Fathers Day in the Blue Ridge Mountains (June 19, 2016)

Nice motorcycle ride (have some more photos on my "Racing with the Wind" blog page) on Father's Day. The Blue Ridge Parkway is one of my favorite places to spend time at and to ride to....just a magic and amazing area that I really enjoy to visit over and over. Lots of things to see and something new to see it seems each time I go there.  

This is the Mountain Farm, and it was an authentic farm back in the day. Was told the buildings, while not original, are not recreations but date to the period. This is the barn, and over to the right (with the crossed wood) is a "Bear Proof Pigpen". Living out there you had to plan for animals. As I remember the chicken coop was Wiesel proof.
It is a fun place to explore and they had a lot of period people in period costumes and musicians playing period music. Though did not know it when I headed there, picked an especially good time to visit.  

Another view from the parkway. Lots of areas to pull off, plus a lot of picnic areas and lot of things to see. Stop at a visitor center, get a map and check out all this area has to offer. If you have never been on the Parkway...you really, really need to do so,  

I made a quick stop on the way back at Charlottesville, VA. Again, there is a great deal of things to see in the town that is also the home of the University of Virginia (which I shared some photos of on my last visit there earlier this year). Like to go there and have been there a few times over the last few years.
Not sure I have ever seen the front of this statue, have seen the back but this is the Lewis and Clark Statue. Think its pretty neat and just part of the history of this town.
Thomas Jefferson had his house there, and did a lot of design work on that as well as some of the design at UVA. As for me, saw this and some other new things, and enjoyed my short time there.
Stopped in Short Pump (just outside of Richmond) and visited the Carolina Ale House. Liked that restaurant when I lived in (duh) Carolina and good to see it here, made my send visit there with an early dinner).
From Richmond to the Blue Ridge Parkway up I-64 is a hair over a 90 minute drive. Enjoyed this day a great deal.