{By Kelly}

I've traveled from Florida to Western North Carolina nearly every year for the past 33 years. My grandmother has a home in Hendersonville, NC and each visit brings new discoveries in the surrounding mountains. Here are a few of the places I explored at the end of September, first week of October, 2014.

All photos © Kelly Beard, The Riveted Roost

It was late September, but early traces of fall could be found at higher elevations, like Graveyard Fields, milepost 418.8 , along the Blue Ridge Parkway near Brevard, North Carolina. It sounds creepy, but the name originates from a time when a severe windstorm felled hundreds of trees in the area. Over the years, moss covered the stumps, resembling graves. With time, the forest has begun to recover, but a large meadow remains, which you can see from the parkway overlook. There's a parking area and restrooms at the trailhead of the Graveyard Fields Loop, which leads to two major waterfalls on the Yellowstone prong of the Pigeon River. I started my solo hike down the paved trail just after dawn and was greeted immediately by wildflowers, a pleasant surprise for this chilly time of year.

The paved trail leads down to a bridge, just a short distance away, that spans the river. After crossing, the trail forks, leading to the lower falls to the right, or the upper falls to the left.

I've driven past the sign for Cascade Lake Recreation Area too many times to count and I've never taken the time to check it out... until now. I'm certainly glad I did because it is a beautiful lake with a lovely campground (open April through October), perfect for a getaway with the Riveted Roost. It's located in the Pisgah Forest, between Hendersonville and Brevard, NC. The beginning of October is a wonderful time to visit - when the air is cool and the leaves are turning. Summer visitors can take advantage of the swimming area or rent a canoe and paddle from the lake into Dupont Forest, all the way to Hooker Falls.

{By Kelly}

"The mountains are calling and I must go." ~ John Muir

It's time to head for the hills. Hendersonville, North Carolina, that is. My family has a mountain house in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. I have wonderful memories of visiting every summer for the past 32 years. 

Justin has only visited a few times, so when we had the opportunity to take a road trip and help my Grama open the house for the season, we decided to take it. We didn't bring The Riveted Roost, since we had a place to stay.

This trip certainly had its share of ups and downs. I sprained my ankle while hiking our first day there - note to self: don't read the map while hiking - you might step on a tree root and twist your ankle! 

Nevertheless, we managed to drink our way through Asheville's Ale Trail, paddle the French Broad River, and hike around Linville Falls, and drive up Grandfather Mountain. As always, we thoroughly enjoyed our time exploring Hendersonville, Brevard and Asheville.

Enjoy the photos in the slideshow above - the captions provide the details. Here are some highlights:

{By Kelly}

Yet another trip without Riva, but definitely a camper-worthy vacation for next time. I can't wait to bring Riva to Asheville and Hendersonville. I've gone to the mountains nearly every summer since I was a baby. This time, it was a September trip to drive my grandmother home to Melbourne.

I flew out of Melbourne, Fla. on September 11. That was a sobering experience in and of itself. While I wasn't afraid to fly, it is still an incredibly sad day. The years haven't eased the terror or the hurt. Around every corner was a painful reminder of how our lives will never be the same after that horrible day.

I arrived at my grandmother's house in Hendersonville later in the evening. I never tire of the country road that leads to her place, or the sweet smell of the mountains. 

The next morning, I went on a trail ride through Dupont Forest and finally fulfilled my life-long dream of galloping through a mountain meadow. Made a stop at the Farmer's Market and the expansive farm I've pined over for years. It's been for sale for a while, but unfortunately out of my price range at $3.5 million.

The following day, I arranged to do a 12-mile paddle down the French Broad River with Asheville Adventure Rentals. I ended up being the only one on the long paddle that day, and I enjoyed the peaceful paddle (along with a few rapids) through Biltmore Forest and the River Arts District. I worked up an appetite, so I ordered some ribs and cornbread from 12 Bones - a BBQ restaurant that recently received a visit from President Obama. Then I browsed the racks and shelves at REI, one of my favorite outdoorsy stores.

I helped my grandmother with dinner, chores, and helped get the house tidied up before we departed for Florida. It's always a sad feeling when we leave in the dark, quiet and cool morning. I can't wait to return. The mountains are always calling...

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