Day 8 and 9. On the road again......

We spent Wednesday enjoying perfect weather and a delightful 2.5 mi walk around the lake.....and this one WAS easy......The one dominating feature on the landscape is the rhododendrum. The groves are expansive and as high as trees. It must be stunning in the spring ......... Most of the walk was fairly smooth on narrow paths, woven with the spiderweb-like rhodie roots and larger tree roots. It required some diligence to avoid an untimely trip. It was cool, breezy and for most of it we had a view of the canoers and kayakers. There were a couple areas of mud and slime and soggy grounds.....sometimes a log or plank was placed to test your balance. This particular
spot was almost a turn around decision. It looks innocent enough but required some planning and creativity and nerve to get over the deeper waters and rocks.
And this required the ubiquitous 'holding up the rock' picture.

We stopped in Blowing Rock for a late lunch at the Storie Street Grille. Food was perfect as was the service out on the deck. Highly recommend if you are in the area.

We had planned for a 9 am departure today. As much as we like the setting for the campground, it has so many natural pitfalls that seem to reach out and grab you. After tethering the car, we started forward, only to come to a scraping halt. Two more attempts were futile and by then, the crowd was gathering. A small hump in the ground got caught on part of the undercarriage and we weren't going anywhere. So we unhooked, backed up (not easy to do in such close quarters) and reversed course and reattached out on the road. So, by 10, we were on the way to Lexington. It seemed to be a long trip or maybe we were just tired. Scenary was exceptional thru the Appalachians and the day was clear. Tomorrow it's the Horse Farm and the new baby if she's accepting visitors.

Give that man a prize...........

Studying "The Easiest Hikes on the Blue Ridge Parkway", we chose one to Rough Ridge Overlook......don't you think the name alone should have given us a clue?? We were at 4200 ft starting out from this sign.... I remembered the water, the Off, the bars to ward off starvation, the binoculars, and the backpack to put it all in.......but forgot the camera ! So, the trusty iPhone was called upon and sometimes the lighting is not so great. But at least we were able to capture the event....and prove that he really challenged himself this time.

One of the biggest residual effects of the accident almost 6 years ago, was damage to his feet, resulting in loss of some perception and flexibility. Uneven surfaces give him pause and even a gravel surface can be unstable. The guide book did mention stone steps at times but not sure we really read the description as we were still focused on the "EASY" part of the title.
As soon as we stepped into the woods, we were met with this daunting view........I said, lets not go....he said, this won't last long, I think I can do it....................
The route never changed ! It was rough and steep and fraught with challenges for the the average hiker..... but he climbed on.
We reached an area near the top with beautiful vistas and wooden stairs to protect the eco-system. The mountain ash were in full color.
This next picture is out of sequence and was seen on our trip down.Reading the book to see what the trail offered if we did the entire 2.5 miles.......it appeared that it was more of the same so we cried 'Uncle' and headed back down....usually harder than up but we made it to the car intact and exhilarated at his accomplishment. A bit farther down the road is a lake with a trail. Figuring that it had to be smoother and flatter, and not yet done with walking in the woods, we ventured on.......

We did part of it, enjoyed the views and may return today for another walk or maybe rent a canoe and paddle our way around.

Day 6 There's a chill in the air.......

It's a lovely 58 degrees in the morning ! Chilly enough so that we've enjoyed having the fireplace glowing ..... altho electric, it puts out a goodly amount of warmth. It's so nice not to have to get up with the sun to get out walking before the heat.
Yesterday, we sat in the clouds all day and it was misty and cool with occasional breaks of sun. Mr Fix-it puttered around while I played with pencils and paper. Boone is the home of Cheap Joes Art Supplies and there is an outlet store. They offer week-long art lessons through out the summer and this campground even offers discounts to students.

Meanwhile, out in Utah, the Connecticut kids enjoyed (with oreos as a bribe) a hike to Delicate Arch.
And yesterday , a little grand niece made her appearance......can't wait for the pictures of Lillie Medora Woodson.

Day 5...... Crunch

It was a day of wandering the 'roads less traveled' and the views and weather were picture perfect. Paul found a friend with a guitar.....I suspect this is 'someone' but I forgot to look for a plaque. Boone is a college town, gearing up for the arrival of the academic year. Many boutiques and shops, none of them geared to the 60+ woman's idea of fashion.

Grandfather Mountain is the highest peak along the Blue Ridge. The crowds were out as were the hikers. We picked up a copy of "The Easiest Hikes along the Blue Ridge" and may try a couple.....or one.

Upon return to our house, we noted a sheriff's car waiting for us. This is not necessarily a good thing. Seems that the neighbor, in trying to back in to park his very long and large 5th wheel, clipped the corner of our house. The damage was a large scrape to the paint and no apparent dents. You can click to embiggen the damage.
However, his big diesel truck took the brunt of the damage with a caved in back corner and broken light. The young deputy was very patient dealing with this matter of no importance compared to what he usually sees. The other neighbors said this caused a large crowd to gather and ponder the situation. I suspect this happens quite often as the sites are pretty dense and the trees show some wear and tear.
And the picture of the day comes from Moab Utah where it is hot and surrounded by immense cliffs of red rock.....and fingers wrinkle from hours in the pool.

