Injured Isner withdraws, Goffin beaten

<a href="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/tennis/2014/8/22/607851header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/tennis/2014/8/22/607851header.jpg" /></a>An ankle injury saw John Isner withdraw from the Winston-Salem Open as David Goffin's winning run came to an end on Thursday.<br /> <br /> Isner, a two-time champion in North Carolina, suffered an ankle injury in his third-round win over Mikhail Kukushkin.<br /> <br /> The big-serving American pulled out of the ATP 250 event before his scheduled last-eight clash against Czech seventh seed Lukas Rosol.<br /> <br /> It is particularly worrying for Isner ahead of the US Open, which starts on Monday.<br /> <br /> "I am extremely disappointed to have to withdraw from the Winston-Salem Open, one of my favourite stops of the year," Isner said.<br /> <br /> "It is extra disappointing for me given that it is my hometown tournament.<br /> <br /> "I would have loved to continue to chase my third title here in Winston-Salem in front of these great fans, my friends and family."<br /> <br /> Rosol will face Chinese Taipei's Lu Yen-Hsun in the semi-finals after the ninth seed eased past Italian 14th seed Andreas Seppi 6-4 6-4.<br /> <br /> The other semi-final will be a meeting between two unseeded players.<br /> <br /> Talented Pole Jerzy Janowicz had no problems beating Goffin 6-4 6-2, ending the Belgian qualifier's winning run at 25 matches.<br /> <br /> He will face Sam Querrey after the American battled past Spanish fifth seed Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-7 (3-7) 6-2 6-4.

ATP World Tour David Goffin's John Isner North Carolina tennis US Open Injured Isner withdraws, Goffin beaten

An ankle injury saw John Isner withdraw from the Winston-Salem Open as David Goffin's winning run came to an end on Thursday. Isner, a two-time champion in North Carolina, suffered an ankle injury in his third-round win over Mikhail Kukushkin. The bi…

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September scenes along the Blue Ridge Parkway

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimwyFVelB1Iaa7Jbu_6vgoAfP9I4PemlOc06aea3XWx_PVgFYiFHy_gT2SQmYv3XoffXxRj4o7ACKGyGOM8A8knNOfMRFmtXRKVUBWpgUTC7oL50VMPVsBKurFKK3_BTJ_S8Hdliej0BRa/s1600/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimwyFVelB1Iaa7Jbu_6vgoAfP9I4PemlOc06aea3XWx_PVgFYiFHy_gT2SQmYv3XoffXxRj4o7ACKGyGOM8A8knNOfMRFmtXRKVUBWpgUTC7oL50VMPVsBKurFKK3_BTJ_S8Hdliej0BRa/s400/14.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The government shutdown has closed all attractions, restaurants, restrooms, and visitor centers along the Blue Ridge Parkway but the roadway itself is still open. Here are some scenes from Monday, the last day before the shutdown, as SWAC Husband and I drove from North Carolina back home to the Shenandoah Valley.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTiEOtE-YDgwMxRp2-QtSufTb5rx08ltBmoWQROOX7BlGAi-pUY4CpSxDmKDnRT6lmQH6xMq9mz7TJbqaxoSYmlBDJZTzceJ0JOepjuUc_rfmTUxZYgSxTGc5zgrp12XN2vaN73ARWtspP/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTiEOtE-YDgwMxRp2-QtSufTb5rx08ltBmoWQROOX7BlGAi-pUY4CpSxDmKDnRT6lmQH6xMq9mz7TJbqaxoSYmlBDJZTzceJ0JOepjuUc_rfmTUxZYgSxTGc5zgrp12XN2vaN73ARWtspP/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Mabry Mill and the restaurant are closed due to the shutdown. We enjoyed visiting with historical interpreters including the blacksmith who had visited the <a href="http://www.frontiermuseum.org/">Frontier Culture Museum</a> in Staunton and was impressed not only with the museum's blacksmith but the entire site.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKM3pP6vGVhdqKatqxowMrzzrzY_Rz0yl8mpiu8OuyOc_YwD47nfUgiWsEh64pGS-O0h19ti5sJ-jRb-Qv7k_50g-eRdsWsbkpNLm29O-TSoZvt2SStrFp38tRMnjWvLfooRJcKp51WEp6/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKM3pP6vGVhdqKatqxowMrzzrzY_Rz0yl8mpiu8OuyOc_YwD47nfUgiWsEh64pGS-O0h19ti5sJ-jRb-Qv7k_50g-eRdsWsbkpNLm29O-TSoZvt2SStrFp38tRMnjWvLfooRJcKp51WEp6/s400/6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbYTPDPiLxImQuGE8hzKzzAfP1be1IAE8fYZ0knWJwU-7MjZw53vyP7hX7ue7d7XFG5ah44Lr0dOSerOs4Z1CyCkBS-S9Uqr2aJ2qYpkUfqH_Ad9XxE2ScOsn4e68P60VlxdupryjE4jBN/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbYTPDPiLxImQuGE8hzKzzAfP1be1IAE8fYZ0knWJwU-7MjZw53vyP7hX7ue7d7XFG5ah44Lr0dOSerOs4Z1CyCkBS-S9Uqr2aJ2qYpkUfqH_Ad9XxE2ScOsn4e68P60VlxdupryjE4jBN/s400/7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1jut1Z2sc91Hp_yuBEJLuPyvzRlSmJ9LKdMhAZPMg-KV0LBT2Q4h6amSqW4-5Pup-8_0WEbSheb7YGpFyuBMPTSq1Spvay4p28klAggu6kZWFkr4B__gJbq8h9stDUJxCQoXQlwv3coM/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1jut1Z2sc91Hp_yuBEJLuPyvzRlSmJ9LKdMhAZPMg-KV0LBT2Q4h6amSqW4-5Pup-8_0WEbSheb7YGpFyuBMPTSq1Spvay4p28klAggu6kZWFkr4B__gJbq8h9stDUJxCQoXQlwv3coM/s400/8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZKRX6twfUCLqyqdH8N_DdT2MAfysbwDCfdX6g2jl3MCkGE5ULR3FjmVqCzw6cKIOBUEw-O5r1Ab9queQYIXQNEACOlIs9GUCrQrwqgU7-5ITxo2B5PZd4L32uee0WH5R5VmFZb7y_T-8j/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZKRX6twfUCLqyqdH8N_DdT2MAfysbwDCfdX6g2jl3MCkGE5ULR3FjmVqCzw6cKIOBUEw-O5r1Ab9queQYIXQNEACOlIs9GUCrQrwqgU7-5ITxo2B5PZd4L32uee0WH5R5VmFZb7y_T-8j/s400/9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCWJWm2qSMk338Jos-E8mwZI-_fApuGqnwSJM2uhL8xzyEa_cPl62jXsIrExrCeedCw8wiGu_Df5xsywW9xq0W-3NYogW0x-vGNJozho3jXrUXVFF2N8jHl_1kbWnKEBeg1BzA8i5Tffkq/s1600/13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCWJWm2qSMk338Jos-E8mwZI-_fApuGqnwSJM2uhL8xzyEa_cPl62jXsIrExrCeedCw8wiGu_Df5xsywW9xq0W-3NYogW0x-vGNJozho3jXrUXVFF2N8jHl_1kbWnKEBeg1BzA8i5Tffkq/s400/13.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigpXqFjG-BFXA2JkvSpR6p4Xuj3H40pnkg9Ovvih54VL8cQfBTWT-_11boH2ekzgntl-T6bhDKw9KdQuuvCF1nfYLTDZsVuYPjhL0PjIiTXmwHdL2kCSqiXvJntWJeP-9nXDxqULShP6nA/s1600/24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigpXqFjG-BFXA2JkvSpR6p4Xuj3H40pnkg9Ovvih54VL8cQfBTWT-_11boH2ekzgntl-T6bhDKw9KdQuuvCF1nfYLTDZsVuYPjhL0PjIiTXmwHdL2kCSqiXvJntWJeP-9nXDxqULShP6nA/s400/24.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell<br />September 30, 2013

