Finding Open Spaces to Breathe-Linville River and Flat Rock

Stone Beach Along the Linville River

Two weeks ago, when fall colors were peak north on the Parkway, I got on at Linville and drove past the Gorge to the Flat Rock overlook and Beacon Heights, and then got off again before the horrendous traffic into Boone. I considered visiting the Linville Gorge, which I’ve been to before, but there were far too many people. I ended up turning around and as I was leaving, I found this Oxbow overlook site. People were eating at picnic tables. I took a small trail down to the river and came upon this stony beach. There was a local there skipping stones. He told me this is an incredibly popular spot in the summer. Perhaps he suspected I wanted to be alone to take it all in, because after skipping a few more stones he wished me a good day and said he would let Takoda and I have the place to ourselves. It was so peaceful to listen to the water and the fall colors were beautiful. The air felt so clean and just being in this spot made me forget about the pandemic. If I’d gone to the gorge, it would have been at the forefront of my mind the whole time, since I would have been trying to keep my distance from the throngs of people.

Fall Colors Dance in a Complex Symphony

As I walked along the river bank, I looked up at the trees overhead and was absolutely mesmerized by the way the branches seemed to be dancing and how the whole scene was syncopated by accents of color. I love those moments when all my sense are engaged. They take me out of my head and completely into the moment.

Fall Gold, Linville

Being in this spot, for once I did not experience Fear of Missing Out at all. The Gorge is fantastic, but these trees were pure gold and the light, the clustering of the trees, the peak colors and the sky beyond came together precisely here and in this uniquely glorious way.

Flat Rock Vegetation

From Linville, I headed up to the Flat Rock Loop trailhead. It is a .7 mile loop and surprisingly though there were people, there weren’t nearly as many as there were parked along the road. A friend told me he’d stopped at an overlook and there were a hundred cars and it was hard to get back on the road. Just this little bit of effort reduced the crowds dramatically and there were many places where I couldn’t see another soul.

Flat Rock Vegetation and Mountains in the Distance

Here are some additional views of the rock and of the landscape beyond. The Blue Ridge is heavily wooded, so it is always a treat to get out on these overlooks and see the whole world open up at your feet. To witness this wonderful biodiversity, breathe clean air, and feel the sun and wind on my skin, did help lift my spirits as we head into this dark winter. I will keep these images in mind and do my best to remember that life in the natural world goes on. Of course, I will continue to walk after the leaves have fallen. I hope these images help you remember to find the space and time to breathe as well. During challenging times, focusing on my breath always helps alleviate tension and brings me into greater balance. Hiking on the Blue Ridge reminds me how healing clean air and water can be and how fortunate we are that places like this exist. I’m looking forward to when this pandemic and election are behind us and we can go back to working to preserve the environment and enjoy all Mother Nature has to offer.

Flat Rock with Fall Color

Flat Rock Vista, The World Unfolding Before Me

Cluster of Pine Trees on Flat Rock

One final thought to leave you with. In exposed areas like this rocky outcropping, the elements are harsher and it is more difficult to endure. The limbs of trees twist in on themselves, in response to high winds and perhaps as a way of protecting themselves. We find ourselves in difficult times right now as well, and exposure to others is fraught with danger. We must find ways to protect ourselves, but we can still do it with grace and we don’t have to let our inner lightness of being or all our feelings of joy become extinguished. As I stood below this gnarled pine and looked up through its branches to the sky above, it seemed to me that the branches were dancing. I immediately thought about the quote by Vivian Greene that provided so much solace to me when going through a personally challenging period a few years ago. She wrote, “Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning how to dance in the rain..”–or in this case, how to dance in the wind or during a pandemic or a crazy election year. Stay safe and stay sane and keep dancing, even if you dance all by yourself.

Gnarled Dancing Pine Limbs, Flat Rock