Peaks of Otter, Blue Ridge Parkway

Monday, June 16

Before we left the last stop at Galax, we found out that the lady I was talking about that went to the hospital had passed away last night.
Remember me talking about Galax Leaves here is a picture of them.



While driving this northern part of the parkway, it's not as scenic as the lower part, we passed fields of hay being cut and baled, you don't see the mountain ranges as much and the road is not as hilly and curvy. We had stopped at an old cabin where a lady was a midwife, she had delivered 1000's of baby after the age of 50, and never lost a child or mother of her own fault, she delivered her last child in 1939 at the age of 102, the year she died. She had 23 children of her own, but none survived past infancy.




After arriving at the National Park, Peak of Otter, it took quite a while for us all to get parked, since we didn't have reservations, we couldn't park in any reserved sites, which we did park in one, they didn't tell us until later, we had to move after getting setup. We did have a cookout with hamburgers and everyone brought a dish to share, plenty of food. We have no hookups so it was quite warm overnight.


Tuesday, June 17

We pulled out for a reserved tour about 8:30, went to The National D-Day Memorial, really great. Among the hundreds of thousands massed off the shores of Normandy on the morning of June 6,1944 were 44 soldiers, sailors, and airmen from the town and county of Bedford Virginia. For Bedford, the result was especially devastating. In comparison with 1940's population, Bedford suffered the nations severest per capita D-Day loss, a total of 20 fatalities, a somber distinction for this rural Virginia community. For that reason, Congress approved plans for the National D-Day Memorial to be placed in Bedford, Virigina.
Ken and I did a quick tour on our own, last night he noticed blood in the shower, his 4th toe cracked open on the bottom. We left and went to the emergency room at the local hospital, we were there for 3 hrs. and he got 4 stitches, must keep wrapped for two days and get to see doctor when home. We also had to get an antibiotic for him.
















We had missed the second tour of Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest, Jefferson and his wife inherited this plantation in 1773 from her father.

After everyone returned after a long HOT day of touring, we had different pies and ice cream for a social, almost got chased from rain, but it didn't rain very long, so we relaxed and just sat around and talked, until just before dusk.



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Galax, Virginia

Thursday, June 12

While traveling from Boone to Galax we had stopped at the Northwest Trading Post, they had a lot of guilded crafts, really nice and different from the other crafts that we have seen before. When we went to leave, I saw a sign for another Fresco at a local church, just about 1 mile, in the town of Glendale Springs. This fresco was painted in the summer of 1980, the painting is of "The Last Supper." Since the frescos were completed, hundreds of thousands of people have visited the churches. It is estimated that approximately 60,000 pilgrims come to the two churches annually. After arriving at camp and getting setup, we had a catered dinner of BBQ ribs, pork and chicken with the fixings.


Friday, June 13

We had driven into the town of Galax, which they where having a "Leaf & String" festival. They had the two main streets closed off with vendors and fair food stands setup. We had taken our chairs along and sat along the street and watched different groups playing guitars, fiddles, & the base. We sat all afternoon and watched people dance and play on the street, ate lunch at the Smokehouse in town. At 8pm in the Rex Theater, we went to see Jeff Little Trio, really good entertainment. A guy playing the piano, another playing the base and another playing guitar and banjo. After their show was over we walked about a block and watched another group play while they square danced on the street, really had a great day of bluegrass music.


Playing on the street, early in the day.





Jeff Little Trio


Band playing for square dancing

Saturday, June 14, our 45th Anniversary

We've had an older couple traveling with us, she uses a walker and the other day she fell and hurt her ribs. He took her to the hospital yesterday, and they sent her home, this morning the ambulance was here at the campground and took her to another hospital, he pulled his trailer to another campground to be closer to her. Praying that she is ok, don't know if they plan on rejoining us.

We went again into Galax for the afternoon, sat and watched again different groups playing and cloggers dancing on the street. Went into the jewelry store and bought a necklace with the Galax leaf on it. The town of Galax was named after the leaf, the leaf only grows around this area and on the parkway, we had bought some leaves off a lady in town, they last for months in water. The word Galax is derived from the Greek word, gala, meaning milk. The plant's bloom resembles a stream of flowing milk. The heart-shaped leaf, growing from its own stem, each root sending up from five to eight leaves, forms a carpet of waxy green in summer and rich bronze in winter. While watching the bands the sirens went off and the high school soccer players just won states and marched down through town.


This evening we had tickets for the Blue Ridge Music Center to see the Kruger Brothers, we got there early around 4:15, to get good parking spaces. We sat around, went through the museum with the history of the bluegrass music. The show started at 7pm, they played guitar, banjo and another base guitar, Ken and I would of rather stayed in the town, entertainment in town was better than these guys.




Sunday, June 15, FATHERS DAY

We really didn't do much this morning, I got asked to collect money for the caravan leaders and get a card signed by every one. After lunch we took a drive to Mount Airy, this is where the Mayberry series was filmed. We drove through town, saw a few building in the series and left, sorry no pictures. We then went to Walmart to fill our jug with water, got fuel in truck and back to camp. Sat around talked to different couples while collecting money. Made some dinner and the we all gathered around a campfire and talked. Made slaw salad for tomorrow nights dinner, having potluck with hamburgers, which the leader will be making.