Blue Ridge Parkway government shutdown Mabry Mill North Carolina Virginia September scenes along the Blue Ridge Parkway

The government shutdown has closed all attractions, restaurants, restrooms, and visitor centers along the Blue Ridge Parkway but the roadway itself is still open. Here are some scenes from Monday, the last day before the shutdown, as SWAC Husband and…

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The beauty of the Blue Ridge Parkway

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijJC_1d2AYp8YQdz_r-UaLgoNFNd5VD0AkpODNqYr0GhElN0u5t5xo4NlXjv11M1rOKXADX3n1VxivGrCKxIklesTZVzeoaSHVxfOdbq0i2qOetBf12PN_NSTeDKpY-5hu2Nnb7NfzZ_hg/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijJC_1d2AYp8YQdz_r-UaLgoNFNd5VD0AkpODNqYr0GhElN0u5t5xo4NlXjv11M1rOKXADX3n1VxivGrCKxIklesTZVzeoaSHVxfOdbq0i2qOetBf12PN_NSTeDKpY-5hu2Nnb7NfzZ_hg/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRNRm7dOnwP5Yss0Mz7XBVmGusFCT1I561jGsNevtABP8KK9Yucdh_4PVYiJixCA716p4PKtyARr3hMBLB1-qtbvTaSOUCw7cLfEUwpvhnVK3Wns4m9YAP1CFbaL49vfg486A6w3IfibZX/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRNRm7dOnwP5Yss0Mz7XBVmGusFCT1I561jGsNevtABP8KK9Yucdh_4PVYiJixCA716p4PKtyARr3hMBLB1-qtbvTaSOUCw7cLfEUwpvhnVK3Wns4m9YAP1CFbaL49vfg486A6w3IfibZX/s400/2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFxytvd3SCh4D2fxeO6aQFKbSCB-a3Espsjg09V2olhMrdm-KbrZQ_QnbX_3zdZy-GeYhs08SyY8sTmXr8lQ73dnKUmOBAqjSQl980ZaTubWODt1QZ3aNyWwVMx-2FH1txv9QNAUBfzwJn/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFxytvd3SCh4D2fxeO6aQFKbSCB-a3Espsjg09V2olhMrdm-KbrZQ_QnbX_3zdZy-GeYhs08SyY8sTmXr8lQ73dnKUmOBAqjSQl980ZaTubWODt1QZ3aNyWwVMx-2FH1txv9QNAUBfzwJn/s400/3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell<br />September 30, 2013

Blue Ridge Parkway National Park Service North Carolina Virginia The beauty of the Blue Ridge Parkway

Photos by Lynn R. MitchellSeptember 30, 2013…

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Rural residents raise hell at Moral Monday protest

