Category: NC

Blue Ridge Parkway & Gateway Mountain

It is really fun getting to know our new state!  We’ve just returned from a little trip along the Blue Ridge Parkway from Fancy Gap, VA to Linville Falls, NC.  And after that, we spent two days at a place on Gateway Mountain in Old Fort, NC, which is close to Black Mountain, which is close to Asheville.  Let me share a few pix.  I won’t bore you with the 200 others that we took!

First is some scenic beauty along the Blue Ridge.  (The countryside is pretty nice, too!)

IMG_2248s

There was a beautiful postcard scene at every little stop we took!

IMG_2264s

We got off the parkway and took the hike down to Linville Falls.  It was SO worth it!  Look at these beautiful falls!  Wow!

IMG_2293s

After that, we headed off to our two day retreat on Gateway Mountain.  I’m glad it was still daylight when we got there because it was an adventure just getting up the mountain in our car!  There aren’t enough superlatives and exclamation points to describe the place we found.  It is the sort of place that lets you feel small amidst an awesome expanse of nature’s beauty!  I woke up early the next morning to enjoy the dawn…

IMG_2298s

We shared a common adventure, and spent precious moments of quiet solitude…

IMG_2357s

Gail kept an eagle eye out for the local birds…

IMG_2370s

It rained later in the afternoon, but cleared long enough for us to marvel at a sunset of eery mystery above the clouds…

IMG_2384s

And it was over all too quickly!  The fog was thick this morning as we came down from the mountain.  We encountered a flock of wild turkeys!  I love running into crazy, unexpected things like that!  I was smiling and thinking, “See you later, you wild, crazy turkeys!”

IMG_2413s

Yeah, that’s right.  You go run and hide!  Thanksgiving is right around the corner!

I’m grateful for our excellent little trip!

Close to Heaven

We are spending a very peaceful afternoon at the top of a mountain in western North Carolina. It is so very peaceful here! I hear the sounds of insects and the occasional road sounds from very far below. It is still quite warm , and today with very little breeze, so it is a great day to just sit in the shade on the porch and do a whole lotta nothing!

I’ll post more tomorrow, but right now I’m going to vegetate. Later!

Pilot Mountain State Park

pilot mtn gail

We tried out our new hiking boots today! Princess Gail looked great in hers, no big surprise. We trekked all over Pilot Mountain State Park, on a beautiful North Carolina day!

Click here to see the pix. They’ll open in a new window.

Unless by some crazy set of events you don’t have a facebook account, then click here.

NC furniture shopping

PGlounging

One of the great advantages I have when looking for furniture in North Carolina is that I am married to Princess Gail.  I can tell right away if the piece is going to work or not. Like in this picture. This chaise lounge clearly gives her a headache.  See?  So it was a no go.

She looked a lot better on the entertainment center.

Historic Bethabara Park

IMG_1161Gail, why so sseriouss?!

Gail and I spent a part of the afternoon at a Fourth of July celebration at Historic Bethabara Park in Winston-Salem.  I learned a lot about the original Moravian settlers from back in the mid 1700’s!  They were of German origin and kept meticulous records of all their plans and activities. The locals are proud of the Moravian heritage and have taken great pains to preserve the sites and the knowledge. There are regular reenactments. It was all pretty cool!  (Well, sunny and 90 degrees, but you know what I mean.) It is truly amazing what our early settlers were able to do. I got a very good feel for what their life was like.

IMG_1164

This was a very nice lady, all dressed up 1700’s Moravian stlye.  I sure am glad Gail dresses in Gail-style!

IMG_1165

That’s better, baby!