Dead Leaf Fallin’
When a death row inmate is marched to the chamber on judgement day the guards announce; “Dead Man Walkin’!” to the rest of the inmates. As if the words are going to deter them from committing any more crimes. I think the point is moot, but it makes the guards happy. Most of the criminals deserve the final taunting anyway, so don’t feel too bad. Leaves, on the other hand, rarely experienced the same attention. For eons the leaves fell from their branches with nary a notice; then man invented the automobile and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Now the leaves are subjected to gawkers by the millions each fall. God, I sound like a Rush song. Anyway, each fall millions of people load up the cameras and the kids and head for the hills. This year, we joined the pilgrimage.
We’ve lived in North Carolina for over 7 years now and I’m finally getting used to the concept of 4 seasons. In El Paso we had 3; Africa Hot Summer, Indian Summer and Damn, It’s Cold! Yes, the desert can get very cold. Indian Summer (Sept-Nov) in El Paso would find you leaving the house in jeans and a jacket with the temperature around 40 degrees. By noon you were cursing yourself for not “toughing out” the cool morning because by now it was 70 and the jeans were getting uncomfortable. At 3:30 school counselors and resource officers would be out issuing citations to the kids walking around in their underwear trying to beat the 90 degree + temps. It’s the only place on earth where you can leave the house in 4 layers of clothing and come home in none. My experience with leaves changing was; today they’re on the tree, cold snap comes, it freezes that night, every leaf falls from the tree the next morning. It was literally like a Charlie Brown cartoon. WHOOMPH! They’re down. Every, last, one. THEN they change color. After they get to the ground. No reds, oranges, burgundy’s or yellows, just green, then dirt colored. No need to rake, the wind will blow them away in a few days. It was with this jaded view of leaves that I ventured to the Blue Ridge Mountains.
I was expecting it to look like 5 billion birds had raided a Skittles factory and then lost their lunch all over the trees; with every color of the leaf spectrum represented; yellow, red, purple, orange, red violet, violet red and every other Crayola color in between. This was supposed to be “Peak” weekend, when the viewing spectrum was at it’s best. Talking to the locals, though, it sounds like this year may be a bust. They said middle of this week would probably be the “Peak” with next weekend being the tail end of it. Severe drought in the Southeast the past couple of years is the culprit. It was still impressive, though. I’ve posted a few pictures, even though my cheap-o digital camera doesn’t do it justice. It was actually much prettier than the pictures show.
We stopped at Mabry Mill; one of the most photographed sites on the entire Blue Ridge Parkway. So much so that Iowa and Vermont saw fit to put Mabry’s Mill on postcards and claim it as their own. The postcards now sit on a plaque next to the Mill to fully showcase their shame and embarrassment. It was just us and about 50,000 of our closest friends today. They must have been expecting “Peak Leaf Peeking” weekend also. We all walked around and checked out the Mill, which was actually incredibly impressive. Not only was it a gristmill, it also had an amazing woodworking shop inside. Mr. Mabry had made his own sawmill, lathe, jig saw and drill press that all ran off of the wheel. He re-directed 2 smaller streams up the hill to lead into the “chute” that drove the wheel. He was also a blacksmith, and while we were there the Nukekids got to see a modern day Iron Pounder make a spoon. Having just re-read the previous sentence, I think it is important to point out that it was more impressive to watch than it was to read.
We also stopped by Puckett Cabin. A homestead for a lady who became a mid-wife after the age of 50 and lived to be 102. She delivered over a thousand babies, but was unable to nurture any of her 24 kids out of infancy. They all died. Yes, I said 24. If she had lived in modern times, I’m sure Bill Kurtis would have some questions for her. The cabin itself was impressive for the simple fact that you could tell it was all handmade. Each log hand planed and stacked. The chimney still stands almost 100 years later and looks no worse for wear. The 80 year old apple tree in the yard gave the Nukekids a quick snack. Some poor lady was throwing a piece of bark into the tree trying to get an apple down when we pulled up. Nukeboy1 pulled out his football, threw it into the tree and fed the dozens of onlookers with one throw, like some modern day Johnny Appleseed, or something. Nukegirl offered me one, but I told her that I’d already had diarrhea this week, thank you.
Even though the colors weren’t as brilliant as advertised, it was still a great day. I do think, however, that I’d like to journey the Blue Ridge Parkway again when it’s not quite as busy. I saw a lot of older folks in their retirement funded Escalades with Missouri plates. “Show Me State” indeed, they pulled into the overlooks and never even got out of the car. If I saw 1 leather Harley Davidson jacket, I saw 100. Not a one of them on anyone under the age of 57. Know what else I saw to go with the jackets? A stunning lack of Harley Davidson’s. At least the kids got to see someone playing a real live wash tub bass; it was almost Arkansas. Hopefully next time they can hang their sign straight. All in all, we found that the local color isn’t always found just in the leaves; if you know where to look.
