Day 6 -- Blue Ridge Parkway

We got up, broke down camp and got back on the Blue Ridge Parkway first-thing this morning. We were only on the road a short time before we pulled off at the Blue Ridge Visitor Center, where we explored exhibits and then watched a brief film about the region.

From there, it was another short drive to the Folk Art Center, a beautiful facility with exhibits of locally made furniture, pottery, quilts and more, and, of course, a shop brimming with handsome crafts made by local artisans. We ate a quick picnic lunch out of the back of the Teardrop, then hit the road again.

We spent the rest of the afternoon cruising the parkway. Stunning views at every turn. A relaxed pace. Peaceful countryside. Contented kids. But the highlight was passing another Camp Inn teardrop trailer (www.tinycamper.com)! It was unmistakable, with its classic shape and aluminum siding -- pulled by a forest green Subaru Outback heading south. We bonded quickly over a honk and a wave. This is the first time we’ve run into another Camp Inn on the road. Such excitement.

This evening, we pulled off the parkway near Wilkesboro, NC, and headed for a motel. Keith and I have been in search of an authentic music experience while we’re in the Blue Ridge Mountains. We’ve heard that there’s a restaurant in Union Grove that hosts Saturday-morning bluegrass jams. We’re not camping tonight so that we can get an early start in the morning and make it to Union Grove by 8 a.m., in time for the jam.

(BTW, we started this morning around BRP mile marker 393, and we got off around mile marker 280; we netted about 110 miles on the parkway after driving for a big chunk of the day. I suppose if we averaged 30 mph, this is about right, but it’s still much slower-going than I had planned on.)

Anyway, Keith is putting the kids to bed, and I’m in the lobby catching up on the blog and hanging out with about 200 high-school baseball players and their parents, who are also staying here and who are having fun carousing the first floor of the Holiday Inn Express.