The Thing about Knobs

Now this entry could come across as immature and rude, but you have to understand how names and words have different references in different cultures and places.

This is up on the Blue Ridge Parkway and we're about to enter Ferrin Knob Tunnel. In the UK "Knob" is playground (schoolyard) slang for 'penis'. So, when looking at maps and Google Earth for the USA, especially these hilly and mountainous areas, there are lots of knobs named. Green Knob, Ferrin Knob, and yes, there is a Big Knob somewhere.

The added humour here is this Knob Tunnel... I hope I don't need to explain how that could be interpreted!

Photos, Words and Memories from 2 trips and 3 months in the USA. Based mainly near Asheville in North Carolina.

Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na BATCAVE!

Hey, I lost a day somewhere! What happened to the 13th April? Well, here I am at Batcave. Awesome place name. Cool place name. It shows I also did eventually arrive in North Carolina. Having gone through jetlag and slept and chilled a lot, we headed out to Batcave, Chimney Rock and Lake Lure area. A cheesey tourist photo next to the sign was obligatory. One of my kids is also batty about bats, so this had to be done for her, too.

Photos, Words and Memories from 2 trips and 3 months in the USA. Based mainly near Asheville in North Carolina.

Pickens 7 Norris 4

...Central 7, Easley 6. Yeah it's just a sign. But when it's a sign in another country, there's a whole different road culture and way of relating to the land going on here. This was actually en route from somewhere in South Carolina to Asheville. I guess someone will eventually tell me exactly where this was taken. It would be easy to extrapolate the location from the distances on the sign, but I hope someone will get in touch and say "Hey!".

Photos, Words and Memories from 2 trips and 3 months in the USA. Based mainly near Asheville in North Carolina.

Evening Light near Blacksburg and Rock Hill

Evening light on a sunny day. There's nothing like it. Nothing like it at all. The blue sky, the deep greens. Add in a country you've never been to before, and it's amazing, stimulating vibe. Even a motorway (is it a freeway, interstate or what, here?) can have a mellow aesthetic vibe going on. Just a short distance from Blacksburg and Rock Hill at this rest area, it was magic. Roads and rest areas can be magic, you know.

Photos, Words and Memories from 2 trips and 3 months in the USA. Based mainly near Asheville in North Carolina.

Blue Star Memorial Highway - A Rest Area

Here we are again at the Blue Star Memorial Highway and this impressive sign at the rest area. A good sign. I like signs. Makes me feel welcome.

Photos, Words and Memories from 2 trips and 3 months in the USA. Based mainly near Asheville in North Carolina.