looking Glass Falls

 

Thanks to the person in red shirt for putting things into perspective.

We enjoyed a break from driving and just looked at it...I walked down half the stairs to get closer. And then puffed and coughed back up. Good exercise!

Pretty day and a scurry to lunch

Looking Glass Falls...next to the highway leading from Brevard to the Blue Ridge Parkway...sorry I don't remember the number.

At 11:30 am, the falls are in the shade, and all the foreground foliage is in the sun.  And we didn't have time to go down the steps to see a closer view.

As it was, Teresa and I arrived late for our reservation at the Pisgah Inn restaurant. We did call and say we'd be a few more minutes before we arrived, and I scooted along the BR Parkway as fast as all those curves would allow. 

They held our table, and you can see the tables are separated quite a bit more than they had been last year. The restaurant closes the end of Oct. usually.

After our delicious lunches, we visited the gift shop.

There was a plexiglass screen at the check out counter, but I liked the bear with the shiny trees on it  hanging on the wall.

Several years ago the viewing platform outside the restaurant and shop was completely changed, with a nice ramp for handicapped access.

There were just a few trees with beginning blush of yellow and reds visible below.

We sat in the sun a while, then drove back to Black Mountain along the parkway. I doubt that I'll go back here to see the fall leaves, but I do have a visit scheduled to go leaf peeping further north on the parkway with another friend....soon!

A local day-trip

 Just after turning onto the Blue Ridge Parkway from US 276 outside of Brevard NC, there's the Looking Glass Falls on your right.  Easy to park and look at, and if you're interested in the walk down the stairs, it's easy enough to get to (and of course walk back up the stairs!)

 we enjoyed wonderful colors in the trees all along the parkway on Mon. Oct 28, 2019.

 But our aim was to go have a much Munch at the Pisgah Inn before it closes for the season on Oct 31.

 we were told at 1:45 that they were taking no more names for the waiting list, as they had so many already waiting and they stopped serving lunch at 3:30.  So we had the option of waiting till they opened for dinner at 5:00 pm, or getting "take out." And that's what we did...and were able to sit immediately in the sandwich shop without waiting. My friend got a chef's salad, and I had a veggie burger with some awful fries that were overly spiced and didn't stay hot in temperature.  But my real goal was to get a slice of French Silk Pie, so I was happy.

A nearby case showed Bruce O'Connell, who had rescued me when I wanted a glass of water, having finished off my ale.  He brought me a pitcher and poured it himself. The person at the counter only had bottled water for sale.

 I admit I didn't have quite as nice of a view as those in the main dining room, seeing this montage of photoes of older inns.

 It has upgraded the patio in the last few years, but it's hard to believe that it looked like some of these pictures (of the Inn, as well as the restaurant.)

 After lunch we mingled with the crowd still waiting to get in for their lunches...

  Fall foliage is the name of the game, which attracts Leaf-Peepers, and we were part of that crowd.

 There's a helicopter just over the horizon, which flew by our group.

 There goes the helicopter!

 The walk to the terrace between the hotel and the restaurant.

 Steps going up to the restaurant.

 We had found parking that was not too far, but just look at those fir trees poking their green heads above the oaks which are in full color!

 As we pulled into an overlook, I only had eyes for this stunning Sourwood tree, from which local honey is made and often sells out quickly.

OK, I'm going to edit down from the original 42 photos, so you won't fall asleep!