#16, Down the Mountain ~ Farewell to Mitford

February 22, 2022

Father Tim often spoke going "down the mountain".  He wasn't usually leaving, per se, but going somewhere.  To do some special shopping, or something of that nature.  Once he careened down the mountain in a brakeless car, with Helene Pringle at the wheel, following a hint about the illusive Sammy Barlow.  

Somehow, in all of the mentions of trips, I don't recall any reference to blinding, blasted fog.  Though the sun had long since risen by the time I vacated my little motel room and loaded up the rental car, there was no sign of it in any direction.  

I didn't really have the luxury of hanging out and waiting for it to clear, as I had a long drive ahead of me to Charlottesville, VA.  So off I went, squinting through the windshield.  

Though I had brought along a full-size paper map, I trusted my gps when it sent me out onto the Blue Ridge Parkway.  The fog hung like a shroud, and a couple of times I simply had to pull off and take a few breaths before continuing on.  

Blue Ridge Parkway

Occasionally something would beep in my dash and I'd get a notice that the front camera had condensation on it that I needed to clean off.  Sure, let me get right on that.  I did, however, clean off my side mirror, the better to see any car before it rear-ended me in the dense fog. 

Fog Ahead and Behind

While I could never see the cliff just beyond the shoulder of the road, I could certainly sense it, and prayed mightily that I wouldn't miss a curve and plunge off into the abyss. 

 

At least I knew how far it was to the bottom - 3,240 feet

Fog on the Blue Ridge Parkway

The knuckle-gripping fog continued for about ten miles until I reached a lower elevation and was directed onto a major highway.  The remainder of the drive went fine until there was a wreak that closed down I-77.  My gps sent me off on a meandering, scenic loop, over hill and dale, and once again through heavy fog.  I was never so thankful as when I finally was reunited with the highway, and eventually arrived at my hotel in Charlottesville.