Mabry Mill

One of the most iconic scenes from along the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia.   This grist mill does have real corn grinding demonstrations when it opens for the season in a few weeks.    It was really cold and windy when we walked here but it did feel good to get out of the car for a little while!  


We traveled about 150 miles from Obids, NC to just above Roanoke, VA.  The part of the parkway in North Carolina had high mountain areas with gorgeous long range views but when we traveled into Virginia the views became more rolling hills and farmland.   There was beautiful scenery but not much up high as  on the southern portion there is much more wilderness and higher mountains with many more overlooks for viewing the scenic mountains which went on and on in the distance.   We decided to get off at an area where they had closed the parkway for road maintenance and travel on a few other roads.  

We are stopped at  Natural Bridge, Virginia for the night and are staying in the oldest hotel in the area.   Built in 1890 as a place for visitors to the Natural Bridge (going there tomorrow morning)  to stay, it has had several reconstructions and renovations.   The dining room has first class food!    We tried some for supper tonight and it was excellent!     Breakfast in the morning too.   A nice change from chain hotels.  A photo in the extra of the front of the hotel.  

One of the most interesting things for me along this area was the old cabins still standing where people lived in the 1800s and early 1900s.  Most are one room with maybe a small addition.    The 2nd and 3rd extras is the Brinegar cabin, built around 1880.   The Brinegars ..he 21 and she 16, had 125 acres to farm.  Very far away from anything else!

The second cabin was the home of "Aunt" Orelena Hawks Puckett, a mountain midwife from age 50 to 102!    It said she had helped to deliver 1000 babies up until she died in 1939 at age 102!    These women were hardy people!    It also said that she had had 24 children but most of them had died as infants.   

Tomorrow we head out to the Skyline Drive and Shenandoah National Park.