You may notice my blog's heading picture has changed.  Certainly nothing regarding a creekside there.  Taken by a relative titled.
"Mt. Mitchell, NC." What a beautiful view of nature!
 Having never been there myself, I wish to go some day.

I enjoy traveling the roads and byways of western North Carolina.  The waysides are clean and neat.  I cannot say that without the flash of memory of how I felt entering over the state line my first time ever.  Thrownout trash is totally absent; so unlike the roadsides here in my mountainous area. Some people have no pride or consideration for our earth.

The mountain roads twist and turn overall and brakes are often required.  There are fatal accidents driving roads when unacquainted with the curves cut into the side of mountains. 

Once "my Peggy" came from Florida and complained about the scary highways; speed limit changing constantly and abruptly at times; nothing like Florida roadways with a usually constant speed limit for miles and miles;  those roads are straight and long.

Even being a native-born mountain resident, I still have fear driving 'dangerous' roads. There are some tricky spots along the highway I live by.  I meet a few when driving to get my spring water supply.

Occasionally I drive on into Shady Valley, enjoying the uphill climb for I am going slowly but the return ride usually finds me tired, exhausted and in a hurry to get home again; this is when mistakes are made in calculating a steep curve.  I once lacked an inch of crashing off the side when driving in the night and fast.  Horrible scare I gave myself.

Shady Valley is a beautiful area, not yet taken prisoner by newcomers, residential subdivisions.  The residents of Shady are usually born and raised there and leave one with a comfortable feeling after having met them.  Shady Valley has their Cranberry Festival in the early fall.  There you will find many local craft displays, from food to fabrics.

Driving farther on past Shady Valley, I come through federal forest land and into Backbone Rock Park. Picnic spots and hiking trails make for enjoyment of the park. Rock climbers are seen here, especially during nice weather. I once found two discarded climbing ropes by the streamside.  Just a few frayed spots justified some climber to discard them for new rope.  A great find for me.

I have gotten much use from the two ropes over the years.  Pulling the riding lawnmower out of trouble, the rope has been such a blessing for I am very good at driving my Snapper into trouble spots.  There is much saturation on my property, being so near a creek.  Several weather springs about too.  The machine is very big and heavy and sometimes I'm not paying enough attention to where I'm going.  It works so well that my mowing allows for daydreaming  at times.

Just thinking and writing about the curvy roads has tired me.  I believe it is time for a nap, not having gotten any rest again last night.