Ray and Russell resting after some “busy” days. Sorry for the delay in posting the Day 24. About 30 minutes from the finish, our daughter called with the news that our new grandson, Russell Gorman Berry, had just been born. After a quick lunch in Cherokee, we scurried to Boone to repack and then to Read More …
Category: Run
RWR Day 23 – Rollercoaster
It was an epic run across the Plott Balsam Range. I think 19 of the 20 miles had a grade of 5% or more (12 of those were up, 8 down). The day beat my legs up big-time. Many thanks to Julie and Les Taylor from Waynesville who came to the start and supplied cookies from Read More …
RWR Day 22 – Richland Black Balsam
Day 22 was a day of highlights. At Milepost 431.5, we reached the highest point on the Blue Ridge Parkway–Richland Black Balsam, elevation 6053 feet. But even more exciting was that Don Lister, the only person to have ever run the entire Blue Ridge Parkway to date, drove over and found me. We had lunch Read More …
RWR Day 21 – High Terrain
Today’s run featured good running company, tunnels, a climb up Mt Pisgah, Looking Glass Rock, Graveyard Fields, and the start of the climb up Black Balsam. Day 21 Run Ray with Ranger Conrad Shirk Ranger Conrad Shirk, an interpretive ranger for the Blue Ridge Parkway, ran about 13 miles of today’s run. His company made the Read More …
RWR Day 20 – Beautiful Asheville
Day 20 was the most event-packed day of Relay with Ray with a 7 AM start at Haw Creek Valley Overlook live on TV. We took a brief break before visiting the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center in Asheville. The day ended with a run through a tunnel almost one-quarter mile in length. Day 20 Read More …
RWR Day 19 – Descent to Asheville
Day 19 began at Milepost 360 on the side of Mount Mitchell and ended at the Haw Creek Valley Overlook at Milepost 380. We had lots runners along with terrific long range views. Day 19 Run I must keep this blog abbreviated. Today was a very long day–up at 5:15 AM, pack and leave Big Read More …
RWR Day 18 – Massive Mitchell
The term “breathtaking” is overused, but literally today at one point I looked to my left and it took my breath away. Day 19 took me to the 5600′ level on Mount Mitchell. I’ll mostly let pictures tell the story. Day 18 Run Ray at Mt Mitchell Entrance Run by the numbers: 18th day, 360 miles Read More …
RWR Day 17 – Love Little Switzerland
Celebration at Gillespie Gap I was overwhelmed with the support of so many people today. Steve Simmons came again to run 8 miles, and his wife Nancy was a joy to meet as well. Blue Ridge Parkway personnel, including folks from the Minerals Museum, came up the hill to greet me as I came though–that Read More …
RWR Day 16 – Linn Cove Viaduct
The highlight of the day and of the entire run is Linn Cove Viaduct. We began the day just below Milepost 300. The fourth mile of the run was Linn Cove Viaduct–it was even better than I imagined. Day 16 Run Neal and Steve taking a quick break I enjoyed running with Steve Simmons from Read More …
RWR Day 15 – Home Court
I ran today on my “home court”. Many of these miles I have run before. We stopped just before Milepost 300 at a parking area for the Tanawha Trail. Day 15 Run Ray was ticketed for running on this spot, August 2009. No kidding! Today’s run began at Grandview Overlook near Parkway School. We ran Read More …