Welcome to JOYFUL REFLECTIONS. Also welcome to MARCH!!!! My header picture this month is a photo I took of the pretty Crocus blooms in our yard... The Crocuses and Daffodils are the first signs of spring here in Tennessee. I am definitely ready for SPRING...

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Storms on the Blue Ridge Parkway


This is the 3rd post from my wonderful Birthday trip to Virginia last week. If you missed either of the first two, go to my sidebar and scroll down to the Labels. Then look for Birthday 2010 and click on it.

Today's post consists of the storm clouds we encountered on our way to the Peaks of Otter --along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Once we got on the parkway south of Roanoke, VA, we noticed that there were some storm clouds building all around us... Luckily for us, most of the rain seemed to miss us. So---when we stopped at the overlooks, we were able to get some great photos not only of the mountains but also of the skies.

And the good news was that, by the time we got to our resort, the rains were gone --and the temperatures were MUCH cooler... That was AWESOME!!!! Above is a neat picture of some of the thunderclouds that were brewing all around us.... Below are more photos!!!




We stopped at most of the overlooks and enjoyed the views ---even with the rains all around.




You can see how the rain clouds were getting closer. Isn't that a good picture of the mountain peaks in the background?




I love this picture since you can actually see the rain in this picture. Neat, huh?




When I took this picture, we were at an overlook --and the rains were VERY close. The winds were blowing hard and it was getting darker and darker... We quickly took our pictures and jumped back in the car!!!!!




Isn't that a neat picture --showing the clearing of the skies in the distance? We made it through the storm just in time to reach the Peaks of Otter.

We didn't think the storm was very bad until later --when we heard that there had been hail in some spots, trees down and more damage in other areas... Here we were, just driving along taking our pictures, never knowing how serious that storm could have been. Guess we were part of the lucky ones!!!!

+++++++++++
Speaking of RAIN, we finally got 2 inches of rain yesterday, the first significant rain we have had in about 2 weeks. YEAH!!!!

Hope you have a great day.
Hugs,

54 comments:

A Brit in Tennessee said...

Hi Betsy: What a fabulous birthday trip your chap whisked you away for... he's a sweetie !
Gorgeous pictures as always, the views are magnificent.
We've not had any rain for almost a week now, and this heat is just draining.
I've been busy working, so not much blogging time ;(
Off to read more about your trip now !
Hugs,
Jo

Anonymous said...

Good Morning Betsy, Pretty pictures of the storm clouds in the mountains. Best of all is that the temps cooled off so dramatically for your visit! Glad you had rain yesterday at your home too!

Jane said...

Good morning Betsy,

Great shots - so glad that your trip was not rained out.

Jane

diane b said...

The views are terrific and the skies dramatic. Glad you didn't get caught in the storms. Are these mountains part of the Appalachian Range?

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

Saw your birthday photo at Ginny's site. Such a lovely thing to meet each other and be real friends.

Valerie said...

I always find it amazing when you can actually see the rain coming down from the distant clouds. So pretty.
Great sky pictures Betsy!

Darla said...

Stunning captures and hooray for your rain. We have this tropical thingy headed our way so we should get some rain out of it.

Peggy said...

I love the photo with the clouds around the mountain top. George did a fantastic job for your birthday surprise. No rain here. Hopefully the fall will be a wet season. Over 100 here today.

Catherine said...

Excellent photos Betsy! So glad you got some much needed rain!

xo Catherine

Ginny Hartzler said...

I'm glad you got your rain, and I'll be interested to hear when the birds return. These really are great pictures! Of course, I have lots, but these are different, the mountains in the first few are wonderful, I can never see them too much. I feel like they circle us in a protective ring. Great weather pictures, I can see the rain!! we can have one kind of weather down here, when up on the mountain it is a whole different kind of weather.

Jen said...

Great shots.
We need rain here!!!!

Dorothy said...

Betsy, you have some good shots of the approaching rain!! Glad it didn't stop you from having a good time!

Susie said...

That is such beautiful scenery. Glad ya'll had a wonderful time and didn't get caught in those storms.

Arkansas Patti said...

Really, really great pictures and the best way to view a storm, from a distance. That header is awesome.
I love that when you travel, you don't just go from point A to point B. You stop and enjoy. Thanks for letting us enjoy also.

Harriet said...

What a beautiful area! You really had a great birthday trip!

Mary said...

Love that top cloud and the moody shots over the mountains. Rain is beginning to be very welcome. We haven't had much this summer.

MadSnapper said...

i really like the photo of the peaks of otter. that is really beautiful to see.
glad you were safe while taking your photos
happy for your rain, we got 3 inches day before yesterday and for the past hour we have gotten another 3. we are very happy and both of our good rains came without fireworks and booms, just pouring down blessed rain. all our plants are waving there arms for joy.

amelia said...

Again I had to keep coming back before I could leave a message!!

I truly believe that pictures of rain and storms are sometimes prettier and more dramatic than sunny pics. These are gorgeous, really lovely!!

I am not standing the heat well at all this summer, it's just awful. Humidity is worse than it's ever been but parts of our country have had no heat at all, just cool temps and rain!!

Barbara said...

Lovely photos of that angry sky, I love watching the clouds roll in , nice pictures thanks for sharing, and as always, I have been blessed, hugs and blessings, Barbara

Ruth's Photo Blog said...

