At Floyd Country Store in Virginia the free Friday Jamborees are lively Bluegrass music jams that are fun for the whole family.
bond was music, and they gradually created the unique sound of Bluegrass that is so beloved today. Free Bluegrass jam sessions can be found in many other intriguing nooks and crannies in this part of the world, and we were blown away by the huge gathering at the Floyd Country Store in Floyd, Virginia. With shelves of unique goodies for sale in the front of the store—along with delicious homemade ice cream—the huge area in the back of the store was filled to overflowing with musicians and an enraptured audience that was seated around them. At least 20 or 30 musicians were playing everything from dobros to stand up basses to fiddles, and without a single sheet of music in sight, they somehow made the most harmonious sound together, even though the jam session was totally impromptu. In between songs, a leader in the inner circle would crack a joke or two before picking up his instrument again to lead the group into the next melodic romp. All around us toes were tapping, people were grinning, and a little girl danced her own jig with an elderly lady who helped her get the wiggles out. Not far from the Blue Mountain Music Center we discovered the small town of Galax, Virginia, and its
welcoming brewpub, Creek Bottom Brews. Their brick oven fired pizza and craft beers from all corners of the country were so tasty that we became regulars during our stay. This brewpub was also the place where we learned about the New River Trail that runs for 57 miles from Galax into the hinterlands of Virginia along an old train route. Ideal for walkers, joggers and bikers, we spent a day enjoying a fun and very easy bike ride along this well-maintained path. As we traveled north through the Appalachian Mountains on roads paralleling the Blue Ridge Parkway, we followed the blooming of the wild rhododendrons and sought out beautiful hikes to waterfalls. This region is known for its stunning waterfalls and, like snowflakes, no two are alike. At Soco Falls in North Carolina we did a very short scramble down a steep slope to find ourselves at the confluence of two towering waterfalls that flow into each other. Our first foray to Duggers Creek Falls was foiled by driving rain, but a second attempt took us to a gem of a waterfall that is best seen from under the bridge that crosses the stream below it. We were amused to discover that there is a Crabtree Falls in both North Carolina and in Virginia. The North Carolina
APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN
COAST TO COAST SUMMER MAGAZINE 2017
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