Autumn in Appalachia

I just returned from another great photography adventure in Appalachia. The weather and the color was awesome. Unlike previous trips, we travelled through three states this year to get our shots --- Tennessee, North Carolina and Virginia. On one particular day we had dense fog in the high counttry, which added to the color and the impact of the images. Needless to say; dinner was late that night as we stayed out until we were satisfied with our efforts and certain that we had the best of the best.----

 

I guess if there was any thing to gripe about it would be the car we rented for the trip, in Michigan. It was a new Chevy Impala and it got better gas mileage than my four cylinder Chrysler but the seats were so uncomfortable we had to stop often to get the feeling back in our legs. We laughed it off  but I don't know if we would ever rent another one. We had taken it because the trunk was large enough to hold all of our gear. I think now that we should have taken a much larger car or an SUV .---------

 

I first journeyed through Appalachia in 1963 with just a point-and-shoot camera. I regret that I did not capture the essence of the area then, as there is no similarity to what it is now. The National Park Service and the residents have made major strides in making this unique part of the south a terrific place to visit ------- any time of the year. Even if you aren't an environmentalist or an outdoor person you can always find something to entertain you. There was a college football game in Boone, North Carolina on Saturday, Oct.20 and the city was filled with people like I have never seen before. The Appalachian State Mountaineers lost big but the atmosphere in the bars and restaurants after the game was super. However; I do feel, though, that the aura of this part of the country will be lost to outside influences within the next ten to twenty years as more and more outsiders are replacing the natives.

 

Once again; I hope you enjoy my pictures and I invite you to leave a comment ------ pro or con.