 | | photo by Norris Barnes |
"Dull November brings the blast,
Then the leaves are whirling fast."
- Sara Coleridge
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Save the Journey®
Donate today and your tax deductible contribution will help preserve this magnificent National Park area for future generations.
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 | | photo by Vicki Dameron |
"In every walk with Nature one receives more than he seeks"
- John Muir
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Calling all photographers! We are always looking for beautiful photos of the Blue Ridge Parkway to use in our e-news and other publications. If you have photos that you would be willing to let us use, please get in touch with our communications staff at
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"November comes
And November goes,
With the last red berries
And the first white snows.
With night coming early,
And dawn coming late,
And ice in the bucket
And frost by the gate.
The fires burn
And the kettles sing,
And earth sinks to rest
Until next spring."
- Elizabeth Coatsworth
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Protect the Parkway
For each new or renewed specialty plate, $20 is given to the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation.
The entire specialty plate fee of $30 is tax deductible.
If you are a North Carolina resident,
Click Here to find out how you can help protect the Blue Ridge Parkway's historic, cultural and scenic resources today and into the future.
Already own a
NC Blue Ridge Parkway Specialty Plate?
Enter to Win a 2 Night Stay at Mast Farm Inn, a Porsche rental, and a $100 gift certificate to Mast General Store!
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 | | photo by Monty Combs |
"A sun-drenched sky on windy autumn day; out across open fields passing clouds make shadow play.
Silent beauty in multi-hues but ominous in a sense; for though today be delightful darkness soon gains precedence. - Ray Davis, Psychology of Seasons |
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Become a
Parkway Protector
With a commitment of just $10 a month, you can become a Parkway Protector and join a special group of our most dedicated monthly supporters - caring people just like you who love the Parkway.
It's easy - simply setup a monthly donation using this link.
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 | | photo by Norris Barnes |
"I cannot endure to waste anything as precious as autumn sunshine by staying in the house.
So I spend almost all the daylight hours in the open air."
- Nathaniel Hawthorne
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The 469 Challenge is Back!
November 1st marks the beginning of our annual 469 Challenge - a fundraising campaign through Dec. 31 to bring in one donation to celebrate each and every one of the scenic miles on the Parkway.
Last year was the first year of the challenge, and with 457 donations, we came very close to our goal. Will we reach it this year? You can help! Any size donation counts and every dollar goes to support projects that protect and enhance YOUR Parkway.
Donate today - and follow our progress - by visiting www.brpfoundation.org/469.
Let's show the Parkway what it means to us!
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Getting By With a Little Help From Our Friends...
In addition to hundreds of donors and thousands of specialty plate holders, the Foundation relies on support from various community partners to continue to provide a high level of funding to the Parkway.
 One of those partners is Mast General Store. Mast holds an annual event called Friends Day, where they donate 10% of sales to community organizations. This year, the Boone, Asheville, Hendersonville and Valle Crucis Stores supported the Foundation, donating almost $9000 to help us continue to protect and preserve the Parkway. Thank you Mast!
 Earlier this season, the Foundation brought an additional 38 partners to the table through our 1st Annual Plates for the Parkway event. Participating restaurants donated 10% or more of their proceeds from a meal or meals to the Foundation, bringing in a total of over $7000. A list of participating restaurants can be found here. Thank you to all participating restaurants - and to everyone who dined out for this event!
Don't forget to visit these businesses often to thank them for their support of the Foundation and the Parkway.
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The 2013 Blue Ridge Parkway Calendar is here!
It's a sure sign that the holidays are fast approaching. The 2013 Blue Ridge Parkway Calendar from Ray's Weather is now available and full of great photos of the Parkway!
Buy one today for yourself and all of your friends and family. It makes a great gift, and a portion of the proceeds are donated to the Foundation to support our projects and programs on the Parkway!
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Sequestration - What Is It?
 If Congress doesn't agree on a deficit-reduction plan by January, a "sequester" will be triggered involving an across-the-board cut of 8 percent for all federal agencies, including the National Park Service. Federal budget cutbacks are nothing new. Over the past decade, the Parkway has been deferring projects and letting positions go unfilled to get through some lean years - the Blue Ridge Parkway has lost 1/3 of their maintenance staff, despite an estimated $400 million backlog of projects. But now the parkway faces the task of preparing for these additional cuts, which will require some hard choices and may involve cutting some visitor services. What can you do to help? |
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Road Closure
 Beginning Nov. 1, the Parkway will be closed from just south of Mt. Mitchell State Park entrance at MP 355 to just north of Balsam Gap overlook at MP 360. This is due to a slope stabilization project which will be ongoing until the spring of 2013.
