The last few weeks have been challenging here in Brevard as the shortage of gasoline meant lines at the pumps and sometimes there was no gas to be had in town. All that inconvenience is over now and the price of fuel is falling quickly which is a great help to people coming to Brevard to see the fall colour.

The leaves are starting to turn in the higher elevations and with all the dry weather we have had this summer we are expecting some brilliant colour. We recommend a scenic drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway for our guests to experience the early colour and the wonderful waterfalls at Graveyard Fields and in Pisgah National Forest. As the season progresses, we expect spectacular scenery at Dupont State Forest towards the end of the month, with fall colour providing a stunning backdrop for the magnificent waterfalls and the quiet beauty of Lake Julia.

As always, we have trail maps and waterfall guide books for guest use and we're more than happy to share directions our favorite spots. Lately, we've enjoyed hiking along the Parkway near Mount Pisgah with Copper and mountain biking in Dupont State Forest.

Chris from Chimney Rock State Park stopped by for a visit today and said that the park area usually has peak colour early in November and that he is expecting a great year. If you have never been to Chimney Rock we highly recommend it. There are some great trails to walk and the views over the gorge are wonderful. Some people especially like the elevator that runs inside the rock to take you to the top. The nearby town of Lake Lure provides shopping and dining for after the hike and all this is only about 35 minute drive from the Red House.

As you can tell Brevard is ideally placed for experiencing the best fall colour, and we have an extended season because of our central location. At the present time we still have availability for the first two weekends in November, which was when we saw our best colour last year although fewer people were here to see it.

We have had some lovely sunny days and much needed rain making the waterfalls even more spectacular than usual. Daniel, Emily and I braved the threat of rain Saturday to hike up to Moore Cove Falls in Pisgah National Forest. The hike to the falls is relatively short beginning with a rustic set of steps flanked by rhododendron and laurel. We were pleased to find wildflowers just about to bloom. We avoided any downpours but Emily managed to get wet head to toe under the waterfall.

We drove on up to Sliding Rock which seemed deserted compared to summer crowds. Even though the water was running well, we decided to wait for warmer weather to slide that 40 feet and plunge into the 8 foot pool of icy river water.

Despite the weather this weekend, people were still out enjoying the forest, fishing, hiking and biking. While hatchery supported fishing waters opened Saturday April 5, a few seasonal trails will close to mountain bikers April 15.

Back at the Red House Inn, the daffodils and tulips are popping up everywhere. With the help of a good friend, we've done a bit of spring cleaning in the yard, edging and mulching and have some planting yet to do. Even thought spring is officially here, we are still enjoying the warmth of the wood fire in the living room.