The lady that they took to the hospital, they had operated, took out her spleen and said they don't think that she will make it. She is 87 and very frail and weak, her two sons flew in, and they are going to take her off life support. She was very bright and such a sweet lady.


Monday, June 16

Moving day, we all had breakfast together and then drivers meeting.




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Boone, North Carolina

Monday, June 9

While traveling today, we saw a lot of blooming rhododendron, mountain laurel and azalea, yellow and orange, beautiful. We had drove up to Mount Mitchell as far as we could go, and then walked to the top. This is the highest point east of the Mississippi River at 6683 ft.















We had eaten some lunch and then continued north on the Blue Ridge. Stopped at Linn Cove Viaduct Visitor Center and saw how they made and put together the viaduct and then drove over it. This was an unfinished section of the Blue Ridge and was delayed for 20 years as environmentalists, adjacent landowners, engineers, and architects put their skills together on how to preserve the scenic and fragile environment on the slopes of Grandfather Mountain in NC.




After arriving at the campground, we had a short time to get setup and then off into town for dinner. We ate at Dan'l Boone Inn, family style of fried chicken, steak, mashed potatoes, gr. beans, corn, stewed apples, cole slaw, biscuits and dessert, strawberry shortcake, chocolate cake or banana pudding. Good eating.


Tuesday, June 10

Slept in a little later this morning, left about 10am and headed north to West Jefferson, on a curvy back road with some nice views. Drove thru town and found Ashe County Cheese, they made their own cheese, cheddar. Sat thru a narrated show of cheese making and viewed the stirring and a guy putting cheese cloth in tins. They also have a retail store across the street from the factory, we bought a few different cheeses and curds, which aren't very fresh, they should squeak when chewed but they don't, we also bought a bottle of pecan syrup for pancakes, yumm.



We then drove outside town and found St. Mary's Episcopal Church to see the Frescoes. North Carolina artist Ben Long painted religious artworks in two churches and this was one of them, the other is further down the state. Taped narratives describe their history, pregnant Mary, John the Baptist and Jesus on the cross and him rising from the tomb.






We drove to the town of Valle Crucis, to the original Mast General Store and the Mast Annex store about 3/10 of a mile apart. The general store operates much as it did in 1883, complete with antique scales, counters and a pot-bellied stove. In the Annex store, they offer an eclectic mix of dry goods and old fashioned confections; customer favorites include retro boxes of candies from the '50s, '60s and '70s. And they still use the post office boxes.
















After returning back to trailer, did some laundry, ate dinner and then had a social hour with ice cream.


Wednesday, June 11

Left camp early this morning heading south on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Stopped at Moses Cone Memorial Park. In the 1890s and early 1900s, Cone fashioned this country place at Blowing Rock with its 23 room colonial revival mansion as a health retreat from the rigors of his business empire and as a way to showcase his new found wealth. He built approximately twenty five miles of well planned and exquisitely maintained carriage roads and two lakes. After his wife died, the family offered the property to the Parkway with the understanding that it would be operated as a public park and pleasuring ground. Today the manor and the entire estate are one of the most heavily used areas along the Parkway and home to the Parkway Craft Center.


We walked around inside and saw a lot of guilted crafts. Outside on the porch, a woman was making baskets from pine needles, really cute.

Then continued onto Grandfather Mountain, a rugged 5,946 foot peak, when viewed from the north, it resembles a bearded grandfather looking toward the sky. At the entrance gate, we received an audio tour CD narrating the winding 2 mile drive to the summit. The highlight of the visit was the Mile High Swinging Bridge, a steel suspension footbridge completed in 1999 that despite the name swings very little, especially compared to its wooden predecessor.











As you can see it was very foggy, couldn't really see very well down either side, and didn't get to see the mountain shape neither. On the last picture Ken and John Sherron, hiked out on the rocks, I didn't hike out there, they say they are looking at a surveyor marker. It was very windy walking across but well worth the walk. We went half way down the mountain, to the museum, cafe and souvenir shop. Ate lunch and then walked through the native wildlife habitats, black bear, cougars, white tailed deer, river otters and two bald eagles. We saw one bear, two eagles, and legs of cougar that was it.

We then drove into the town of Blowing Rock, drove through town, parked and got out and walked, got ice cream and looked into some shops, very expensive area. Returned back to camp, did more laundry, dishes and just sat around for the evening.


Thursday, June 12

We all met for breakfast before pulling out this morning. They served us, orange juice, fruit cup hash brown and Canadian bacon with cheese on an English Muffin.



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Asheville, North Carolina

Thursday, June 5

We had a pancake breakfast, made by the campground, before we pulled out and onto the next campground. We were parkers today so we were one of the three that left early about 9am. We drove north on the Blue Ridge Parkway, stopping to take pictures and take a break, we had plenty of hills and curves to maneuver.