I love all those weather pictures.The first one is so vibrant.Being surrounded by storms and not knowing their severity,reminds me of life.Sometimes we don't realize just how bad things may be and that is such a wonderful thing,to rest in the peace of God.
Blessings,Ruth

Pedaling said...

I love the smell of a storm in the air! I love how it feels, smells and sounds....ahhhh nothin' like a good summer storm!

Fred Alton said...

Wonderful snapshots of the mountains and the rain-storm. It can be dangerous if one is in the forest and a heavy one comes through as it can throw huge chunks of wood down onto your vehicle and maybe hurt you. That's the voice of experience! I escaped - but I confess I did an extra amount of praying as I drove through one of those storms.

KathyA said...

I just love clouds and watching approaching storms. I have a few photos of a squall approaching us while we were on a cruise. I'll have to post them.

Diane said...

Glad you got rain, Betsy. The sky pictures are awesome, I love the look of threatening skys(as long as they're not TOO threatening!) Diane

Snap said...

Gorgeous photo, Betsy. The clouds are spectacular!

Tabor said...

Great photos of that lovely area of the country. The coolness was a nice respite from my heat here!

Kay said...

I love storms as long as they are not devestating.

Rose said...

Betsy, I love ever single photo! I sure hope to get to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway sometime. That is the down side to having animals...always the worry about their care. If it was just one cat, i would stick it at the vets and not think a thing about it. But 4 would get a bit expensive!

I Am Woody said...

Beautiful shots!

Busy Bee Suz said...

I do love a nice storm!!!
Glad you got some much needed rain...enjoy your day!

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

That first picture especially! Wow!

Go glad you got much needed rain!!!

Neal said...

Gorgeous shots Betsy.

Debbie Taillieu said...

Fantastic photos Betsy! Of course it's easy when you have so much beauty surrounding you!
We did get about 5 mins of light way 3 days ago....that's the desert life!

Have a fabulous day!

RoeH said...

You can sure see why they called it the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Debbie Taillieu said...

Hi Betsy, Thanks for stopping by my blog. I love reading your comments. I am however a bit blogger illiterate and I don't know what meme means? I have learned alot since I started this blog back in January 2009, but there is so much more to learn.

Thank you in advance for any pointers you can give me.

Hope you are having a wonderful day there in beautiful Tennessee!

nanny said...

Another group of wonderful pictures,,,,I love the last one most....awesome.
I wish I was driving the Parkway right now/ha

The Retired One said...

Sure looks like a beautiful part of the country. How far is this from where you live? Can you post a state map showing us where it is?

Sey said...

Glad you had a wonderful trip for your Birthday...I miss reading your posts and I ma glad to be back here.

Anonymous said...

Your photographs at the overlooks are magnificent! I'm glad that you didn't encounter the really bad weather.

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Betsy: Wonderful photos, looks like a face in that first billowy cloud.

Glenda said...

Incredibly beautiful pics of the mountains and sky! I love the greenery in the foreground against the gorgeous blues and purples of the Smokies! You really captured the progression of the storm. Glad you were safe!

You mentioned banana popsicles in your comment on my post! I had not thought of those yummy treats in sooo long! I need to see if you can still buy them!

Anonymous said...

Hi Betsy, We are having thunder around and I think it will be raining soon (now is 5:56pm, 8/11/10).

Your vacation pictures of the stormy weather are neat!

Maybe we won't need to water the lawns and gardens tomorrow!

Have a great evening!

Cindy said...

Betsy,
Great photos, I loved them! I enjoy watching a storm, it's so powerful and exilerating, don't you think.
Hugs, Cindy

LV said...

Loved seeing all these beautiful areas. You did a marvelous job capturing so much of the real action. So happy to hear the heavens opened up for you. I have about decided we must not be living right in my area. So very hot and dry.

Thoughtfully Blended Hearts said...

Betsy, I love these skyscapes!!! Clouds have always fascinated me so I'm always looking and trying to find something in them!!!

Deb from WhatsInMyAttic said...

Oh, my, Betsy. That last picture looks like a painting! Beautiful!

Beth said...

Stunning pictures. You're doing something I've always wanted to do. Lucky you. (I'm visiting from Glenda's).

carolina nana said...

So glad God is spreading the much needed rain around,we got a little more this afternoon and just missed a very bad storm so I'll take the little rain with no storm any day.
Son was here today and seemed better but still can't move that foot.He's going back to the ortho. doctor tomorrow.
Have a blessed tomorrow
Marilyn

Kirigalpoththa said...

Fantastic sceneries. Love that white cloud!

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

These were all such beautiful and dramatic photos, Betsy!

Connie said...

Really great cloud pictures, Betsy! I especially like that first one. Glad that you came through the storm OK.

Carletta said...

Just beautiful shots of the mountain regions!
It was your birthday - you were supposed to miss those rains.
George planned a beautiful trip for you - God made it so. :)

SquirrelQueen said...

Oh Betsy, I love those mountain top views and the towering clouds in your first photo. I'm glad to hear you and George didn't get caught in the really bad part of the storm, you were very lucky.

I'm been having internet connection problems again. Just about time I get a comment written the connection will go down. So far so good tonight.

Janie said...

Oh, what wonderful misty views. I'm glad you didn't get in any of the really bad weather.
By the way, belated happy birthday!