Thursday, November 14, 2019

Happy Thankful Thursday

 Hello and Happy Thursday & 


I have more trip photos from our recent road trip on the Blue Ridge Parkway to Asheville North Carolina.  On this day, we visited Grandfather Mountain State Park, there is an admission fee that is used to preserve this beautiful mountain park, it's biodiversity and all it's nature. 

Below are the Split Rock and Sphinx Rock, rock formations in this park are supposedly dated back to 1.2 billion years. 




Rock formation is title Sphinx Rock, it does have a Sphinx face.





There is a wildlife preserve, we saw the cute river otter, elk and eagles. 





There is a Swinging Bridge, which is a mile high above sea level. The mountain is 5946 feet high and is estimated to be 300 million years old. 




It was a windy day, I was thankful they have anchored this bridge so it does not swing.  



Me and my shadow on the Mile High Swinging Bridge.





The closer view from the Swinging Bridge, I assume the buildings are hotels, condo and vacation homes.  


The American Robin seemed to be enjoying these berries.  



I counted at least 5 Robins in this bush with these red berries. 



I am so thankful to be retired and able to take road trips.

I was thankful to see any birds, this trip was more for hiking and waterfalls than birding. 

I am thankful for all your visits and comments. 


Thank you Michelle for hosting Thankful Thursday
Thank you to Yogi the host of   Skywatch Friday




Thanks so much for visiting and for your nice comments on my previous post. Have a happy day!

61 comments:

chica said...

UAU!!! Que lindas rpchas e formações.Belos azuis e adorei tudo aqui! Lindo dia! beijos, tudo de bom,chica

Francisco Manuel Carrajola Oliveira said...

Gostei bastante de ver estas belas fotografias e aproveito para desejar a continuação de uma boa semana.

Andarilhar
Dedais de Francisco e Idalisa
O prazer dos livros

David M. Gascoigne, said...

That block of apartments (or whatever it is) sure mars the landscape.

eileeninmd said...

I agree it is an ugly building. Thanks for the comment! Enjoy your day and the week ahead.

eileeninmd said...

Thank you! Enjoy your day and the week ahead.

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Chica! Enjoy your day and the week ahead.

Jeevan said...

Amazing capture on the marvellous rock formations and I too could see a sphinx face in one of the rocks! Wonderful preservation of nature and animals but it disturbs to see number of hotels and vacation homes spread over the mountains.

Ella said...

Very beautiful nature photo… I love the blue sky and your shadow on the long bridge!
Have a nice day!

Tom said...

...I've been there and the large building is an eye sore, someone was paid off!

eileeninmd said...

Hello Tom, that large building is ugly. It has ruined the view. Wishing you a happy day!

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Ella! Wishing you a happy day!

eileeninmd said...

Hello, it seems no one worries about the habitat and trees they destroy to build these ugly buildings. Thanks for the comment. Wishing you a happy day!

Marie Smith said...

That beautiful park is a joy to see through your lens. It is a great place for a ramble. The shadow photo is especially good.

Ana Mínguez Corella said...

Lovely place and shots.. Beautiful Robin.. Cheers

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Ana! Wishing you a happy day!

eileeninmd said...

Thanks Marie! Wishing you a happy day!

Vera said...

Love those rock formations - so interesting. That swinging bridge though...even anchored, I would not like to be on it. Thanks for sharing your pictures.

Barbara Rogers said...

Hi Eileen...what great rocks, animals, and your pic on the bridge...you're a brave woman! I wonder if the split will eventually fall off, and then (in about a thousand years or so) there will just be sphinx and a flat rock. Have a great Thursday!

Jenn Jilks said...

I don't think I could do that bridge! Good for you!

Debbie said...

those rock are so interesting and cool, the see the sphinx face!! the swinging bridge, super cool too, and i am in awe and you should be so proud that you walked on that thing!!

that large building kind of spoiled the natural view!!

my robins are all over the berry bushes i have in my yard too. and i am also so happy for you that you are retired and can really enjoy life!!

magnoliasntea said...

when I saw your photo of the swinging bridge I nearly fell over. I can't do them. You're brave!
Have a great Thursday!

eileeninmd said...

Thanks Vera! I had my doubts about the bridge, but it was ok. Wishing you a happy day!

eileeninmd said...

Hello Barbara, I am sure the split rock will break, just not sure how long it will take. Wishing you a happy day!

eileeninmd said...

Thanks Jenn! The Bridge was not as bad as it looks. Wishing you a happy day!

eileeninmd said...

Hello Dee, the views were beautiful. Wishing you a happy day!

eileeninmd said...

