Fall on the Blue Ridge Parkway is a true gem of the Mid-Atlantic. The parkway winds its way 469 miles through mountain meadows and past seemingly endless vistas. Split-rail fences, old farmsteads and historic structures complement spectacular views of distant mountains and neighboring valleys.

The Parkway was authorized in the 1930s as a Depression-era public works project, the Parkway was more than a half-century in the making. It was the nation's first, and ultimately longest, rural parkway, connecting Shenandoah National Park in Virginia with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina. Enduring standards for parkway engineering and design were pioneered here.

Being located in Charlotte, I can easily get to the Blue Ridge Parkway in a matter of a couple of hours. So, one Fall Saturday morning after a very hectic work week, I decided to head West to Blowing Rock to get on the parkway. 

At Blowing Rock, I was a bit disappointed because many of the leaves were gone from several windy days at this higher elevation. As I wandered down the parkway towards Asheville, I was pleased to see more and more color as I went down in elevation. I also experienced a 20 degree temperature drop, a huge increase in wind speed and lots of fog. However, the weather didn't keep me from jumping out of my car for some quick pictures. I'm sure glad I had a pair of gloves in my car.

If you ever are on the East Coast in the Fall, please make plans to take a drive on America's Favorite Drive.

On a misty October morning hundreds of riders took on the challenge of riding up to 165 miles in two days all to raise awareness and funds for Multiple Sclerosis research.

I began the chilly morning in the dark wondering why I had volunteered to spend the day chasing cyclists across South Carolina. By the end of the day, I knew. 

I've already offered to photograph their spring walk and any other bike event they have. These are incredible people doing amazing work for a great cause. Let's hope that one day there will be no need to have fundraisers like this ever again.