Tuesday, November 1, 2011

The River Road

After reading in Asheville on Sunday, I returned home along the River Road.

This is the road the drovers would have followed before the coming of the railroad.

When we moved to Madison County in '75, this narrow, winding road was the only way in.

On one side the river, on the other, rocky cliffs...
When the 'new road' was built about twenty-five years ago, the river road was deserted except for cyclists and folks who liked to take their time.
Sunday afternoon around five. The sun was low and the light was lovely.

I must have stopped six or seven times to catch the sparkle of sun on the water.
I even took one picture through a chain link fence that was too high to reach over.
A lonely barn on a hill above the river...

Lovely, long afternoon shadows . . .
Dark trunks against bright water and bright leaves against dark trunks . . .
The beautiful French Broad River like a sheet of beaten silver . . .
And leaves like golden coins.
A perfect day for a Sunday drive. . . 
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22 comments:

Vicki Lane said...

Okay! For the moment, at least, we have words and pictures!

Barbara Rogers said...

Every moment counts. I was happy to see your beautiful sharing this morning. Thanks. Thinking of you even if you can't be on blog for a while...but will miss you.

Alan Burnett said...

Beautifully photographed Vicki. A kind of artistic and creative Streetview.

Stella Jones said...

Beautiful scenery Vicki and all for me too on Thursday! I can't wait to see my Tennessee mountain home again and my hubbie and pretty calico cat!

Brian Miller said...

smiles...i can see...i can see...smiles....and oh how lovely it is...

Deanna said...

Your river road would draw me every time.

Taking pictures through a chain link fence can result in some interesting shots. I have one of my grandson playing baseball that is a favorite.

Wonderful photos, as always.

Anonymous said...

Vicki, it was fun to be at your reading on Sunday. Glad you had such a pretty ride home. BTW I thought Gloria in "Under the Skin" was a bit like Blanch Dubois.
Deana the Queena

Kath said...

Thank you for your window into a perfect Sunday!

Tammy said...

Lovely photos, lovely time of the year. Those two after the barn on the hill look like oil paintings, with all the contrast.
Sounds like you are very busy in an exciting way. :-)
Tammy

Friko said...

Yes, I too would take this road slowly, with frequent stops along the way. It's quite beautiful.

How many times have I complained about living in the back of beyond, yet when I look I can't bear the thought of ever getting back into the hurly-burly of big city life.

Christine said...

These just took my breath Vicki! They're wonderful. I'd love to meader down this road!

Ms. A said...

I just KNEW the photos would be wonderful, if the ever showed up. They are! Not sure there could be a bad photo of the French Broad. Glad they finally posted!

Tracy Golightly-Garcia said...

Hello Vicki

Seems like you had a very peaceful drive home. Would love to have that house on the hill.

Take Care!

Best
Tracy

Martin said...

I knew the pictures wouldn't disappoint.

Louise said...

You live amidst beauty.

NCmountainwoman said...

What gorgeous photographs of the lovely river road. We haven't driven it for quite a while. We need to fix that soon. It just makes a body feel content.

Kathryn Stripling Byer said...

Vicki, I remember so well your telling us about the River Road and the drovers who traversed it--this was at City Lights 3 years ago. I am sorry, sorry, sorry I couldn't be at your reading this weekend. I'm in Ga. with my mother and won't be back till a week from now. Lovely post as always and thank you for your comments on mine today!

JJ Roa Rodriguez said...

A very scenic route... Love it...

JJRod'z

Victoria said...

What gorgeous photos! They reinforce my belief that you live in one of the most beautiful parts of the country...

June said...

Gorgeous. Blissful.
A joke comes to mind about the name of the river but I'll leave it alone.

dannie said...

So sorry I couldn't get to your signing at the Marshall Library, had unexpected company-maybe next time. We were at the wonderful little fabric store on the "river road" Monday and I told my husband I wanted to follow it into Ashevillne one day. Madison County is so full of treasures like this, this road is surely one of the most beautiful!

jennyfreckles said...

Looks so much the better for being the less-used road.