<a href="http://www.journalnow.com/gallery/news/article_d0043a1c-24bc-11e3-b21d-0019bb30f31a.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Scores of Moral Monday protesters</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> came to tiny Yadkinville, N.C., last night to fight the repressive anti-worker policies approved by Gov. Pat McCrory and his legislative allies this year. The rally was the 19th such event held since late April. Nearly 1,000 people were arrested at weekly protests held in the state capital earlier this year.</span><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHMII6jxxdfgUd43AuSVoyjmUr-YXW4JE8Moo4hO7T09Mk9MQiR0TboVvTUjTcbljS7EFdaFnxRweW_065IPZ_qHOXPqqkTVCiBK_LPffdgTJZOltLZy5ofriJHxx3cbYoKq3vRFV12svq/s1600/9.24moralmonday2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHMII6jxxdfgUd43AuSVoyjmUr-YXW4JE8Moo4hO7T09Mk9MQiR0TboVvTUjTcbljS7EFdaFnxRweW_065IPZ_qHOXPqqkTVCiBK_LPffdgTJZOltLZy5ofriJHxx3cbYoKq3vRFV12svq/s320/9.24moralmonday2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laid-off worker Philip Diehl addresses crowd at rally.</td></tr></tbody></table>Jobs and education were again at the top of the agenda for demonstrators. Several said the event gave those living in rural North Carolina the chance to have their voices heard in Raleigh. They oppose decisions to cut unemployment benefits and public education and the failure to expand Medicaid coverage for 600,000 residents.<br /><br />Philip Diehl, who was laid off his job with Freightliner Trucks, said workers are hurting while McCrory doles out fat salaries to his staff. Protesters are just trying to make a difference, he told the <a href="http://www.journalnow.com/gallery/news/article_d0043a1c-24bc-11e3-b21d-0019bb30f31a.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter" rel="nofollow">Winston-Salem Journal</a>: <br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">You are fed up with the way things are going. You are trying to peacefully change things.</blockquote><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Christopher Petree, president of the Yakin County Association of Educators, </span><a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisPetree" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">tweeted that the governor and the Legislature are motivating</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> the public to action:<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Shout out to the @NCLeg and @PatMcCroryNC for bringing out the activist in me. You all know how to rally the masses!</span></blockquote></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The event closed with a candlelight vigil to remember all state residents who have been damaged by the extreme policies approved by lawmakers this year.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Week after week, North Carolina residents are pushing back on an agenda crafted by </span><a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/02/heres-billionaire-trying-to-destroy.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">state budget director Art Pope</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, a multimillionaire who helped underwrite the campaigns of Gov. McCrory and his cronies in the Legislature. It is largely modeled on the pro-corporate, anti-worker platform of the </span><a href="http://www.alecexposed.org/" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">American Legislative Exchange Council</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> And more demonstrations are expected. In addition to the ongoing Moral Monday events, North Carolina teachers are </span><a href="http://triangle.news14.com/content/news/699770/nc-teachers-consider-walkout-to-protest-poor-working-conditions" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">currently mulling whether to hold a statewide walkout Nov. 4</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> to protest policy changes and poor working conditions in the classroom.<br /><br />Stay tuned.<br /><br /></span>

ALEC art pope Gov. McCrory Moral Monday North Carolina Rural residents raise hell at Moral Monday protest

Scores of Moral Monday protesters came to tiny Yadkinville, N.C., last night to fight the repressive anti-worker policies approved by Gov. Pat McCrory and his legislative allies this year. The rally was the 19th such event held since late April. Near…

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Moral Monday protests gain momentum in North Carolina

<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAsWNwFDljhnwZTYe7PucGGLImGYLBdqQ4uJyIevjAS0YgfMAmxX4nsq50u40gaB3BYf5XixdGCqLUW6fr83Emqt9PgSvS4slVjsUyJ2EOq8abQpwIRpZSLfBxBQQMToy2XjIIT7Ezrtz4/s1600/9-16moralmonday1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="They marched around the governor's mansion in Raleigh." border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAsWNwFDljhnwZTYe7PucGGLImGYLBdqQ4uJyIevjAS0YgfMAmxX4nsq50u40gaB3BYf5XixdGCqLUW6fr83Emqt9PgSvS4slVjsUyJ2EOq8abQpwIRpZSLfBxBQQMToy2XjIIT7Ezrtz4/s400/9-16moralmonday1.jpg" title="Students held signs protesting the policies of Gov. McCrory and the Legislature." width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Students took the lead on the march around the governor's mansion.</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Two Moral Monday events drew more than 500 people who protested North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory and his legislative allies for curbing voting rights, slashing education spending and refusing federal dollars to expand Medicaid. The rallies held yesterday marked the 18th week since late April that North Carolinians gathered to protest the state</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> government’s actions. About 925 people were arrested during the demonstrations for nonviolent civil disobedience. <o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At a </span><a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/09/16/3202013/college-naacp-groups-bring-new.html" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">youth-led demonstration in Raleigh</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, some 250 people marched around the governor’s mansion to demand a roll back on </span><a href="http://www.teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/07/teamsters-participate-in-largest-moral-monday-protest.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the voter suppression and education cuts enacted</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> in July. Some also carried three children’s coffins to honor the memory of four little African-American girls killed in a Birmingham, Ala. church bombing 50 years ago yesterday during the height of the civil rights movement in the South.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span>College students from around the area came to the protest to show they are concerned about the state’s future. They held signs reading “We will fight for our future,” “Reinvest in public education,” and “Take your hands off our voting rights.” Dylan Su-Chun Mott, a member of the University of North Carolina’s Student Power group, said </span><a href="http://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2013/09/moral-monday-0917#print" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">students need to stand up and be heard</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">:</span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">[The UNC-system Board of Governors] is trying to tell us that the only thing we are in school for is to get jobs. … More importantly, we are learning to be fully participatory citizens in this, our great democracy.<o:p></o:p></span></blockquote></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span>Meanwhile, </span><a href="http://www.news-record.com/news/local_news/article_8a8ab91c-1f3e-11e3-bf27-001a4bcf6878.html" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">about 300 people gathered in the small town of Wentworth</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> in north-central North Carolina. to protest education and Medicaid cuts. The event was held in the district of Senate leader Phil Berger.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rev. Nelson Johnson of Greensboro’s Beloved Community Center said that Berger and other elected officials have forgotten the main purpose of government:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><blockquote class="tr_bq"> Mr. Berger, government and our democracy is supposed to work for the people and not against the people.</blockquote> Week after week, North Carolina residents are pushing back on an agenda crafted by <a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/02/heres-billionaire-trying-to-destroy.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">state budget director Art Pope</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, a multimillionaire who helped underwrite the campaigns of Gov. McCrory and his cronies in the Legislature. It is largely modeled on the pro-corporate, anti-worker platform of the </span><a href="http://www.alecexposed.org/" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">American Legislative Exchange Council</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">McCrory says the changes will help everyone in the state, </span><a href="http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/2013/09/12/your-handy-guide-to-the-seven-most-common-myths-from-the-gop/print/" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the numbers just don’t bear this out</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>In fact, they show the state spent $100 million less on public schools, cut taxes only on out-of-state corporations and the wealth and made benefit cuts that hurt low-income citizens, not help them.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The </span><a href="https://twitter.com/ncnaacp" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">next rally is scheduled for Yadkinville</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> on Sept. 23.</span></div></span></div></span>

