North Carolina - back to Mt. Airy

June 16, 2019 - June 19, 2019

Mt. Airy is where Andy Griffith was born and raised.  The town of Mayberry in the Andy Griffith show is based on Mt. Airy.  We visited here last year and really enjoyed the town so we went back for another look.  One of the towns frequently mentioned on the Andy Griffith show is Mt. Pilot.  The actual town near Mt. Airy is Pilot Mountain.  That name doesn't run off the tongue quite so easily so I can see whey they changed it.  Either that and to possibly to protect the innocent.  At any rate, there is an actual Pilot Mountain which you can see from miles away.

Pilot Mountain panorama

View of Pilot Mountain from another rocky outcrop in Pilot Mountain State Park.
The trail you see allows people to hike up to the base of the mountain.

Two views off the rocky outcrop in Pilot Mountain State Park.

Barney's namesake road in Mayberry Campground, where we stayed while we were there.
Barney was embarrassed by the whole thing!

Saw this really awesome metal firepit in one of the camp spots.

We went into town to just wander around and came upon the Mt Airy Museum of Regional History.  You never know what you'll find in a small local museum.  This one was really well done.

The early days of Mt. Airy.  Way back and way way back.

The Saura Indians where the indigenous people in this area and the museum had a very nice display of one of their dwellings.

This would have been a winter dwelling.  Their summer homes had only a roof with the sides being open.

Two views inside the dwelling.

We didn't realize there was an enormous granite mine just outside of Mt. Airy until we saw this information in the museum.  Would have loved to see it in person.
  

We seen some amazing buildings made of sandstone, limestone, granite, etc. so we found this example of a typical stonecutter's station quite interesting.  It didn't explain how these items were used only that "...stonecutters raised and lowered six and seven pound hammers, hundreds of times each day, carving and shaping the formless pieces of granite."
(Those heavy hammers seem to be missing from this station!)

The museum had this nice example of a settlers cabin.  Such a different life than what we live these days.

Neat old hand made wheelbarrow with removable sides for added utility.

Old farm wagon with all its original parts.

Nice collection of old trunks and luggage at the railway station.

Of course the museum wouldn't be complete without a tribute to their local home town hero.

More North Carolina

June 13, 2019 - June 16, 2019

While we were in the Asheville area we drove over to Chimney Rock State Park to see the famous granite rock.

Chimney Rock from the parking lot.

This is the way to the top if you don't take the elevator.
Yes of course we took the elevator. Duh!

Even if you take the elevator you have to climb the last bit to get to the top.

Panoramic view from the top.

Panoramic view of the top.

The Broad River which runs through the town of Chimney Rock.
The 'buildings' you see in the distance are actually RV's with all manner of roofs built over them.
They are set cheek to jowl in the "campground" and have obviously been there for a very long time.
Don't think I'd want to be there if this river decided to overflow its banks but otherwise they have a beautiful spot!

Another view of the Broad River.
The number of huge rocks along it were amazing.

On our last day in the area we went to the North Carolina Arboretum, just outside Asheville.

Panoramic view of the visitor center.

There were several types of gardens to investigate - one of which was a quilt garden

A look at the quilt garden they built.  I imagine by the end of summer these flowers will have grown up and look wonderful.
Even now they look pretty darn good.

Sculpture titled "A Hedge Against Extinction" by Martin Webster

Sculpture titled "Oh Great Spirit" by Nell Banister Scruggs.

Interesting rock

A tribute to Japanese gardens.

Sculpture of "Frederick Law Olmstead" by Zenos Frudakis

Garden gate

Carnivorous "pitcher" plant.

 The was an outstanding collection of Bonsai at the arboretum.  Here are a few examples.

Interesting way to grow herbs and succulents.

Fun things at the gift shop (which was thankfully closed when we got there!)

On to Western North Carolina

June 12, 2019 - June 13, 2019

We continued north from Tallulah Fall SP to Asheville in western North Carolina.  The countryside was very similar to northwest Georgia and since we were up in elevation it was, to our relief,  much cooler.

So I'm going to admit that I've gone overboard with the pictures but it would be hard to present a 250 room chateau in only a few pictures.  Biltmore is the largest personal residence in the U.S.  Although the family no longer lives here, they are still very much involved with the estate and continue to find new business opportunities to keep the tourists coming.

It was built by George Vanderbildt, a grandson of the Cornelius Vanderbildt. Here are a few statistics to mull over.

• Built: 1889 - 1895  (6 years to complete)
• Architect: Richard Morris Hunt (he designed many homes and buildings among which was the pedestal for the Statue of Liberty)
• Landscaper: Frederick Law Olmstead (pre-eminent landscape designer - he also designed Central Park in New York City)
• George Vanderbildt thought so highly of these Hunt and Olmstead he had their portraits painted an hung the paintings in Biltmore.
• Floor space: 4 acres
• Bedrooms: 35
• Bathrooms: 45
• Fireplaces: 65

If you are ever near Asheville, North Carolina - Biltmore is a MUST SEE!!!

The front of Biltmore.

Panoramic view from the rear of the house.

What can I say about Biltmore?  It's fabulous!

Over the top rooms:

Winter Garden Room (some might call it a sun room)

Banquet Hall

Salon

Music Room (I think?)

Gallery

2nd floor living hall

Billiard Room

Mr. Vanderbildt's bedroom

Oak Sitting Room

Mrs. Vanderbildt's bedroom

3rd Floor Living Hall

Guest Bedroom

Guest Bedroom

Bowling Alley

Indoor Pool with diving platform (70,000 gallons heated by steam)

Exercise Room

Former Stables - now used for restaurant purposes.

Fabulous furniture and collections

Banquet Room Chairs

Tea service on incredible table.  Check out the lamp and the details on the fireplace!

Beautiful furniture in a guest bedroom

George Vanderbildt collected engravings on a grand scale.  

Upstairs hallway with more engravings

Another hallway with engravings.

The furniture alone is worth the visit.

Incredible architectural detail:

3 fireplaces at the end of the banquet hall.  The table you see would have been used for more intimate dinners.

Details on the opposite end of the banquet hall including the pipes of the organ.
Check out the lighting fixture and the ceiling.

Ceiling detail

Details on a column and window

Ceiling, railing and fireplace details in Mr. Vanderbildt's library.

Lighting detail (and more engravings)

Looking down the main stairway from the 3rd floor

Railing detail

Archway detail

Hallway in the basement

Interesting details about the lives of the servants:

Kitchen.  Everything is original to the house.

Roasting oven.

Electric dumb waiter.  They also had a manual dumb waiter.

Servants dining room

Pantry

Additional pantry

Part of the laundry room.

Servants bedroom

Incredible Gardens and Greenhouses - especially orchids!

Part of the outside gardens

Greenhouse

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Orchids and more orchids