Days 3 and 4....North Carolina

We packed up and moved up the mountains. Instead of towing the car, we opted to just have me follow. We had to climb 3000 feet and since we aren't in a powerful diesel, it can be a bit slow on that ascent. After getting settled in the Boone KOA , which has resident goats and donkeys, we explored the lovely mountain towns of Blowing Rock and Boone. It is very busy up here but must be perfect in the spring and fall. Temperatures have been in the low 60's at night and near 80 in the day. It has rained, mostly heavy downpours at night. Friday night we enjoyed the production of Horn in the West , the oldest Revolutionary War outdoor drama in the country. It was done very well with LOUD
sound effects , cannons, muskets, and a much too explicit hanging. The music and dancing were excellent. In the last few minutes, the rain drops started, causing the narrator to add, "It was a rainy day in the mountains".

Yesterday we happened upon Art in the Park in Blowing Rock. We saw a favorite artist that I had seen at the Winter Park show. His paintings are large depictions of sky and prairie and out of my price range.

While we are out in the cool mtns of the East, Jon and Marybeth are in Grand Junction Colorado in the heat. Getting an early start, they biked over 30 miles. I remember those days when we did long rides in the high country. Despite the lack of oxygen, we thoroughly enjoyed it. Ahhh, youth !
And on a completely different note, these are turtle hamburgers...... picture stolen
from Tommy's blog, this is made with a large hamburger, topped with cheese, then wrapped in bacon and then hot dogs inserted for limbs and head. It probably tastes better than it looks.

And did you notice that I finally figured out hyperlinks???

Days 1 and 2....

We have been wanting rain at the house and it finally arrived in substantial amts.....on the day we needed to move our stuff from our stationary house to our moving house. A side benefit however, were the cooler temps that made the trips a bit soggy but tolerable.

Our destination the first day was somewhere near Savannah, about 300 miles. Feeling energetic, we kept going and ended up near Columbia SC.(432mi) The Camp ground was totally forgettable but made for a quick and easy stop for the night. The drive was uneventful but pretty hot. Fortunately, we can run the generator as we are lumbering down the roads and it does the trick to cool us.

We needed to stop for gas....this is my least favorite part of the experience and I always dread it. Finding a station that we can get in and out of , towing a car, requires some quick assessments as we drive by. We got off the exit, knowing that there was a station at a Walmart and they are usually OK. But, right across the street was a BP which looked wide open and a more comfortable fit. Until we got to the pumps and then realized that the quick drive back out to the road put us onto a smaller road .....it was separated from the main road by a concrete strip that was all but invisible until we had already pulled in. The smaller road went to a private business, too small to maneuver in. Sooooo, we had to disconnect the car, back up the coach, turn it around and reconnect. It was 90+ out and we were not happy.

Today, our destination was Boone, NC, tucked high in the Blue Ridge Mtns. Because we never know when or where we are going, we usually don't make reservations ahead of time.....and today, our luck ran out and there was nothing in the Boone area. But, we found a place in Hickory about an hour from Boone. The very nice owner gave us explicit directions on how to get there....we had no trouble but happy for a GPS and her hints. We turned into a residential neighborhood, no signs marked the way and proceeded down a paved road until ....we came to the formidable gate.

The the road turned to gravel and had a very steep grade.
After twists and turns , we came to the bottom of a lovely valley and it was
worth the trip. Indian Springs Campground is a small (20 sites) sitting along a creek. We didn't explore much but plan to in the morning.

After getting settled, we headed up to Boone and Blowing Rock. We visited the two CG's and found that one had a cancellation so we will pack up and move up there tomorrow. There is more to do, it is much cooler and the scenery is even more spectacular than where we are.

Checklist almost complete........

Daughter-in-law to be , AKA the BRIDE, put a smile on my face today...... I love quirky ideas and she filled the bill with these wine coasters.....little boas with a choice of sexy, flirty, sassy and naughty labels. Now, one would think that the elderly might not feel the need to announce their current mood, but you would be wrong.!! Very cute and fun. !! Thanks Jennifer !!Today we drove over to Tampa to meet Jon for breakfast. He had a short layover but enough time for a quick bite and to

give him this duffle full of pictures.
It was jammed with zip lock bags filled to the brim with pictures going back decades. Once I had good intentions but then it became overwhelming and they gradually accumulated in Rubbermaid tubs. I have always admired those who could get them all organized and then bring them out at family gatherings, ( and giggle over that picture of dad in a mustache and mother in a bikini..... did we never look in a mirror ???? ) Anyway, we are impressed that Jon is willing to preserve them for posterity on a disc.

The time is finally here.........................one more time , we will load up and ship out. The slides and manual retraction system are fixed. The generator is working properly. Systems I don't understand have been checked. Front tires are shiny new. On Tues we will stow a mind boggling array of 'must haves' into the various compartments. The 4 inch heels are going.....they passed the 3 hour test with no discomfort or falling!

