Blind Spots
Rough Ridge Trail in North Carolina I am currently on a trip as I start this article and enjoying the cool weather. It has been unseasonably cool for this time of year but I can't complain because I'd rather have the cool weather over the other extreme of too warm, which is increasingly looking likely for the remainder of this year. The first part of this trip is taking in the Blue Ridge Parkway, although it is still not fully open yet. Worse still, most of the attractions along the route are also not open. Something unusual that I have never witnessed before; all the picnic grounds/areas that we have passed so far are closed off. The only ones open were located near the start of the parkway in Virginia. I don't know if this is because of government shutdowns, the elimination of so many park jobs, or what the issue is. I'm used to various attractions like restaurants and campgrounds being closed for the winter, but in previous years, picnic areas were open even when it...
