natural stairmaster

Today's detour took me to Chimney Rock state park. I'd always wanted to go there.

Chimney Rock sits at an elevation of 2880 feet, looking out over the Broad River.

To climb the 1000+ feet to its top, you can either take an elevator in the rock or climb 499 steps.

I'd intended to walk up and slide—I mean "ride"—down.

But the ranger greeted me with the news that admission was discounted because the elevator was out of service.

Shades of the stairs to the Devil's Punchbowl in Arthur's Pass National Park, New Zealand.

This guy charmed me.

(And if you don't like my pictures, here's the web cam. There are lots of scary warnings.)

The Broad River empties into lovely Lake Lure.

You may know Lake Lure from the movies where it's stood in for upstate New York (!) in Last of the Mohicans and even more memorably, "Dirty Dancing." 

(Because of time, I had to skip Melanie's bbq recommendations in favor of a last languid lunch by the lake. At least I got a little exercise.)

***

I'm finally off to the Pacific Coast to cool off. It's been an important trip, but I can't wait to get back to where I belong: West of the Rockies. Look for updates from the Beaver state.