We drove Route 321 up to Blowing Rock, NC only to be turned back; road closed for blasting. This turned out for the best because the Blue Ridge Parkway was shrouded in cloud – fog and with forward visibility less than 100 meters would have been difficult. Instead Highway 268 east detoured to alternate Route 421. The Garmin offered a sucker’s shortcut which became an adventure on NC-1167, a one lane crushed gravel road. It was scenic solitude following a small creek with fast spring run off. We paced carefully so as not to experience chance encounter with mountain man in pickup truck appearing suddenly from one of many blind switchbacks. There wasn’t a turnout or graceful way to reverse course so we pressed onward counting the NO Trespass placards. In the middle of this backcountry twlightzone, an Adopt-a-Highway sign (!) was planted.