So, stay tuned and don't be surprised if we turn up in a campground near you........and bring your wrench.

Randomness

It's still all about the shoes...........here are some better pictures, stolen from my friends at Zappos.....BTW, Norma said that she is also a VIP and has only purchased ONE pair of shoes.....so looks like they are not too discriminating and are just throwing around fancy titles....Here's SHOE #1.... a favorite. Walking is OK but haven't tried for longer than a couple minutes.
SHOE #2 OK but a bit matronly and horrors of all horrors, I will NEVER be matronly if I can help it.

The BRIDE wore her lovely 4 inch heels around the house for 30 minutes and ended up with numb toes. This does not bode well for my success. She is switching to different shoes but still 4 inch.

Speaking of matronly, I read this morning where the average woman has $800 worth of cosmetics at home and $100 in her purse. Now that makes me feel really old and out of step....... in order to boost my self asteem and attempt to put a glow in my cheeks, I am investing in some pretty packaging for myself.......$21 just for eye liner ! But it promises so much, as does the lip color, the blush, the primer, the mascara and the age-reversal foundation. Then there's the teeth whitening, the hair color, the waxing, oh my....it never ends. I'll show you the after pics when we attend the big EVENTS and suspect I'll look exactly like ME !! Just short a few coins.........

Surprise, surprise, it's still hot in Florida. The golf course are busy busy busy. I think they are all crazy. I just don't know how they play in 112 heat index...especially when they are OLD. !! I keep waiting to have to use my Advanced Life Support skills out back while I am watching from the comfort of the pool.

We've taken to having dinner on the lanai.....in order to do that comfortably, we are sure to have a cold bottle of wine and a dip in the pool prior to sitting..... another dip after and we can sit and watch the golfers sweat.
We tried shrimp, scallops, pineapple, onions with a teriyaki marinade....delicious.
And speaking of the weird and unusual................ how about wall decals!!

What are the chances...........

...that I will be able to wear these for an entire evening....? Actually, what are the odds that I can even WALK in them?

A VIE (very important event) is coming up in exactly one month. To that end, I have had to find a dress, find shoes, find jewelry, think about the hair and the make-up, and worry that it all goes together and fits......mostly that it fits. Meanwhile, the FOTG, had to get fitted for a tux, try on shoes and then work on his golf game. Sometimes life is not equal or fair. Anyway, this VIE is NOT about me or him and for that we are grateful. The BRIDE will be stunning and the groom extremely handsome and a great time will be had by all.

So, I find a dress....its a great color....plum, grape, aubergine, eggplant...or something like that. I try on the comfortable black shoes from the closet....Nope, doesn't work. I thought about DSW and there is one near by but what are the odds they carry that color in the appropriate shoe. So, I went to my favorite online place where I am considered a VIP (because over the years I have ordered TWO pair of shoes !), and searched their site for size 8.5, purple dress heels with an open toe. Four pair fit the bill and I tapped the Send button........shortly, an email arrived and said "WHOA, Nellie !! Have we got a surprise for you ! Because you are a VIP shopper, we are sending your shoes 2nd day Air !! And with Zappos, it is all free shipping, both ways and with returns up to a year. The large box arrived today.... all 4 pairs fit perfectly. Two are not a good match, one is a possibility and one is perfect (pictured above) EXCEPT, it has 4 inch heels. I will have to prance around in them for a month so I don't make a fool of myself or break something. I'm not sure that a woman of my age is even allowed to wear 4 inch heels......unless you're Tina Turner.

This is probably more information than you ever wanted to know about my search for shoes....plus, its very hard to take a decent picture of your own foot.

But, remember, when one is the owner of a blog, sometimes you have to dig pretty deep to keep the troops coming back for more.

Addendum: Thanks to Norma, Rian and Robbie for the comments on the previous blog......a good chuckle !!

Plagiarizing in my spare time

Yes, I've resorted to stealing photos from other people's blog because I have nothing interesting to talk about. I would credit this but since it's from the world wide net, I could have found it if I had made an effort.

But isn't this just a colorful descriptive imaginative piece of work....??
Here's another stolen image titled "Self-portrait in a dark cockpit".....or,
"Proof that we stay awake in the dark"............. ( Both are clickable to enlarge)

So, a fair warning for the rest of you out there......if you see some of your pics on this blog, I hope I don't need permission to plagiarize your work. I might give you credit and because of the thousands who hover on my every word, you just might become famous.....or not.

And because I'm so bored, I played around with the blog look......I'm always cautious and a bit timid about doing this since sometimes it just disappears when I start going places I know nothing about. It may stay or not.

Still waiting for the moving house to be put back together. We had more work done, things that weren't critical but would need to be done eventually. Hopefully, we can get on the road by next weekend . It will be just for a couple of weeks as we have major commitments at the end of the month and have given up the idea of driving to them.

Played golf a couple times at the crack of dawn and it was still uncomfortable. So it is now officially our 'winter' in Florida and time to do the inside things.

Have a good weekend out there ......I'm going to clean my oven.