Thursday, November 4, 2010
We rolled out of bed this morning and the nasty fog was still lingering. The innkeeper made us a big breakfast: oj, odd fruit, homemade granola (this made me laugh), ham & cheese omelet with salsa, bacon, toast and coffee. Only thing we didn't like was the fruit which was rings of pineapple sprinkled with coconut and a cherry on top, served warm. Yep, we gave that one a miss. And while we ate by the window, we looked onto the white abyss of fog. However a couple of hours later the fog began to lift and lo and behold, we saw trees, then mountains and then a little ray of sunshine. Woo hoo!
We rolled out of bed this morning and the nasty fog was still lingering. The innkeeper made us a big breakfast: oj, odd fruit, homemade granola (this made me laugh), ham & cheese omelet with salsa, bacon, toast and coffee. Only thing we didn't like was the fruit which was rings of pineapple sprinkled with coconut and a cherry on top, served warm. Yep, we gave that one a miss. And while we ate by the window, we looked onto the white abyss of fog. However a couple of hours later the fog began to lift and lo and behold, we saw trees, then mountains and then a little ray of sunshine. Woo hoo!
Who knew that bushes and trees all dressed up in fall colors lay beyond the windows in the awful, terrible, no good, very bad fog of yesterday?
We drove westward, downward off the mountain and into the valley. And what a gorgeous ride it was. The leaves are so pretty this far north, so there was much to oooh and ahhh over. We ended up in a town called Dalton which we were told is the carpet capital of the country. And just as we drove into town, the radio began playing "Magic Carpet Ride". I kid you not. We thought that was funny. I dutifully checked out the cute shops in the historic downtown district and we ate lunch at Oakwood Cafe which had good pot roast, juicy and stringy, just the way we like it.
On our way back up the mountain to our inn, we stopped at Fort Mountain Stables and, yessiree bob, we took us a horseback ride. We rode up a narrow mountain path deep into the woods of Fort Mountain State Park, led by our guide, Heather. The path was a carpet of yellow and brown wet leaves that looked like confetti.
I think this was the single most beautiful hour of my life. The mid-afternoon sun was streaming through the trees, the leaves in all shades of greens, yellows and reds were still wet with last night's rain which just made the color richer and sparkly. It was like looking at the world through colored glass. We passed several mountain streams that made the scene even more picturesque.
When we got off our horses, we might have moved a bit slow and stiff, haha. My arm is still sore from holding up that heavy shotgun for 150 rounds the other day, and I'm betting my backside will feel the effects of this ride, but it was so worth it.
On our way back up the mountain to our inn, we stopped at Fort Mountain Stables and, yessiree bob, we took us a horseback ride. We rode up a narrow mountain path deep into the woods of Fort Mountain State Park, led by our guide, Heather. The path was a carpet of yellow and brown wet leaves that looked like confetti.
I think this was the single most beautiful hour of my life. The mid-afternoon sun was streaming through the trees, the leaves in all shades of greens, yellows and reds were still wet with last night's rain which just made the color richer and sparkly. It was like looking at the world through colored glass. We passed several mountain streams that made the scene even more picturesque.
Makes you just want to break out singing "She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain"...
When we got off our horses, we might have moved a bit slow and stiff, haha. My arm is still sore from holding up that heavy shotgun for 150 rounds the other day, and I'm betting my backside will feel the effects of this ride, but it was so worth it.
The return drive was gorgeous with the late-afternoon sun lighting up the foliage. When we arrived back at the inn, we hiked on the path behind our building since we could finally actually see the view, then settled in with hors d'oeuvres by the fire while watching the sun set on the Blue Ridge Mountains just outside our windows.
Enjoying the view on a thankfully sunny day...
At last, enjoying the view at the Overlook Inn sans fog...
We really didn't do a lot today.
But that horseback ride didn't need to be sandwiched between anything special...
...it stands out on its own...
and that's just fine with my cowboy and me.
But that horseback ride didn't need to be sandwiched between anything special...
...it stands out on its own...
and that's just fine with my cowboy and me.
1 comment:
Y'all look so darned cute on them horses!! Love you both! I found some more keeper pictures for my "Martha file"! Thanks!
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