Mr Lady
Oh, that looks beautiful. Also, I believe there is a loving tribute to fallen leaves somewhere in the middle of The Holy Grail. Also also, El Paso sounds like Denver weather all year long. Which sucks for both places.
(NukeDad) The stores in El Paso usually set out the “Winter Wear” around the day after Thanksgiving and it’s gone before Christmas. Swimsuits? Available year round.
Mr Ladys last blog post..Damn Near A Century Isn’t Half Bad
Oct 20, 2008 @ 2:33 am
Melisa
I LOVE the last sentence. Perfect ending to the post!
Of course, when we were in the Smokies last week, we saw all of the same things (buildings, people, etc.). Do you ever wonder what’s going to be “still standing” after one or two hundred years from our generation? I shudder to think about it.
(NukeDad) Thanks, Melisa! I went all Robert Frost there for a minute. I think the only things left standing will be a McDonalds and the Hollywood sign. Oh, and that bedpan looking thingy in Chicago.
Melisas last blog post..If Only A Frosting-Covered Jeremy Piven Had Been Available, It Would Have Been A Perfect Evening.
Oct 20, 2008 @ 7:30 am
Weaselmomma
Sounds like a great family weekend.
(NukeDad) That, it was!
Weaselmommas last blog post..Wacky Wednesday
Oct 20, 2008 @ 9:19 am
Sue
I’ve been on the parkway a couple times, and even to Puckett Cabin (briefly). Very beautiful this time of year!
(NukeDad) It is, Sue. I think we were just a few days too early.
Sues last blog post..A Place My Own
Oct 20, 2008 @ 9:40 am
Kim
I need to get off Long Island more often..those pictures are beautiful.. sounds like it was a great time!!!
(NukeDad) Thanks, Kim! I don’t think they are JIC quality, but they’re OK.
Kims last blog post..Finding My Backbone
Oct 20, 2008 @ 3:08 pm
Mike Marshall
“Nukegirl offered me one, but I told her that I’d already had diarrhea this week, thank you.” That reminded me of a scene in The Grapes of Wrath…………don’t eat them green peaches or you’ll get the skitters………LOL Peace, Mike.
(NukeDad) The culprit with me was one too many Dr. Peppers.
Oct 20, 2008 @ 4:37 pm
tom
What a great time that must have been! I absolutely LOVE watching craftsmen at work (okay, crafts-people) doing what they do best, and forging something out of raw stock using skill and centuries-old traditions. It makes me glad to know there are still people out there who do that.
(NukeDad) You would have loved this guy, then. He talked to the kids the whole time he was working. He was quite the showman.
toms last blog post..Michael’s New Sister, part II
Oct 20, 2008 @ 5:54 pm
Mike
Great pictures and a great story. One day I need to get back east and see that for myself. Out here in So Cal all we see changing color is the models changing from tan to pale. That is until they make it back to the tan salon…
(NukeDad) Don’t they have that in a spray-on can now?
Mikes last blog post..Spell Checker?
Oct 20, 2008 @ 10:37 pm
BusyDad
I want to say it was beautiful, but the New Englander in me is very competitive with the foliage thing. So I’ll just say your Rush song description caused me a great fit of laughter. And I did not realize that spoon making was a specialized trade. Way to highlight our unsung heroes. Cereal wouldn’t be the same without em.
(NukeDad) I can’t believe you played the Boston Card on me! I don’t know how they make the plastic spoons without them melting all over the place.
BusyDads last blog post..In Other News, Vol. 5
Oct 20, 2008 @ 11:53 pm
Leta
I was in NYC in the middle of November last year and the leaves in Central Park were still green. Now your venture into the Great Smokies is similar in nature. I don’t suppose that something such as ….ahem…global warming could be causing this. No need to respond. I can hear your thick guttural scream all the way here in good ole EP.
(NukeDad) They say it’s actually more a factor of less rain than usual. You can take the Gore/Lieberman bumper sticker off of your car now.
Oct 21, 2008 @ 12:57 am
Karen
Oh to have global warming in Iowa, it is 24°F right now and I am likely to die since I have not plasticed my windows yet. I drove my car today, tried to do my part and make my carbon footprint bigger but alas it just isn’t enough! Here in Ioway the leaves change and it is really pretty, but then a wind storm hits (60mph gusts, whooo) and all our leaves end up in a neighboring state and we are left with the dead looking trees until April. I detest fall, especially late fall (now). Only thing worse than fall is winter! I need to convince my family to move south when I graduate!
Great pics, even if they don’t capture the full beauty. I am very amused that the Iowans stole that Mill, hahaha! Makes me wonder if the pictures in my “Wild and Scenic Iowa” calendar are really Iowa…
(NukeDad) Our weather has been the same; high today will only be in the 40′s. That’s cold for us. I think some of your leaves made it all the way down here to my yard. Can’t wait to see the gutters.
Karens last blog post.."Tastey" Tuesday
Oct 28, 2008 @ 3:44 am