ALEC art pope education cuts Gov. McCrory Medicaid Moral Monday North Carolina voter suppression Moral Monday protests gain momentum in North Carolina

Students took the lead on the march around the governor's mansion.Two Moral Monday events drew more than 500 people who protested North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory and his legislative allies for curbing voting rights, slashing education spending and r…

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Two NC Moral Monday protests draw hundreds

<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hundreds of Moral Monday demonstrators turned out in two North Carolina counties yesterday to demand better wages and an end to attacks on workers, voter suppression and education cuts. <o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHtGpp7MBz8Gjg5NrpXAlZ0Lx4m1PDoXQT0b2Mwkj-GYTPphiW2RW5tGh4Oco7E0H9F1xhyphenhyphenF44T4sIc0e3NQjH9Ls57U866FxOXcZJMvTPaccTh7HyOveDJexFVHQRClD2ERTsBGMoSBag/s1600/9.10moralmonday2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="She attended the rally in Southern Pines." border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHtGpp7MBz8Gjg5NrpXAlZ0Lx4m1PDoXQT0b2Mwkj-GYTPphiW2RW5tGh4Oco7E0H9F1xhyphenhyphenF44T4sIc0e3NQjH9Ls57U866FxOXcZJMvTPaccTh7HyOveDJexFVHQRClD2ERTsBGMoSBag/s320/9.10moralmonday2.jpg" title="A woman holds a sign with a broom attached that says "sweep away the trash in Raleigh." " width="274" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Protesters want to clean up the state capital.</td></tr></tbody></table><a href="http://www.fayobserver.com/articles/2013/09/10/1281831?sac=fo.local" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some 300 people turned out at a protest in Southern Pines</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> in the central part of the state, while </span><a href="http://www.jdnews.com/news/local/local-moral-monday-inspired-demonstrations-begin-1.200047" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">about 30 gathered in Jacksonville</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, in eastern North Carolina. In both places, people said they want their voices heard in Raleigh. They said they felt locked out of the legislative process, which resulted in cuts to unemployment benefits and Medicaid as well as tax increases for the middle class.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Chris and Katherine Stevenson, who attended the Southern Pines event, were both arrested during protests at the Statehouse earlier this year. </span><a href="http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=9241749" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mrs. Stevenson said it is important to let lawmakers know</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> that people across the state want change:</span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What is happening now is not going to solve the problems.<o:p></o:p></span></blockquote></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Greg Humphries, who came to the Jacksonville rally, agreed. Jobs and equality are essential, he said:</span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There ought to be equality in all aspects of government especially in pay. I believe that all people ought to get a good salary.<o:p></o:p></span></blockquote></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The demonstrations were just the latest in the effort to bring the Moral Monday movement statewide. The protests began in April in the state capital and continued through July, </span><a href="http://www.teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/07/teamsters-participate-in-largest-moral-monday-protest.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">resulting in about 925 arrests</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. The state chapter of the NAACP, which served as main organizer, then took the rallies across the state to both rural and urban locations. An event held in Asheville last month </span><a href="http://www.teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/08/chicago-joins-NC-in-moral-monday-protest.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">drew about 10,000</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> people. <o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Gov. McCrory and the Legislature are fulfilling the corporate policies pushed by </span><a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/02/heres-billionaire-trying-to-destroy.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">greedy billionaire Art Pope</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, an </span><a href="http://www.alecexposed.org/" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ALEC</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">disciple and </span><a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2011/10/bombshell-kochs-sold-oil-equipment-to.html"><s><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Benedict Arnold</span></s></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Koch brothers buddy who got himself appointed state budget director after financing a number of radical politicians’ campaigns.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p>The Legislature's attacks on middle-class North Carolinians are spreading through the state. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/06/north-carolina-medicaid-expansion_n_3882976.html" rel="nofollow">A small coastal hospital announced it was closing down</a> in the coming months because Gov. McCrory decided not to expand Medicaid. The expansion would have been funded by the federal government.</o:p></span></div>

ALEC art pope Gov. McCrory Moral Monday North Carolina Two NC Moral Monday protests draw hundreds

Hundreds of Moral Monday demonstrators turned out in two North Carolina counties yesterday to demand better wages and an end to attacks on workers, voter suppression and education cuts. Protesters want to clean up the state capital.Some 300 people …

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New superintendent named for Blue Ridge Parkway

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOvVY5xdZm5NFoIGG4uAIBgUZbsLHjNCkuuEQ5vl_soyCK6yhmtMUmH9umWlSBgvBPAlRta8l2a9dzxuPIhgoJ656akq331V1-DaDLznjIHB0ys8i6LxxHlJAJmqbwNCZIaxKDz8YoqdIp/s1600/41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOvVY5xdZm5NFoIGG4uAIBgUZbsLHjNCkuuEQ5vl_soyCK6yhmtMUmH9umWlSBgvBPAlRta8l2a9dzxuPIhgoJ656akq331V1-DaDLznjIHB0ys8i6LxxHlJAJmqbwNCZIaxKDz8YoqdIp/s400/41.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Mark Woods, 53, has been named the new superintendent of the Blue Ridge Parkway, according to Thursday's <a href="http://www.roanoke.com//news/2137308-10/new-leader-named-for-blue-ridge-parkway.html"><i>Roanoke Times</i></a>. A long-time veteran of the National Park Service, the <i>Times</i> noted that his leadership comes at a rocky time in Park history:<br /><blockquote>Woods takes over during a precarious time in the parkway’s 78-year history. The parkway has a $400 million backlog of maintenance projects. The federal budget sequester forced automatic 5 percent cuts, which amounted to a $740,000 reduction. Several sites along the parkway were forced to close this year, including Roanoke Mountain Campground, the Rocky Knob Visitor Center and the Smart View picnic area.</blockquote>Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell<br />Milepost 0 of Blue Ridge Parkway<br />Afton, Virginia

