I’ve always had a romanticized notion of the Blue Ridge Mountains that run from North Carolina through Virginia. The rolling green mountains are a far cry from the rolling fawn-colored plains and rusty hills of my home state of Oklahoma. I’ve dreamed of the day when my battered hiking shoes would walk the Appalachian Trail, which weaves 2,190-miles through the Mountains. The Blue Ridge Mountains are also home to The Blue Ridge Parkway. The road is a sinewy and forested drive through some of the most striking views in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It’s also a favorite way to get out into the dark skies and do some stargazing. The…