In high school and beyond, I listened to John Denver sing, “Rocky Mountain High,” over and over. I sang along with him and longed for the Rockies with the feeling that that’s where I belonged. Yet, after all these years, I’ve still never seen the Rockies in person.
Living on the east coast for most of my life, I’ve settled for visits to the Appalachians. I love them, because they are mountains. But I’d always felt like they weren’t quite enough. Like they weren’t the real deal, until last weekend.
My friend and I spent Labor Day weekend in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. On the first morning, I woke early to a lovely sunrise.
By mid-day, the sun brightened the crisp blue sky as we hiked a moderately difficult trail on Beech Mountain. The waterfall gleamed like silver flowing over smooth rock and fed a creek who’s cool water tasted cleaner than any I can remember.
Later that day, I shared my longing for the Colorado Rockies with my friend who is well traveled. She talked about how the Rockies don’t have the tree coverage of the Appalachians and about how Colorado had become heavily “developed.” I remembered John Denver singing about “more people, more scars upon the land.”
My friend reminded me that the Appalachian Mountains are much older than the Rockies though they used to be at least as grand. Time has weathered the eastern mountains into gentler slopes covered by a rolling blanket of green and smokey blue.
I started to wonder if maybe these gentle old soul mountains are just as good as the Rockies. They may not be as dramatic, but they sing their own sweet song. My heart sings in their presence, like John Denver sang in “Country Roads,”
“Life is old there, older than the trees…”
On our second evening in the mountains, we went up to Oz.
A prosperous amusement park in the 70s, The Land of Oz is now open for a couple designated weekends in the summer and fall. No one was home, but we peered through a mysterious locked gate at the glowing yellow brick road, and I imagined skipping off to see the wizard, and meeting Glinda, or being Glinda, since I’ve always wanted to play her character.
Then I sat on a hill near the Oz bridge and thought about how there’s no place like home, and how nice it is to live in a state that has mountains on one end and the ocean on the other….
….and I watched the most magnificent sunset I’ve ever seen in my life.
I still want to visit the Rockies, but now I know
I am exactly where I belong.
There’s no place like home.
September 8, 2016 at 7:48 pm
Beautiful photos. I too did not think much about New York mountains, Then when my daughter was ready for university there were two that she wanted to go see. We had to drive thru the Blue Ridge Mountains to get to the first school, and they truly took my breath away. I actually pulled over and we got out of the car to soak in the beauty.
You are right, there is no place like home. :o)
September 8, 2016 at 8:48 pm
Maybe as we get older, we take more time to appreciate what seems to be subtle beauty and find out how powerful it really is. Thank you!
September 8, 2016 at 8:38 pm
OH, those mountains are just gorgeous!! And what a sunset! Stunning!! 💖☀️💖☀️
September 8, 2016 at 9:04 pm
I’m glad I you enjoyed it so much, Trini, and that I can share it with you! ❤
September 9, 2016 at 3:37 am
Stunning photos JoAnn. I’ve lived near both the Appalachian and Rocky Mountains. They both have their charm and kudos on making peace with where you are. That is still an occasional challenge for me. 🙂
September 9, 2016 at 4:26 am
Thanks, Brad. I took these photos with my phone! My hope is that we both enjoy many good times where we call home and also be able to travel to other lands of adventure! 🙂
September 9, 2016 at 5:17 am
Wow, very impressive photos. What kind of phone? Yes, may we enjoy where we are and have adventures!
September 9, 2016 at 5:37 am
It’s an Apple i phone I’ve had for what seems like a year. Embarrassingly, I’m not sure of the specifics. i phone 5 maybe? I did enhance some of the photos on the computer, but not much. Sometimes “enhance” makes the colors richer, but sometimes they are better left as is. I know the third photo with the blue, blue sky was not enhanced. The phone also has an enhance option, but I prefer to play with them on the computer.
September 9, 2016 at 7:19 am
Thanks. I’ve always seen good reviews on the i phones, but haven’t wanted to spend so much. Great pics and I do minor tweaking on some of mine too. 🙂
November 29, 2016 at 8:42 am
🙂
September 9, 2016 at 5:46 am
Take me home, country roads. Thanks for the nostalgia and the smile that goes with it. xoxo Harlon
September 9, 2016 at 6:35 am
You are welcome! I’m smiling, knowing that, Harlon. 🙂
September 9, 2016 at 6:56 am
The Rocky Mountains are gorgeous, but James and I had the opportunity to drive through the Smokey Mts. years and years ago and they are gorgeous too. I can’t imagine any mountains not being wondrous as are all the oceans I’ve seen. Lovely post JoAnna! 🙂 ❤
September 9, 2016 at 8:32 am
Thank you, Natalie. We have an abundance of wonders here on this gift of a planet! 🙂 ❤
September 9, 2016 at 9:19 am
Absolutely we do‼️‼️‼️❣😘
September 9, 2016 at 8:07 am
It looks like the sky had its own fireworks to play with 🙂 Looks so beautiful!!
September 9, 2016 at 8:34 am
Yes, it does! Sort of look like slow motion fireworks 🙂 Thanks!
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September 10, 2016 at 6:22 pm
Beautiful!! I love the Blue Ridge mountains, having grown up in Maryland. It’s nice being close to mountains and ocean. I love it here to on the southern end of the Rockies. They are beautiful too. Dramatic. I just love this whole planet. There’s no place like home.
September 10, 2016 at 6:55 pm
I love the whole planet! Yes, I love her dearly. Her whole big wonderful abundance. And I still want to see the Rockies. I’ve often wondered that if I saw them in person, I wouldn’t want to leave. Enjoy!