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Saturday, May 3, 2008

Blowing Rock, North Carolina


I took these pictures at The Blowing Rock about two years ago on one of our visits to the Carolinas. The cliff stands 4,000 feet above sea level overlooking Johns River Gorge. Standing close to the edge my husband, the boys and I felt like we could fly if we could only get closer to "the odd shaped rock." Fortunately, barriers prevent folks from getting too close to the edge and being swept away by the wind. I could see how easily the wind could rush in, grab us and swoop us away to some hidden crevice somewhere at the foot of the rock. Hidden from the world, we might never be found.




The wind blew so hard that day that in every photo my long hair shoots straight up! The wind flows differently at the foot of this rock. It blows up rather than down or to the side as most "normal winds" do. After witnessing the abrupt and uncoordinated dances performed by the wind, I better understood the story that serves as the backdrop for this well known site in North Carolina. A young Cherokee brave and a Chickasaw woman fell in love, but torn by his love for her and his need to return to his people, the young man threw himself off the Blowing Rock. After days of praying for his return, the young woman witnessed as the rock "blew" him upward back into her arms. I have heard that when it snows sometimes, the great force of the wind makes the snow drift upward. What an awesome site that must be...


The site has been turned into a tourist attraction, complete with gift shop, outside garden area, and easy to maneuver pathways for people of all ages to enjoy; that is true.(Photo Gallery) But this place had a special feel to it. I could sense a oneness with the Earth and the sky. I don't know if it was the sound of the wind howling all around me that dazed me, mesmerized me and put me in a state of utter quiet in my head, or if it was the lack of artificial noise or the few people who walked around but hurried to find their own private corner of this magical world. Whatever "it" was, "it" was surely there.

12 comments:

  1. So pretty. I can almost smell the wind just looking at the pictures.

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  2. Great photos and very informative writing.. thanks for sharing

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  3. Beautiful! It calls to my soul. My husband and I have hiked there.
    Vicki

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  4. Just beautiful. It makes me want to hop in the car and head north.
    I love and miss the mountains. Thanks for bringing the mountains back to me.
    Have a great weekend!

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  5. Great pictures. I was stopping by to see how you're doing. Hope all is well. Blessings!

    QuoteGuy

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  6. Beautiful photos and post. That must have been quite the view!!!

    JJ :D

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  7. I like this post. Great landscape.

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  8. What a beautiful place this must be! Isn't it wonderful that some of the best experiences in life are gifted by Mother Nature...
    .. to see snow drifting 'upward' would truly be an extraordinary site to behold!
    Thanks for sharing such a spectacular, wonderful place!

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  9. This is a beautiful post. I became so engrossed in your photos, description and story that for a few minutes I literally forgot where I was. You REALLY captured the breathless, precipitous quality of standing at it's edge. I also love the imagery of your long hair blowing straight up. Wonderful...one of your best!!! I got lost in it.

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  10. Namaste' fearless! hahahahaha I was laughing out loud here literally cause I was picturing your long hair shooting straight up LOL, (what a visual!) I was also feeling and imagining what this was like from similar moments in my own life of visiting the mountains, and I LOVE how you said you felt like you could fly, is that not wondrous?? it's such an exciting feeling, and then you have to ground yourself, and remind yourself that you weren't born with wings,
    maybe in your dreams ;0) he he

    I also found this story very intriguing and interesting, wow, that had a lot of visuals attached to it. I feel a sacredness there, you no doubt also felt.

    metta
    sky

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  11. What a wonderfull view!
    Really breathtaking!

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  12. Beautiful misty images, love these styles has a lot of atmosphere to them!

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