Taking up where I left off in the last post,
This one looks like there might be a fire in the next draw.
And this one looks like the whole valley floor is burning.
These two illustrate an interesting feature of an early morning drive. When a draw "fills up" (with clouds, or fog, or even smoke I suppose) and it's still driven by a stiff breeze, it shoots up the slope, crosses the road in front of you, slips through a saddle in the ridge above and dives into the next valley. You can't get the full effect in these still shots, because it's the motion that is so arresting. But use your imagination.
The same thing's going on here too, but the relatively minor incident was interrupted by the sun's climb. Clearing an adjacent ridge line, the full effect of the sun was enhanced rather than diminished by the sunlight's diffusion by the clouds. "Awesome" applies here. My first thought on seeing this was the description in the Bible of the Transfiguration.
One last Blue Ridge Parkway comment (for now): I've noticed in my last few trips east that some of the overlooks on this most wonderful of roads are now blocked, or nearly so, by trees immediately below the turnout. The panorama effect suffers and "windows" must suffice. Travelers appreciate the trees on the Parkway so much, the notion that someone should "cut some of these trees back" often causes a great deal of distress as the idea borders on sacrilege. But, on the other hand. . .
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