Thank you! Wishing you a happy day!

eileeninmd said...

Hello Debbie, I was glad the wind did not make the bridge shake. The large building does spoil the view.
The robins do love the berries. Thanks! Wishing you a happy day!

Mikael Bergman said...

What an exciting and beautiful place
Hanging the bridge looked very high

Natalia said...

Absolutely stunning!☺

Bob Bushell said...

Fabulous photos Eileen, the American Robin is the best.

Michelle said...

A lovely park but I don't know about crossing the swinging bridge! Thanks for linking up today and have a great weekend.

Marit said...

Hello Eileen,
The Sphinx Rock was fantastic. 300 million years old! It's a very long time ago...
Happy Thursday, and have a nice weekend ahead!

Nancy J said...

The rock face, amazing and that bridge!!! I hate swing bridges, and the last time I was on one, I froze. It was swaying just a tiny little amount, but too much for me.That is a huge engineering feat, and it looks very secure and safe, and not likely to sway!!!

italiafinlandia said...

Hello, the swinging bridge is breath-taking!
You surely enjoyed your hike in such a beautiful place.
Wishing you a nice weekend ahead!

Carol @Comfort Spring Station said...

Grandfather Mountain is a wonderful place to visit!

RedPat said...

The shadow pic really gives you the idea of how high the bridge is! I always think that otters are having a good time!

Crownandcottage said...

What an enjoyable day you had! Lovely place to visit, thanks for sharing your beautiful photos.

Bill said...

Wonderful photos, Eileen. I like the Sphinx Rock and the swinging bridge would be interesting to walk on.
Have a wonderful day!

Hootin Anni said...

That bridge is like the royal gorge bridge in canon city Colorado. And the sphinx rock reminds me of the monoliths near Douglas arizona.

Look at that lively blue sky & sunshine! I'm glad I stopped by today!!

rupam sarma said...

Amazing pics. Another beautiful post.

Jim said...

I like the bridge shot.

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

That's our favorite place to spend time! And I always wonder what the view is from those buildings...must be great! Love the photos. I don't know what it would take to get me on a swinging bridge though. Knock me out and carry me across I guess! haha!

Red said...

You don't miss a thing on your trips...rocks, birds , mammals, bridges.

Yogi♪♪♪ said...

Wow, what a great place to visit. Amazing that they got that long bridge tied down well enough to cross in a wind. Grand views from up there. I have yet to see a river otter in the wild although I have been a few places where they are supposed to live. Amazing post, your thankfulness is always inspiring. Have a good weekend!!

Lowcarb team member said...

The rock formations are fabulous and lovely to see pictures of the American Robin :)

All the best Jan

Lois said...

You captured such beauty in these photos!

Rose said...

Eileen, I really enjoyed your photos...love your shadow shot. It is one of the best of them.

HappyK said...

Spectacular scenery.
I sure like to walk across that swinging bridge!!

William Kendall said...

The otters are a delight.

carol l mckenna said...

What beautiful sights you saw and wonderful photos!

Happy Day to You,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)

ellen b. said...

Love the shadow shot on that bridge. What a beautiful place to visit!

Indrani said...

Great choices for SWF! Seems like the rock has a face.
Have a great weekend.

Joyful said...

Beautiful photos Eileen. The rock formations are very interesting and the wildlife is spectacular.

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

It is lovely seeing some of part of the world I will probably never seen so thanks for your lovely images Eileen. ALSO THANKS FOR LINKING ME IN. I am back again for a little while from my travels to Aus. and the I.O.W so trying to catch up. Have a wonderful weekend.

Gunilla Teckenberg said...

När jag ser dessa skyddade miljöer med sitt rika växt- och djurliv hoppas jag att mänskligheten vill fortsätta att skydda och bevara och att ingen klåpare får för sig att exploatera ett sådant område.
Trevlig helg Eileen!

Marco Luijken said...

Hello Eileen,
Impressive shots. Great to see that bridge with a fantastic high view.

Greetings, Marco

Laura. M said...

Que buen perfíl tiene la roca. Es perfecto.
Estupendas fotos Eileen.
Te deseo un buen fin de semana.
Un abrazo.

Small City Scenes said...

Great shots. What a beautiful area. Have a great weekend
MB

A Bit of the Blarney said...

Wow, these are amazing photos! And the bridge is scary!!! I have a think about heights and this would be one of them. Have a grand weekend!

Spare Parts and Pics said...

I like those rock formations. I don't think I would want to be on that bridge on a windy day!! Have a nice weekend.

betty-NZ said...

This is such a lovely part of the world. I love the things you chose to share!



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