Afton Blue Ridge Mountains Blue Ridge Parkway BRP Mark Woods National Park Service new superintendent North Carolina Virginia New superintendent named for Blue Ridge Parkway

Mark Woods, 53, has been named the new superintendent of the Blue Ridge Parkway, according to Thursday's Roanoke Times. A long-time veteran of the National Park Service, the Times noted that his leadership comes at a rocky time in Park history:Woods …

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Fodor's: '4 U.S. road trips to take before you die' includes one close to home

Only four destination roads are listed in the group of <a href="http://www.fodors.com/news/4-us-road-trips-to-take-before-you-die-6995.html">"4 U.S. road trips to take before you die"</a> from Fodor's, the travel people, and since one is right here in Virginia, there's no reason not to hop on and go!<br /><br />Travel writer Jimmy Im includes the Blue Ridge Parkway as one of those four coveted road trips:<br /><span class="blog-text"></span><br /><h2><span class="blog-text">Blue Ridge Parkway: Virginia to North Carolina</span></h2><span class="blog-text"><img alt="blue-ridge-pkwy-nc.jpg" height="300" src="http://www.fodors.com/wire/blue-ridge-pkwy-nc.jpg" width="452" /><b> </b></span><br /><span class="blog-text"><b>Distance: </b>470 miles<br /><br /> Road trippers can expect lush forestry and some majestic mountains on the <a href="http://www.fodors.com/world/north-america/usa/north-carolina/the-north-carolina-mountains/blue-ridge-parkway/">Blue Ridge Parkway</a>, a 470-mile drive connecting <a href="http://www.fodors.com/world/north-america/usa/virginia/central-and-western-virginia/shenandoah-national-park/">Shenandoah National Park</a> in Virginia and the <a href="http://www.fodors.com/world/north-america/usa/tennessee/great-smoky-mtns-national-park/">Great Smoky Mountains National Park</a> in North Carolina. While it averages roughly 10 hours to drive, plenty of highlights along the way ensure you'll want to take several days to explore the route. Locals call the Blue Ridge Parkway a "window" to the region as several cultural and unique towns are right off the highway.<br /><br /> Visitors stop for a photo opp at the Humpback Rocks in Blue Ridge, VA, a natural rock outcrop that has a storied history. Nearby is the <a href="http://www.fodors.com/world/north-america/usa/virginia/central-and-western-virginia/review-166229.html">Natural Bridge of Virginia</a> in Rockbridge Country, one of the oldest tourist destinations in the country and constantly voted as one of America's best natural wonders. Stop in Roanoke, the largest metropolitan city along the route, to visit charming farmer's markets. <br /><br /> Several attractions await in <a href="http://www.fodors.com/world/north-america/usa/north-carolina/the-north-carolina-mountains/blowing-rock/">Blowing Rock</a>, North Carolina, but a road tripper's favorite is the actual Blowing Rock itself, a cliff looming 4,000 feet above sea level, harboring magnificent views of Hawksbill Mountain and Table Rock. For the mother of all views, stop at <a href="http://www.fodors.com/world/north-america/usa/north-carolina/the-north-carolina-mountains/blue-ridge-parkway/activities_h2447231_hiking.html">Waterrock Knob</a>, which, at 7,000-feet high, showcases breathtaking mountain views.</span>

4 US road trips to take before you die Blue Ridge Mountains Blue Ridge Parkway Fodor's getaways Jimmy In Lynn R. Mitchell North Carolina Virginia Fodor's: '4 U.S. road trips to take before you die' includes one close to home

Only four destination roads are listed in the group of "4 U.S. road trips to take before you die" from Fodor's, the travel people, and since one is right here in Virginia, there's no reason not to hop on and go!Travel writer Jimmy Im includes the Blu…

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Uptown Charlotte as seen from Amélie's French Bakery

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZGpJcApdEGC1QAC69KLdPUVkJLXzXEYHSZzFseCQlmxfI826Bw6Cn2jLY2qTrAo2dhrFeg1cQGXC55kF5iFeCVpoRdxIntDb-pXy3YO-HJCDEwqwY-qQ_laJfMw-qazUbICD4eByaDyub/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZGpJcApdEGC1QAC69KLdPUVkJLXzXEYHSZzFseCQlmxfI826Bw6Cn2jLY2qTrAo2dhrFeg1cQGXC55kF5iFeCVpoRdxIntDb-pXy3YO-HJCDEwqwY-qQ_laJfMw-qazUbICD4eByaDyub/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Uptown Charlotte skyline ...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3V3nlhanV-GfxLX3PYMXpP9HEEOkOT4QrHggRUCiwZQhvFzToY15AV0UNzK1IMdBAT2KyZShpIxGKZ1G4CEIGqCeq6v8mtjjO2JfYY7Hs2ZCYFGb_29w83x0HzEp_D_dZ8TRopHpjDlsw/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3V3nlhanV-GfxLX3PYMXpP9HEEOkOT4QrHggRUCiwZQhvFzToY15AV0UNzK1IMdBAT2KyZShpIxGKZ1G4CEIGqCeq6v8mtjjO2JfYY7Hs2ZCYFGb_29w83x0HzEp_D_dZ8TRopHpjDlsw/s400/2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">... as seen from <span class="font_6"><a href="http://www.ameliesfrenchbakery.com/#!sweet/c1wgo">Amélie's French Bakery</a> in the NoDa Art District. </span>T<span class="font_7"><span class="color_20">he café emits an intoxicating Parisian shabby-chic ambience. The combination of family recipes and classical French traditions made the bakery an instant success, and it now includes two satellite locations in Charlotte. </span></span></div><br />Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell<br />July 20, 2013

