the Mississippi River, Mount Mitchell
(elevation 6,684 feet), is just 55 miles
south.
A drive to the top of privately owned
Grandfather Mountain traces steeps
and switchbacks seen in the 1994
movie Forrest Gump. On the climb
we stopped to tour the attraction’s
zoo, museum and solar-powered
fudge shop. Connecting two peaks
at the top, the Mile High Swinging
Bridge is a popular thrill.
By mid-afternoon we were on the
road again, pausing to catch final
hazy views of distant mountains and
chat with others who were winding
down the parkway roads. At Mile
Post 376 we exited onto folded switch-
backs descending eight miles into
Weaverville, North Carolina. For this
part of the trip, I hadn’t made lodging
reservations so I consulted the Ashe-
ville Bed and Breakfast Association
and found Dry Ridge Inn operated by
Howard and Kristen Dusenbery.
The next morning the Harley was
TRAVERSE
57
quiet until 8:30 am because The Folk
Art Center just six miles down the
parkway didn’t open until 9 a.m. The
Center houses three galleries filled by
traditional and contemporary Appa-
lachian artists. With pottery, jewel-
lery, woodwork and more, it’s like an
art show with a roof and an unlimited
schedule.
We would have stopped in Ashe-
ville, North Carolina to tour the op-
ulent Biltmore estate, but had done
that in January. So, we rode the final
87 miles in peace, stopping one last
time at Devil’s Courthouse Parking
Area for a panoramic view.
The finale was anticlimactic. Just
three miles after the last of 26 tun-
nels, the Parkway dumped into the
Great Smoky Mountains National
Park in Cherokee, North Carolina.
We at least expected a marker wor-
thy of a Facebook moment. But, the
parkway ended with a whisper.
And so, began our return journey
via freeway. PW
Find more of Paris' travels at
www.pariswolfe.wordpress.com