TUSKEGEE AIRMEN MONUMENT (Walterboro, SC)

The Tuskegee Airmen broke military aviation's color barrier and were the most respected squadrons of World War II. They are honored in Walterboro, South Carolina, with a bronze bust and concrete monument at the old Walterboro Army Airfield. Many of the Black military aviators were trained for duty during WWII at the base that currently serves as the Walterboro airport. The Airmen also received the Order of the Palmetto, the state's highest civilian honor.

(Click on photos to enlarge.)
This was a very nice monument at the Walterboro Airport.

GREAT MEAL AT ROSETTA'S KITCHEN (Asheville, NC)

ROSETTA'S KITCHEN

My Favorite Restaurant

 PEANUT BUTTER TOFU

My Favorite Meal

Rosetta's Kitchen displays and sells local artists' work. 

I liked this one!



MAGNIFICENT WHITEWATER FALLS (video)

 

MORE VIEWS FROM THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY (Southern End)

The Blue Ridge Parkway stretches almost 500 miles along the crest of the Blue Ridge mountains through North Carolina and Virginia, and is part of the National Park Service.  It encompasses some of the oldest settlements of both pre-historic and early European settlement.  One thing is for sure, there isn't a bad view on the entire Parkway!

(Click on photos to enlarge.)

  

 There's a quick walk to a beautiful waterfall at

the Graveyard Fields mile marker.

 This didn't look at all like the Devil to me!!

 More fantastic views of the Smoky Mountains!

 It didn't seem real cold today, yet there was ice

all along the Parkway.

 The highest elevation (which I didn't really need to

state since it says it right there on the sign!)

 Cool looking cloud - I thought it looked like a tornado!

 Most of the pretty orange, red and yellow fall colors are long gone.

 Everything is just kind of brown now, with just a little orange.

 You can look down and see the town of Waynesville NC from this spot.

 No more pretty leaves!

 I know, I know - it all starts to look the same!!

CHIMNEY ROCK STATE PARK

Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park is located near Lake Lure in the NC mountains. The park is nestled in Hickory Nut Gorge adjacent to the towns of Lake Lure and Bat Cave.  Chimney Rock, the 535-million-year-old monolith for which the Park is named, is considered one of the most iconic sites in North Carolina. From the top, you see the 75-mile panoramic views of Hickory Nut Gorge and Lake Lure.  It’s really a fantastic park to visit, with great hiking trails, breathtaking scenery and plenty to do to keep you busy all day. 

(Click on photos to enlarge.)

What could be better than being greeted by these two at Chimney Rock Park??

 Rather than hike up to the top, I was a big crybaby

and took the elevator (but, I did hike back down it!)

 The view from the top is AMAZING!

  

  

This is the "Opera Box"

 More incredible views

 It does kind of look like the Devil!

 This sign didn't scare me, but it was a major

hike UPHILL to get to Exclamation Point (the highest

point in the park)

 Endless stairs and uphill trails

I have never seen this many stairs

 It's very pretty on the way up

Finally!  I get near the top!

 This is the highest point in the park

 This is the best view of the Hickory Nut Gorge

 This is the hike down from the top of the Chimney.

It's a strange little place you have to squeeze through.

 This is a cave on the way down - it is lighted

so you can go inside of it

 I was so exhausted, I had to stop for a no frills lunch

 ANOTHER CHALLENGE!

 Real easy going down these steps (it doesn't

occur to me yet that I will have to come back up them!)

The hike to Hickory Nut Falls is very scenic and a pretty easy trail.

  

 More great views along the way!

 HICKORY NUT FALLS

 And . . . the hike all the way back