Amélie's French Bakery Charlotte NoDa North Carolina Queen City Uptown Charlotte as seen from Amélie's French Bakery

 Uptown Charlotte skyline ...... as seen from Amélie's French Bakery in the NoDa Art District. The café emits an intoxicating Parisian shabby-chic ambience. The combination of family recipes and classical French traditions made the bakery an instant…

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Grove Park Inn

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6DVwOrImPEgjkKC6MKdbn-HTBNDMrzOoEqvzhmuTBbx7ilVnnvGm5QmzUWG8wb1QhPz_s1eJ8FVaUGgO9TxQTNYNlF3tekzG-z1bxAtay7G9f6G_ttCPt4q9MPD-Aot7Qrs_Di1xWFx0E/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6DVwOrImPEgjkKC6MKdbn-HTBNDMrzOoEqvzhmuTBbx7ilVnnvGm5QmzUWG8wb1QhPz_s1eJ8FVaUGgO9TxQTNYNlF3tekzG-z1bxAtay7G9f6G_ttCPt4q9MPD-Aot7Qrs_Di1xWFx0E/s400/2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlWBwsiJT1wLiN4eGvq-tNptjfHaAv4Hhl2VYh8tMRkDpjlLKz2Z3nAfuAGtanuaCjGEH1o4ibramWdzvlPM2LNVs06SmPNZeM2bI_r55zKeqZEKjflZ1XBOHeHCfjyeKOGS5YYkj7wFeJ/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlWBwsiJT1wLiN4eGvq-tNptjfHaAv4Hhl2VYh8tMRkDpjlLKz2Z3nAfuAGtanuaCjGEH1o4ibramWdzvlPM2LNVs06SmPNZeM2bI_r55zKeqZEKjflZ1XBOHeHCfjyeKOGS5YYkj7wFeJ/s400/3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell<br />Grove Park Inn<br />Asheville, NC<br />July 23, 2013

Asheville Blue Ridge Mountains Grove Park Inn North Carolina tourism Grove Park Inn

Photos by Lynn R. MitchellGrove Park InnAsheville, NCJuly 23, 2013…

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Up close & personal: Blue Ridge Parkway's Linn Cove Viaduct

