38 26 DAVE ALLEN LARA HESSLER HORST NOT FEATURES DEPARTMENTS 22 QUEEN FOR A DAY: A SUMPTUOUS VIRGINIA TRAIN RIDE From the red-carpet walk-up through the wonderful food, two royal days. BY GINNY NEIL 30 JOE MORRIS: FORGING A NEW TRAIL IN LIFE After his life " fell completely apart, " Morris found salvation in the A.T. BY NANCY HENDERSON 34 BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY THEN & NOW: A PHOTO ESSAY Much is changeless on the 469-mile roadway, but not all. PRESENT-DAY PHOTOGRAPHY BY J. SCOTT GRAHAM 40 ANNUAL MOUNTAIN FESTIVALS GUIDE Here's our round-up of the best events and fun for the rest of the year. BY JOE TENNIS 68 RHODODENDRON: A CELEBRATION The signature shrub of our region gets its glorious due. BY LAUREN STEPP 76 TENNESSEE'S LOST COUNTY OF 'LITTLE JIM' The story of short-lived James County took place just after the Civil War. BY ANGELA MINOR 10 5 From the Editor/Contributors 6 Mill Creek Stories 8 Gifts of the Land Creature Feature 12 The Good Walk 14 Our Blue Ridge Towns 18 Country Roads 78 Flavors 80 Singing in the Garden 82 The Mountain Q & A ON THE COVER Joshua Moore took this shot of rhododendron in bloom along the Blue Ridge Parkway at Craggy Gardens (Milepost 364). From Moore: " I captured these beautiful blooms with fresh morning light peering over the Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance while hiking up to Craggy Gardens. " See page 68 for a celebration of all things rhododendron from writer Lauren Stepp.