After everyone got parked, we had a catered dinner in the meeting room at the campground. Fellow airstreamers had served and cleaned up, we had BBQ pork and BBQ chicken sandwiches, baked beans, potato salad, coleslaw, & cornbread.

Friday, June 6

Ken wasn't feeling good so he stayed behind, while I rode with another couple to Biltmore Estate. The estate has a 250 room mansion, which is surrounded by 8,000 acres of land. We toured the mansion, three floors, I was surprised that the place wasn't air conditioned, to preserve the fabrics and furniture, but it wasn't, just windows opened and fans blowing everywhere. After the tour, we ate some lunch, they have different restaurants adjacent to the mansion. We then walked down to the gardens and conservatory, we did walk a short path and then back to the mansion.


Biltmore mansion


Gardens


Arbor walkway


Conservatory


Horse stable turned into restaurant

After returning to camp, Ken felt better after sleeping most of the day.

Saturday, June 7

We had driven downtown and took the trolley around town for about 1 1/2 hours. Our tour guide was very good, he is a school teacher and does tours on Saturdays, he's been doing this for 8 years. Got to see a lot of the town and the surrounding area. We then drove downtown and looked for the Mast General Store, has everything you might need for the kitchen, a trek along the mountains or travel around the world. I bought hiking sticks and Ken got a new coffee mug. We then went to McDonalds for lunch, this is the only McDonalds, in the world, with a grand baby piano that plays while you eat.




Since Ken didn't get to see the mansion, we decided to drive through the grounds of the Biltmore. We drove past the mansion and then around the flower garden and conservatory and then out to the Antler Hill Village and Winery. Walked through the Biltmore Legacy building that told you the history about the family, very interesting.


Stomping grapes


Weathervane and clock at winery

We finally found Wal-Mart to fill our water jugs and got a few groceries before returning for the evening.


Sunday, June 8

We sat around until after lunch and then went for drive on Blue Ridge Parkway to the Information Center, watched a 24 minute movie of the parkway and then onto Parkway Folk Art Center. They had a lot of different art from the region, wood works, glassworks, knitting, quilting, quite a variety, sorry couldn't take pictures. Also stopped at a farm market, not too far from campground, got cantaloupe, tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers. This evening, we had a social hour at meeting room and went over drivers manual for tomorrow.

Monday, June 9

We all had breakfast of bagels, juice and fruit before hooking up and moving on to Boone, NC, this morning.



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Cherokee, NC

Sunday, June 1

We had arrived at the rendezvous campground where the caravan is to start about noon, got checked in and setup, there was two other trailers for the caravan here when we arrived. Until evening there was 4 other trailers that arrived. Before going to bed we saw another mouse, put didn't get him, hopefully he got out.


Monday, June 2

The leaders had given us our caravan book, we know three other couples that were on other caravans and one single lady that we met at Madison, Wisconsin a few years earlier. Everyone, except for two trailers, have all been parked by 4pm. One of the trailers missing have had their transmission on their truck go out, but are planning on catching up with us on Wednesday. The other trailer, I'm not sure if they are coming yet, the wife got sick and they're not sure.

At 6 pm we had a dinner of spaghetti, meat balls, salad and garlic toast. Went over tomorrow's day and some other caravan items. Ken and I went into town, went to Dairy Queen to sent out our blog. Went and found the casino and looked for the restaurant that we are going to eat lunch at tomorrow. After returning to trailer, we finally got another mouse, hopefully this is the last one.


Tuesday, June 3

Today the caravan went and visited Museum of the Cherokee Indians. The story of the Cherokee Nation from prehistoric to modern times is depicted through audiovisual presentations and exhibits that include crafts, clothing, and weapons. Interpretive displays describe the tribe's resettlement to Western reservations and the hardships endured along the Trail of Tears.






After the museum tour, we all went to Granny's Restaurant for lunch, which was buffet of fried chicken, Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, green beans, different salads and peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream for dessert.

After lunch we went to Oconaluftee Indian Village, a re-creation of a 1750's Cherokee community. Native Americans demonstrated how to fashion such mainstays as baskets, pottery, canoes, arrows and blowguns. There was also a seven sided council house, (wolf, deer, blue, long hair, bird, wild potato and paint), as well as huts and cabins containing articles used more than 200 years ago. They also did some dances for us.


Weaving


Pottery


Basket weaving


Making arrowheads


Blowgun


Cabin


Making a canoe


Council house

After resting a few hours, we all met at the office of the campground for ice cream.

Wednesday, June 4

We caught our sixth mouse today, just dead on the floor, not in a trap, probably died from dehydration. Did some laundry and then went for a drive to the casino, played a little and then sat out in the parking lot to get Internet. Found out a friend in our Airstream club has pasted away, yesterday, sorry to hear about that. Came back to camp, ate supper and then went to the Unto These Hills, outdoor drama theatre. The play is a tragic and triumphant story of the Cherokee that traces back to the years before the heartbreak of the Trails of Tears to the present day. Everyone really enjoyed the story.


Kids singing











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