Again work brings me to Greensboro and I have a weekend to explore North Carolina. Decided to revisit Max Patch near Asheville and drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway, the magnificent road along the Appalachian mountain ridges. The sky wasn’t perfectly blue and many peaks were covered in fog. At the top of Mount Mitchell, about 2000 metres above sea level, you could barely see your hand in front of you.

Booked a room for the night at Kana’Ti Lodge not far from Max Patch Mountain. The lodge is a fantastic timber building with a cosy, rustic atmosphere. It seems that I am the only guest. After a quick drive down some valleys and up across some ridges to find some dinner I head up to Max Patch, the bald mountain top, to watch the sun set in the west. I am not alone, there are quite a few people who have come for the same treat, more prepared than me perhaps with tents and blankets, and bottles of wine and food. The sunset is absolutely divine. 

A good nights sleep at the lodge and a delicious organic breakfast on the balcony in the morning sun, quite possibly the best breakfast I have ever had. Then a hike back up to Max Patch by foot before heading back to Mount Mitchell, for another try at the views, via Hot Springs, where they have… hot springs. Settled for an ice cream and moved on. Mount Mitchell was as spectacular as it promised though it was hard to capture on film.