One of the reasons that we decided to move to East Tn. some 40 years ago, besides my attending the University of Tenn. in Knoxville, was the lure of the mountains and lakes. We've always loved seeing the beautiful rhododendrums in late Spring (May) as we go on mountain hikes, so planning a trip up to Roan Mountain, considered by many to be the "rododendrum capital of the world", seemed like a good destination on this Spring day. On our drive over, we stopped in Johnson City to pick up Shirl's brother, Jim, seen in the pictures here to share this day with family.
The part of Roan Mountain that we went to is actually in Tennessee, but right at the Tennessee/North Carolina state line. After parking our car, and following one of the numerous designated foot paths along the top of Roan Mountain, we came upon an open field just covered with purple rhododendrums. It was truly a feast for the eyes.
For those of you familiar with the movie "Sound of Music", you can just imagine yourself as part of the Von Trapp family walking across the Austrian mountaintops. Some of the vistas of the Applachian Mountains are truly breathtaking, opening up to you, as you continue along the footpaths. This is a trip that you'll not want to miss, especially in the colorful springtime.
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