Puckett Cabin
Groundhog Mountain
Blue Ridge Parkway
Milepost 190.0
Virginia

The 467 mile Blue Ridge Parkway is loaded with little cabins and homesteads such as this. Puckett Cabin is named after John and Aunt Orelena Puckett who moved into the cabin in 1874. Aunt Orelena is known for helping with over a thousand births. People would come from many miles away for Orelena to help with their child's birth and to stay with the mother and infant after the birth charging $1 and when times were good $6. She delivered her last child in 1939 the year she died at the age of 102.

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Hurricane Nate Remnants
Stateline Overlook
Breaks Interstate Park
Virginia/Kentucky

This past weekend myself and good friend Bryan Janosick spent our time driving and walking along, over, under and around the mountains in southeast Kentucky! One of the coolest places we visited was Breaks Interstate Park along the Kentucky/Virginia boarder! We had visited the park on Saturday evening for sunset and had plans to return to there Sunday morning after we made a pre-dawn journey to the Birch Knob Fire Tower. However, when we awoke the arrival of the remnants of Hurricane Nate had us changing our plans. There was no way we were going to attempt the 5 mile dirt/gravel road and 184 steps up to the overlook in a good rain. We decided to return to Breaks right away and boy was it the right decision! When we passed the Towers Overlook it was socked in so we decided to drive back to the Stateline Overlook in hopes that it would be less foggy. And goodness was it! What a moody and beautiful way to start the day!

Tags:   Breaks Interstate Park Hurricane Nate State Line Overlook Virginia Kentucky

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Mabry Mill
Meadows Of Dan, Virginia
Blue Ridge Parkway milepost 176.1

Constructed in 1903 by Ed Mabry the Mabry Mill is a favorite stop along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Restored by park naturalists so visitors can see live exhibits and a real operating mill with a miller to demonstrate the milling process. There is also a sawmill, whiskey still, a sorghum mill, and a working blacksmith shop on the grounds.

Tags:   Mabry Mill Meadows Of Dan Virginia Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 176.1

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James River Overlook
Virgina
Blue Ridge Parkway milepost 63.6

A ploom of smoke rises from behind Big Island on the James River. The lowest elevation on the blue ridge parkway at 649 ft. the James River Visitor Center area offers a variety of trails on the north side of the river and a reconstructed canal lock exhibit on the south side of the river. The trail leading to the canal locks is somewhat unique as it is a walkway underneath the Blue Ridge Parkway bridge that crosses the river making it not only a double deck bridge but offering beautiful views of the James River and the surrounding mountains.

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Groundhog Mountain Parking Overlook
Virginia
Blue Ridge Parkway milepost 188.8

Along the 469 mile route of the Blue Ridge Parkway there are many historical displays and outdoor museums to explore. Weather it be a mill or a narrow gauge railway or a Buck Rail Fence as seen here, there is much that can be learned about our ancestors and how they lived in the Appalachian Mountains.

Tags:   Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 188.8 Virginia National Park System Groundhog Mountian Parking Overlook Buck Rail Fence Appalachian Mountians Blue Ridge Mountians Western Virginia

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