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfo9I1VAH2-tuoo6Diz51FJIcsug8ik_VvqvNYTbDxFrkT5AVAKEojvt6E-oItnugag5fM9Yc-Q_fRgYmu39meBtrf_XZ0ls_RqCwbDYwu0aCTdesR1bahWgVZjo631IlelVli595PGj0s/s1600/15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfo9I1VAH2-tuoo6Diz51FJIcsug8ik_VvqvNYTbDxFrkT5AVAKEojvt6E-oItnugag5fM9Yc-Q_fRgYmu39meBtrf_XZ0ls_RqCwbDYwu0aCTdesR1bahWgVZjo631IlelVli595PGj0s/s400/15.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">We lived 12 years in Iredell County, NC, about an hour north of Charlotte where SWAC Husband worked before we transferred back to Virginia. During those years, we spent a lot of time in the Blue Ridge Mountains, most often around Blowing Rock and Boone. While living in that area, the viaduct was finally constructed at Milepost 304 around Grandfather Mountain south of Blowing Rock, an engineering marvel engineered to fill in the missing link of the Blue Ridge Parkway.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9xxIv8_iV3QzeRro6ToF8eHdV_3ZpygHW1nUPdgbcsveNdupqAjXkxkoaoZqqs4l1gZI8017Nssa5-3dkm92AxNH8jZZhuNTcoS_LIcFecT7iwpvckDHWopjC6Wgk6G7XsyTdDCC8dtJX/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9xxIv8_iV3QzeRro6ToF8eHdV_3ZpygHW1nUPdgbcsveNdupqAjXkxkoaoZqqs4l1gZI8017Nssa5-3dkm92AxNH8jZZhuNTcoS_LIcFecT7iwpvckDHWopjC6Wgk6G7XsyTdDCC8dtJX/s400/10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">In May, as we traveled back from a week on Florida's Panhandle spent with family, we meandered the Blue Ridge Parkway from Asheville to Fancy Gap. Along the way, we stopped at the Linn Cove Visitor Center and walked the trail that goes under the viaduct to get a closer look.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpBoMR-KO_tMYqpEalPp5fJxz-AvBHV2A5UHo02va_ArKqFtZkGJLZygxl44fYP_D5EgVnqTD395aZygpGK2HqP40u_RuXsKKf9AbV3FZnOajIaAXV0lwhCTOAzzcQ8vW7fSbcOpuD8hug/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpBoMR-KO_tMYqpEalPp5fJxz-AvBHV2A5UHo02va_ArKqFtZkGJLZygxl44fYP_D5EgVnqTD395aZygpGK2HqP40u_RuXsKKf9AbV3FZnOajIaAXV0lwhCTOAzzcQ8vW7fSbcOpuD8hug/s400/11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">It took eight years, completed in 1987, and cost $10 million to construct this cement segmental bridge that was used to protect the fragile alpine environment on Grandfather Mountain. Walking beneath the structure offered the opportunity to observe how man and nature came up with a compromise in this national park area.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU-0AFl-m9Vl2MlyvLMEZUTB8IyRnkaotrxlLa3jCs2kcqKelMtaKINdOh9yxDjKCsGNHP5KxMsDBHs6RRYzbXO9DhMANEM1iRmNZUDBixZPwEqNp6WZIx40QlIndVEiiBgEVLTUREu-vk/s1600/12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU-0AFl-m9Vl2MlyvLMEZUTB8IyRnkaotrxlLa3jCs2kcqKelMtaKINdOh9yxDjKCsGNHP5KxMsDBHs6RRYzbXO9DhMANEM1iRmNZUDBixZPwEqNp6WZIx40QlIndVEiiBgEVLTUREu-vk/s400/12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">From <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linn_Cove_Viaduct">Wikipedia</a>: "<b>Linn Cove Viaduct</b> is a 1,243-foot (379 m) concrete <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Segmental_bridge" title="Segmental bridge">segmental bridge</a> which snakes around the slopes of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandfather_Mountain" title="Grandfather Mountain">Grandfather Mountain</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Carolina" title="North Carolina">North Carolina</a>. It was completed in 1987 at a cost of $10 million and was the last section of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Ridge_Parkway" title="Blue Ridge Parkway">Blue Ridge Parkway</a> to be finished.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-w-s_1-1"></sup><br /><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-w-s_1-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linn_Cove_Viaduct#cite_note-w-s-1"><span></span><span></span></a></sup><br /> <div style="text-align: center;">The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viaduct" title="Viaduct">viaduct</a> was needed because of the damage that a traditional cut-and-fill road would have caused to Grandfather Mountain. The viaduct was designed by Figg and Muller Engineers, Inc. Construction began in 1979. It is 1,243 feet (379 m) long and consists of 153 segments weighing 50 tons each. The bridge's segments were <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precast_concrete" title="Precast concrete">precast</a> at an indoor facility at the south side of the parkway. After being transported to the bridge site, each section was lowered into place by a custom crane placed on either edge of the existing structure. The only work done at ground level was drilling for the seven footings which support the viaduct. In particular, there was no access road other than the Blue Ridge Parkway itself. The bridge has received eleven design awards."</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXq_E5BU00qqLCRLBCEHc2SRAa5mKNK0lxA6m-JOSloICBmmjYhQYetNipsjYBSJSmZW9ORAqiaiXilbJtwQj47lJLp_-lFqtu4JBDIXASzrk22akXsCwGoyPwPfzPIugHJ9NmDBCcfXj5/s1600/13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXq_E5BU00qqLCRLBCEHc2SRAa5mKNK0lxA6m-JOSloICBmmjYhQYetNipsjYBSJSmZW9ORAqiaiXilbJtwQj47lJLp_-lFqtu4JBDIXASzrk22akXsCwGoyPwPfzPIugHJ9NmDBCcfXj5/s400/13.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I took multiple photos from various angles as we walked the trail.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Zi0fUea4_HbQT6qQRuE2rV1mYppzVjWBj3Jat3izHoG6NCOFgl-C22uz2gA0Q25pgzVMtoCNcOAjden4Hw2_BkwP9aUltS4AlcpUXafO0XYEflLc1IICNG8Q9WQmkDse3PGMiQjeDuAS/s1600/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Zi0fUea4_HbQT6qQRuE2rV1mYppzVjWBj3Jat3izHoG6NCOFgl-C22uz2gA0Q25pgzVMtoCNcOAjden4Hw2_BkwP9aUltS4AlcpUXafO0XYEflLc1IICNG8Q9WQmkDse3PGMiQjeDuAS/s400/14.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7sFi933IjZdHEVWuPOo-BBR17dFqZNDS5y56NZEDmQO4wFg6YkR7AKCeyKKnCWzcoSdUHCkm04ccjRYHYiz6Ad-Y70HJoYtaCc2K3dZ0ppLpCQMxChLrSOPBbPe1MaBCpDvlSXlj0_nsv/s1600/16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7sFi933IjZdHEVWuPOo-BBR17dFqZNDS5y56NZEDmQO4wFg6YkR7AKCeyKKnCWzcoSdUHCkm04ccjRYHYiz6Ad-Y70HJoYtaCc2K3dZ0ppLpCQMxChLrSOPBbPe1MaBCpDvlSXlj0_nsv/s400/16.