Today was my sister’s birthday. In honor of her birthday, her son, my sister and I packed a picnic lunch and headed for the mountains. Specifically, the Blue Ridge Parkway to view the fall color. We even took my fur babies along for the ride. I did walk down to the upper cascades. My nephew wouldn’t let me walk further than that. It was all I could do to walk the return hike. As I see it, not bad for a recent Breast Cancer patient receiving radiation therapy. The information on the hike states…”The easy, 1-mile loop of the Cascades Trail explores the forest that perches on the edge of the Blue Ridge. The path wanders the crest above the Piedmont to Falls Creek just as a water shoots over the cliff. ”  Not sure on the “easy, 1-mile loop.” It took over an hour just to get to the upper cascades.