We left Myrtle on the evening of the 31st, packed our gear, handed over the apartment to a local dealer, and stocked up on food and water. We punched Greenville into the GPS. It offered 3 cities to choose from: in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Judging by the atlas, it was the one in North Carolina (as it turned out later, it was right on the border, but in South Carolina=). We drove all night. According to our calculations, we stopped at the very foot of the Great Smoky Mountains. In the morning, we headed out. The weather was great, breakfast was delicious. "Hey, where are the mountains??" I looked around. None. I checked around the corner. Still none. My blood-curdling scream "There are no mountains!!" only alarmed the local pigeons at first. We wandered around the area for another 5 minutes in a futile search. None. Not in sight. We were deceived. Worn away by centuries of wind. Taken apart for building materials. In short, something must have happened... We asked the hotel owner. The answer killed us - guys, the mountains are a 10-hour drive away, you are in WASHINGTON+))))) Damn!! Alright, let's head to the mountains! The highway is cool, you can feel the capital is nearby (or maybe it's just the area). We are getting closer and closer to the mountains. Or rather, to the picturesque hills stretching in even ridges as far as the eye can see. The last time we saw mountains was at age 5, so everything around causes puppy-like delight. It turns out we are not far from the Scenic Byway "Blue Ridge Parkway". We decide to drive part of the way along it. Suddenly, on the first big climb, a ROMAN VIADUCT rises before us, crossing the road. What kind of glitch is this, we think. We drive closer. Yes, this is the Blue Ridge Parkway. To fit into nature as much as possible, the road was built in this style. Unprocessed stone, perfect asphalt, and breathtaking views. What else do you need))) Like any other "scenic road", it has a bunch of viewpoints, picturesque turns, etc. The road winds from mountain tops into unexpected lowlands, flies over gorges and rapids, and splits to let you drive closer to waterfalls and other mountain delights. Without a doubt, this is the best road in America that we have been lucky enough to see. I suspect that only the Going to the Sun road in Montana could be cooler, but we didn't make it there... From the constant squealing of the passengers, the car gets tired and starts to go slower. It stops every now and then to rest while we rush to take photos at the next "Now this is definitely the coolest" spot:))) The highest mountain in the American East, the highest waterfall, and a couple of other places that you just can't miss are located here. Yeah, it's cool there))) For the night, we found a clearing and set up the first tent for all three of us in our lives. After a campfire and delicious chicken under the open sky, we quickly climbed inside and, lulled by the murmur of a nearby stream, fell into a deep sleep....
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