After a wonderful walk around the grounds of the Biltmore with Mat, Stephanie, Graham, Zena and Waylon, we are officially set to begin our journey. This is really a warm up for the Camino to find our cadence fo spending all of our time together. It is also a warm up as we learn to reflect on the beauty of Mother Nature and our blessings in life.
Splitting driving time is our first area of negotiation. I am admittedly not a good driver so being a passenger with me requires restraint! I started as the day 1 driver only to be told that the stretch between Asheville and Knoxville has many elevation changes as you wind (literally) your way through the blue ridge parkway. I am not good with heights and as I mentioned, not a great driver! And so it goes – patience not a virtue of my passenger and I white knuckled. Use your imagination.
To add to the adventure, our GPS recommended a detour off of I 75 once we made our way through Knoxville north into Kentucky due to a serious accident. The detour gave us an inside look at Kentucky Appalachia as well as many hair pin turns with no shoulders – I am still shaking. Seriously beautiful topography contrasted by the poverty of Appalachia was truly an experience to be remembered.
