Mt Mitchell State Park

My wonderful friend is here visiting for a few days so we decided to go to the mountains and do some hiking. We decided on Mt Mitchell and found a trail that we could do. As we are driving up the Blue Ridge Parkway, I realize that I am low on gas and we are far from civilization. We get to the park and get out and start our hike. Seemed ok at first but then it got a bit more difficult. A lot of climbing and huge steps and trying to figure out our footing. Beautiful rainforest-like atmosphere. Moss, beautiful mica, rocks, views....up the mountain and we made it. It was so beautiful once we were up there. Ashton went with us. He was a trooper. He practically ran up the mountain! I wish I had energy like that! He didn't complain at all!
We talked to a few people that told us that there was a gas station just 30 miles in a small town. (My car said I had 53 miles left on my tank) So we get down there and find this gas station. Two pumps, two people staring at us as we pulled up and stared me down as I walked into the station. (I had to pre-pay, as it was an old ticking pump) ( I felt like Mona Lisa Vito in My Cousin Vinny) I get inside and the guy tells me: "We runned out of gas. Sorry, there is another place about four miles down the road." Hmm ok, lets try this. Now, keep in mind we have absolutely NO service on our phones and the atlas that I keep in the car didn't even have Podunk anywhere on it. I am sure we passed many stills as we drove around. Finally found the "gas station". Filled up with gas.(whew!!) I asked the lady if there was a quicker way to get to 40 other than the parkway. "Oh honey, yes!! Go down the street until you hit the light, take a left and then you will see some signs for the highway and then you will take a right and be on your way." Great!! A way out! Still no cell service. My Sirius radio had a bit of trouble as well. So we go back the way we came and looked and looked for this light. Come to find out after many hairpin turns and hills and such, we came upon this traffic light.....FIFTY MILES LATER! (That would have been a bit helpful to know) Turned left, saw those signs she said I would see and found our way back to 40, cell service and civilization!

You can't say you won't experience an adventure when you travel with me... my mom and sister know this well. It was fun and always is.

PS. That hike we thought was supposed to be "easy" was classified as "strenuous". Good. I don't feel like such a wuss afterall. :)
Love,
K