Last weekend, our car club decided it couldn’t wait another week to get the cars out for a drive, in spite of the chilly morning. The idea was to drive around the apple orchards, but it was too early for blooms. Still, the excuse was good, so we gathered at a local parking lot to drive out to Lake Lure for lunch.
We brought our Mini, on the left, parking next to Terry’s Tiger.
Lots of members had cabin fever, apparently, as 19 cars showed up for the drive.
We set off east, along one of the many back roads. It was my turn to drive, so DH took the pictures today.
The rust color in the trees on the left are flowers of the maple trees.
Not much was blooming yet as we wound our way around the curves.
Pastures are green, and in the distance, a row of pear trees are blooming.
A few more pear trees and a weeping cherry was in bloom, with a few maples too.
Leaving the pastures, we angled up through the southern part of the Black Mountains, then catching the road through Chimney Rock to Lake Lure.
Parking high on a hill, you can see the lake below surrounded by mountains.
The restaurant was La Strada, a nice sandwich and pizza place.
A nice day for a drive, but I’ll be happy when it gets just a bit warmer. Still, it was fun to get out for the day, see some friends and have a nice meal.
After lunch, everyone was on their own to get home, so we came back by Chimney Rock road. It will take a few more weeks for the trees to green up.
Have you had any outings lately? Do you have cabin fever from staying inside this long winter?
From My Carolina Home 
Carole, what a lovely drive and so much fun to enjoy with others! Have a wonderful weekend!
Beautiful drive and what fun!! We love Chimney Rock and are currently in the Smokies, but heading back home today! Have a great weekend!
So happy you were able to have a little jaunt with your car club members, and we all benefitted from the lovely photos taken by DH on this trip. I love your mini Cooper, but the Jags aren’t too shabby either. lol
We have been wanting to get out for a Spring drive on a sunny day. Will have to do it now after seeing your pictures. Beautiful landscapes.
🙂 Posts like this are a sure sign of spring! yay.
Hello Carole, How wonderful that your Car Club got together for another wonderful drive and lunch. Drives like this when taken at the various times of the year are fun to compare all the changes that take place. I do not remember you mentioning driving before, do you enjoy being the driver or the passenger more? I am just curious. Thank you for sharing your beautiful drive with us! Have a fabulous day!
Oh how lovely, Carole! It sure does look like spring has sprung in your mountains! Love your Mini – my daughter got the Mini Countryman this fall and she loves it so much!
I know, there is still that nasty wind from the west. We will love it in the summer, but right now, brrr.
I am happy you got out. I take daddy out on drives around Loudoun County, and along 81 but we do not venture too far. He loves a drive, and really likes to get out to stretch as well, so no long drives when you are 95 years old. He loves it though, and me, the doting daughter.
It does help you beat the winter blahs, hibernating is boring.
I love the pics. I love a red car and there still are a few DeLoreans around making a non-spectacle of themselves hahahaha Yawn. I always thought they looked like atomic cockroaches 😀
What a fun day!! You are so green…we’re still having the white stuff falling!! Your car club makes me want to get on with the restoration (mostly minor) of my ’41 Ford convertible!!
A very fun day for all-always good to get out and about-fun club to be in!
Happy weekend
I love it when you take us along on these beautiful outings! Sounds like such a great day!
Jenna
We have an LBC, a 1974 MGB-GT, that we purchased a few years back in NC. It’s a beautiful state for touring and motoring about. I enjoyed your post and will share it with my husband. Thanks!
Just lovely to be out sometimes! Everything here is blooming like crazy, and the weeping cherries are so beautiful! I would like one, too, but I doubt I will plant one. By the time it is big and beautiful, I’ll be somewhere else, no doubt. They don’t grow in Arizona!
Hi Carole! I hope you don’t mind, but I forwarded this post to my brother – he has a British Racing Car Green Tiger (in almost “classic” condition)! And he loves British sports cars – my nephews are even named after them! Thanks for the post, it looks like it was a fun day.