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is the view from the Parkway at the beginning of the viaduct on the south end.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2lr5jGRa5I_yWxbmecJEmJRmonwc2JP3EhxVaG5nciET51Ep9nOo1mzFQkw6qMhrJjLCgzh_PVNMFG8-zZVDQ35cuRm_cHPnlpc1zl9ANJ8HUpyCm_aIqxdEi9-52bDB7SYmzM3VuGTH/s1600/17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2lr5jGRa5I_yWxbmecJEmJRmonwc2JP3EhxVaG5nciET51Ep9nOo1mzFQkw6qMhrJjLCgzh_PVNMFG8-zZVDQ35cuRm_cHPnlpc1zl9ANJ8HUpyCm_aIqxdEi9-52bDB7SYmzM3VuGTH/s400/17.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Driving on it ...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqmx-xjXU_0UxlEIKJTxpTK0wkdU8w7fgB2gjDI4bwfuVgbuYIEhpIBwKthcxw17UPX0ysZgXSw7YUte7phMQJ1UcEpDnaQ0oRS3vCwwPizGjHOJYOhIQH9B8RtGxozkMayhFpkJYzSqK/s1600/18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqmx-xjXU_0UxlEIKJTxpTK0wkdU8w7fgB2gjDI4bwfuVgbuYIEhpIBwKthcxw17UPX0ysZgXSw7YUte7phMQJ1UcEpDnaQ0oRS3vCwwPizGjHOJYOhIQH9B8RtGxozkMayhFpkJYzSqK/s400/18.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">... with Grandfather's slopes on the left ...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC6YjV1C1WllJmcQicd7WriEnlCnjaR3Vs0fw-hNRQMyzdUDyqagVw91rhhhZkftkv5P0DFXv1ptEwCkuF2DsHDZAcHha1dRt1VkkIUjdSOfx3dOIRdxTlwClqAJsewR1o9NRgPP28QjjH/s1600/19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC6YjV1C1WllJmcQicd7WriEnlCnjaR3Vs0fw-hNRQMyzdUDyqagVw91rhhhZkftkv5P0DFXv1ptEwCkuF2DsHDZAcHha1dRt1VkkIUjdSOfx3dOIRdxTlwClqAJsewR1o9NRgPP28QjjH/s400/19.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">... and then looking back.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJ6cgNA_pplIUzSAO324UDBmhfmyadz2_fiuNwDTrg60B9jB21Oz11a3090YPRX855hfQi5iHFDoKg1O0UygkWWcV0Tn04FF7eOzS-fVaVE9GNRWVqoV_TDVvrOZ2obn9CaZdGYuWVfPo/s1600/20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJ6cgNA_pplIUzSAO324UDBmhfmyadz2_fiuNwDTrg60B9jB21Oz11a3090YPRX855hfQi5iHFDoKg1O0UygkWWcV0Tn04FF7eOzS-fVaVE9GNRWVqoV_TDVvrOZ2obn9CaZdGYuWVfPo/s400/20.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy5_6prTxY73AJJr1SkC9hm8GPHMbVSyDfPh7wOwsxXV4QnBMS2k5MRMOIVzcCC8SbwUc4QduHDgEdGc6qVD5tmmOtrSwKX-vBgGHxNFp9eIc6ZY3Xc_2gnIplY_MYNDnGh0IkAITsf6kJ/s1600/21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="105" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy5_6prTxY73AJJr1SkC9hm8GPHMbVSyDfPh7wOwsxXV4QnBMS2k5MRMOIVzcCC8SbwUc4QduHDgEdGc6qVD5tmmOtrSwKX-vBgGHxNFp9eIc6ZY3Xc_2gnIplY_MYNDnGh0IkAITsf6kJ/s400/21.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj8QCxZj2RD7U9khGESNLwfXq2VIsi_Uj5_DuV0bc8cv6fWhG1EQAV7hFc5x0eht8uBQbgKUzrQ3_vgZ1TFca16qiEVDNNG24PiqEyqgyCgeXC4GEWTY2_vlBdphZkgLJ_twp0UouRazYB/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj8QCxZj2RD7U9khGESNLwfXq2VIsi_Uj5_DuV0bc8cv6fWhG1EQAV7hFc5x0eht8uBQbgKUzrQ3_vgZ1TFca16qiEVDNNG24PiqEyqgyCgeXC4GEWTY2_vlBdphZkgLJ_twp0UouRazYB/s400/5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The view from the viaduct.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiJKnH_-E0kK_tnNC_KvZkNvCcejqzoct8WX8sFz06u7plZR-st3nBG9tEQZm13qwPi1Pb3cP66MvYorvKaZ6ukvb_3FjuLGrzqgG_MPxJguOOepV6gRKjUIJINrF-zCtCg94QVwSPWc8E/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiJKnH_-E0kK_tnNC_KvZkNvCcejqzoct8WX8sFz06u7plZR-st3nBG9tEQZm13qwPi1Pb3cP66MvYorvKaZ6ukvb_3FjuLGrzqgG_MPxJguOOepV6gRKjUIJINrF-zCtCg94QVwSPWc8E/s400/6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSfdqhmZbZl7tcP-MpNgrp9i-2ruHTQnpLdKqYfUIvmKEEUr9xm7nB_TZ1kFs5nKzf0E3ZkpHCnrscX_9g02WIp5MMCILl-Zg-TW4GjgiOAzFjwafm5CnxZY0li8IZcjYDZt-qnfH0m8c1/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSfdqhmZbZl7tcP-MpNgrp9i-2ruHTQnpLdKqYfUIvmKEEUr9xm7nB_TZ1kFs5nKzf0E3ZkpHCnrscX_9g02WIp5MMCILl-Zg-TW4GjgiOAzFjwafm5CnxZY0li8IZcjYDZt-qnfH0m8c1/s400/7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This view is of the viaduct from the Visitor Center at the south end. The trees show the stark difference of Grandfather's slopes at the alpine level. We saw this view at the beginning of the trail at the edge of the parking lot ...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikdVZthIoxG2mp7x-_J4jC6eADmE85mitsFv-RwGThSG1_LSCdGfyZjz48pRmX8ijUGqUfMsM08kwrN1QcC0_choIJYpTnicB66Bt-AeBIqCBeecDTYgTK6Y-Tgdl8ZiFZ8SM-VmO82snn/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikdVZthIoxG2mp7x-_J4jC6eADmE85mitsFv-RwGThSG1_LSCdGfyZjz48pRmX8ijUGqUfMsM08kwrN1QcC0_choIJYpTnicB66Bt-AeBIqCBeecDTYgTK6Y-Tgdl8ZiFZ8SM-VmO82snn/s400/8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">... and then we saw this view as we approached the viaduct from the trail. Seeing it from beneath was an entirely different experience as we studied the pillars and molded cement sections that barely disturbed the surrounding area.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTPi7RrTpKsi4Q4pvIfDJRxnZA9sjkXf6qh9EiLAQ5zf1r0MUP7GfuZSvK3vJ-tFeOBJYu8k_ROVX0VbWT3twKijzVMz1vqYH-FFNoYtFg7F5WnGBudqPjhswvP-YIxFMhmq1QmHfJDoGg/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTPi7RrTpKsi4Q4pvIfDJRxnZA9sjkXf6qh9EiLAQ5zf1r0MUP7GfuZSvK3vJ-tFeOBJYu8k_ROVX0VbWT3twKijzVMz1vqYH-FFNoYtFg7F5WnGBudqPjhswvP-YIxFMhmq1QmHfJDoGg/s400/9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Not to mention it was a good leg-stretcher in-between thunderstorms on a rainy day.</div><br />Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell<br />May 2013

Blowing Rock Blue Ridge Mountains Blue Ridge Parkway Boone Grandfather Mountain Iredell County Linn Cove Viaduct Lynn R. Mitchell National Park Service North Carolina Wikipedia Up close & personal: Blue Ridge Parkway's Linn Cove Viaduct

We lived 12 years in Iredell County, NC, about an hour north of Charlotte where SWAC Husband worked before we transferred back to Virginia. During those years, we spent a lot of time in the Blue Ridge Mountains, most often around Blowing Rock and Boo…

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