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The Season is Coming to an End
 Another wonderful Parkway season is coming to an end. All of the campgrounds are now closed. The Visitor Centers, picnic areas and other facilities have staggering closing dates. For the full list of closings and a list of facilities open year-round,
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Just Because I Could!
 | | Cassandra at Crabtree Falls |
A t age 19, I had a debilitating back injury in '08, which left me unable to sit comfortably for a long period, and finally had surgery to correct it in 2010. What better way to celebrate being again able to sit, than driving the entire length of the Parkway?
I was 21 when I embarked on this adventure, and I did it alone - just because I could. I started at the Cherokee end and worked my way up over the course of a week. Highlights included Waterrock Knob, Crabtree Falls, a day in Asheville, the Blue Ridge Music Center, Mabry Mill, popping over to the Natural Bridge, and the Peaks of Otter. The last day of my journey I spent on Skyline Drive.
I've never had such a peaceful getaway, and every day I think about one part or another. I plan to do the entire road again one day soon with my fiance so that he can experience the same joy I did.
- Cassandra from Blowing Rock, NC
Read Cassandra's story and other great stories on our website or share your own special Parkway story or memory.
H ave you traveled the entire length of the Parkway? Our end-to-ender program is designed to celebrate those people who have traveled all 469 miles of the Parkway, whether done in one trip or many. To submit your story and receive your rewards package, please go to www.endtoender.org.
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Kids in Parks Partners with NCRPA to Open Several New Trails in Western North Carolina
 | | The Elkin TRACK Trail runs along the Overmountain Victory Trail |
Through a grant provided by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation, the Kids in Parks program is partnering with the North Carolina Recreation and Parks Association (NCRPA) to open 10 new TRACK Trails in city/county parks in Western North Carolina.
Last week, Kids in Parks and the NCRPA celebrated the grand openings of three of those TRACK Trails: Black Mountain Recreation Park, Town of Elkin and Town of Marshall.
The Black Mountain Recreation Park TRACK Trail is located along trails that meander along the Swannanoa River, past the community garden and through a pine grove along the greenway.
The Town of Elkin's TRACK Trail is located at Elkin Municipal Park, and travels along the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail.
The Town of Marshall's TRACK Trail is located on Blannahassett Island in the middle of the French Broad River.
The NCRPA TRACK Trail locations will help link their communities with the program's other TRACK Trail locations along the Blue Ridge Parkway, in various state parks, and on other public lands, creating multiple opportunities for kids and families to get outdoors and connected with the wonderful places and communities that make the region so special.
For more information about these three new TRACK Trails (including directions), please visit our website at: www.kidsinparks.com.
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Last Chance To Enter
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photo by Stephen Mezardjian
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Wednesday, October 31st is the last chance to enter our annual drawing for a luxury weekend at the Mast Farm Inn in Valle Crucis, NC. The winner will receive two nights for two at the Mast Farm Inn in Valle Crucis, NC and a $100 gift card to the Mast General store. Don't worry if you miss the deadline. We'll be starting a drawing for next year on November 1st! Our last year's winner, Stephen Mezardjian, just came back from his weekend enjoying the beautiful fall colors in the Highlands District. Stephen really enjoyed his stay at the Mast Farm Inn. " The absolute hi-light of the trip had to be not only the great staff there but the incredible food. Chef Andy was there on hand greeting the guests and was always more than willing to talk about how he creates their menus and prepares all those great culinary delights!...What a true treat to have been able to win this fantastic contest!" So enter our drawing today, and maybe you'll be featured next year!
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Carolyn Ward, our Chief Executive Officer, came to the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation in 2008 when she was brought in to start the successful Kids in Parks program. Born and raised in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Southwestern Virginia, Carolyn's career has taken her full circle. After graduating from Emory and Henry College, she found her passion as a seasonal interpreter at Hungry Mother State Park in Marion, Virginia.
Following that love for the outdoors and her passion for teaching and learning, she completed her Master's and Ph.D. from Virginia Tech in Forestry. From there, she traveled to northern California, where she lived for 12 years and became a decorated Professor and award-winning researcher and author.
The Blue Ridge Mountains, the Parkway, her family and her passion once again brought her home. She now lives in Fairview, North Carolina with her husband, Alan, and their daughter, Virginia. She has completed the circle and is once more able to help build the connections between people and place....the people that are like her family, and the place that is her home...the Blue Ridge Mountains.
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Parkway Place Challenge
 | | photo by Jeff Burcher |
Do you know the location of this photo taken on the Parkway? Submit your answer on our website by midnight, November 26th. Three winners will be drawn at random from those who submit the correct answer, and each winner will receive their choice of an array of prizes.
 Last month's correct answer was the Blue Ridge Music Center (Milepost 213). If you submitted a correct answer, the randomly selected winners will be drawn this week, and you will be notified if you are one of the winners.
Do you have a photo that you think would be a great puzzler? Submit it here!
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