Back on the Blue Ridge to Fancy Gap

Election day in UK and a peaceful beautiful blue sky morning here, we know where we prefer to be ! Back up onto the Parkway at Deep Gap and slowly made our way north. First overlook is Lump View which made reference to Tom Dulla !! So the song for today is.... yes.... "Hang Down Your Head Tom Dooley" a song from our childhood.

Some of the damage from the winter ice storms
Information about Tom Dulla and how it became Tom Dooley.
I have researched Tom Dulla and he was hanged on 1st May 1868 for the murder of Laura Foster. In the Appalachion language pronunciation of a final "a" is "y" as in the Grand Ole Opry. The song is said to have been written by Dulla himself while in prison. It was a big hit for the Kingston Trio in 1958
We love the names for some of the overlooks !
View from the above Alligator Back Overlook
And another view

One overlook at Doughton Park. Stopped here and made a coffee (one great thing about having the RV) and sat and absorbed the view
There was a short walk up to another overlook from here and information about folk who lived in the valley in the 1800's. One man had fathered 22 children and one of his sons fathered 15, I guess there wasn't much to do in those days !!! Sadly some of them perished when a mud slide destroyed their homes
View from same overlook as above
And hey, joy, at this same overlook a watertower !
Unknown overlook (just down from Cumberland Knob) as sign missing but again fantastic views. We made lunch here and sat and absorbed the views and watched the buzzards riding the thermals.
Most of the elevation today is around 3000 feet.

Our site at Fancy Gap