Carolina Hills

This is a time lapse video of the hills across from our cabin while vacationing in North Carolina. The video was taken over 10 hours which is condensed into 2 minutes.

Asheville Wrap Up

The last day of our vacation we decided to run into Asheville and do a little last minute shopping and eating. We ended up going to Jack of the Wood. They seemed busy but I would have to say the service there had a lot to be desired. It only took us 2 hours to get out of there. The food was good but I would have to say that I don't need to return. After the disappointing eating experience we jumped in the car and made or way to the Blue Ridge Parkway and drove a short way up the parkway and stopped at a couple of scenic view areas. After that we needed to shag butt back to the cabin as we were having company in the form of Ragged's family. Before long our guests were showing up and with 4 children and several adults talking, chatting and sometimes screaming the evening was certainly entertaining and the food was fantastic. After our guests left, Needles, Cynical and I had a last dip in the hot tub. We watched TV until late and finally went to bed. This morning we got up dark and early. I wanted to be on the road by 7am local time...that's 6 am central. We all worked like well oiled machines to pack everything we owned into every nook and cranny and then slipped down the steep driveway one last time and locked the gate behind. Ahead of us we had 500 miles of twisting and winding roads. The first few hours went without a hitch until we hit Nashville, TN. We experienced game day traffic and it took us 45 minutes to travel and mere mile and a half. After the delay we ended up getting to O'town to drop off our traveling companions around 2pm and then after a quick goodbye we were on the road home. We got home just a little before 4pm. I think for the vacation we had a total of 25 hours on the road and well over 1500 miles. I am tired and ready for bed so I think I will leave it there. We had a great time.

Asheville Last Day

Vacation is coming to an end with today being our last full day before heading back early in the morning. I guess I should catch up from where I left off. Last Wed. was a stay at the cabin and do nothing kinda day. We literally stayed at the cabin and relaxed and napped and soaked in the hot tub. Thursday morning we got up early to spend the day in Asheville. We stopped in at a book store awaiting for some of the shops to open and then made it to Earth Guild where we found out that Bill Clinton was going to be in town speaking just a few blocks from where we were standing. We had about an hour to waste so we went to Mayfels to eat and then on to where Mr. Clinton was to speak. We got right in and got a ticket to the limited area just behind the press. We got up very close, I would guess about 60 to 70 yards from the podium and waited, and waited, and waited. Finally about an hour and a half late Bill showed up. Of course of all the days to leave my 300mm zoom lens at home. I had my 55mm lens and it just had to do. I got some pics and I am glad I got to see and hear him speak. He is the first president I ever got to see live. After we listened to his speech we made our way to the craft show at the Civic Center. There was a lot of very neat had made expensive things. Anywhere from pottery to blown glass, wood work, paintings and materials arts. After wandering through we were feeling tired and ready to grab something to eat and make our way back to the cabin. After Ragged talked with her family it was decided we would split up and they would go to see her family and Needles and I went back to the cabin. After a nice soak in the hot tub we were all relaxed and ready for the next day. Before long Cynical and Ragged was dropped off and we all sat and discussed the days events. It was fairly late before we retired for bed. The next day we got up earlier than I would have liked. The ladies had plans to go to SAFF. A fiber festival that is held yearly here. We drove down and dropped them off and made our way back to the cabin. We had plans to pick them up around 6pm so a little after 5pm we left to be on our way. We got caught up in a little traffic on our way so the usually 40 minute trip took a little longer. We picked up the weary gals and their fibery purchases. We then made our way to Chili's for supper and then on to Target to pick up a few odds and ends. We made it back to the cabin well after dark and settled in to relax. Today we are still deciding on what to do our last day. Do we get out and about or stay and relax. I guess only time will tell.

Asheville cont.

Monday we explored the town of Weaverville and stopped and ate at a local bakery. It was called the Well Bred Bakery and the food was great and the dessert was amazing. After eating we did some grocery shopping and on the way back to the cabin stopped in at some scenic areas. We wasn't at the cabin long until it was time to head back to Asheville to meet up with Ragged family for a late supper. The food was fantastic and the conversation even more so. Their home was very eclectic with splashes of vivid colors which makes me think about repainting every room in my own house. The cozy living room with a small wood burning stove in the corner gave a welcoming warmth to the home and loved the coffee table which was an old converted pinball machine. Everywhere you look there was interesting things to excite the eye and ponder. Before long it was time to head back to hour cabin in the hills and say good night to our wonderful hosts. The evening ended with a very late dip in the hot tub and a little TV watching. The next morning we didn't get an early jump on things as we leisurely prepared for a day in Asheville. We started at the All Souls Crescent area. We stopped at a yarn shop for the gals and then wandered in and out of the shops until hunger diverted us to a local Mexican place called the Neo Cantina. The food was good and a lot of it. Of course I was able to finish off everything but the black beans. While filling our stomachs we made plans for what we wanted to do with the rest of the day and week. We opted to do the Biltmore home tour. We followed the GPS to the gaits and went into the place to get tickets. The audio tour was the best option for us so we drove the 5 miles to the entrance to the home and the beginning of our tour. We were given our headsets and instructed on how to use them. We followed our numbered map and pressed the corresponding number of the room into our headset and began hearing the narrator tell us about the home and all its many luxuries. After the home tour was done we walked out to the southern terrace and down to the gardens and Conservatory. Since we got a late start a lot of the people and school kids had already left and the lighting in the garden was less harsh than in mid day. We left the home and returned to the car for another 5 mile drive back to the Antler Village and Winery. There we signed up and started the winery tour and ended up with a tasting. When we finished the tour it was dark and we were hungry so we decided to find a place to eat in downtown Asheville. Upon deciding on a place we found that finding a parking spot to be very frustrating but after about a dozen wrong turns and a few broken laws we finally made it to a parking garage close by. We decided to eat at a local noodle house called Doc Chey's. After a short wait we were seated and enjoying the food. It was too much so we all had to take home dogie bags which is unusual for me to say the least. We got home last night at a round 10pm local time and Needles and I took another dip in the hot tub to soak the soar muscles from all the walking the day demanded. It was a nice way to end the day.

Ashville N.C. Vacation 2010

We arrived at our cabin after running into Asheville for a late lunch and a little grocery shopping. We didn't get a lot since we didn't have a lot of room to put it the car still packed with luggage. We followed the GPS's directions and the hill just before you get to the turn off is a decent grade. I could definitely tell the car was laboring to get up the hill with 4 people with luggage, the groceries and such. When we turned off onto our road we snaked our way back along the twisty turning roads and before long we were at the locked gait to our cabin. After unlocking the gait and crossing the bridge we had a pretty steep drive way to go up to get to the cabin. I put my foot into the accelerator and with very little spinning made it up to the back of the cabin. The inside of the cabin was very warm, open and accommodating. We then lugged in all of our luggage and groceries. After deciding on bedrooms we then settled in to do a little relaxing after the seven hour drive. We finished off the evening with a late dip into the hot tub out on the deck. The water was nice and warm and after a nice long soak we decided to get out. The only problem it that it was 50 degrees outside and when we got out of the water the coolness nearly took our breath. We watched some TV and before long it was time to go to bed. The next day we had plans to go to LEAF (Lake Edens Art Festival). After we checked in we took a bus into the camp grounds. We walked through all the tents with hand-made items of all sorts and health type items. There was live music and food booths of all nationalities and preference. I got a drink called Buchi fire and it was very spicy. I believe it contained quite a bit of ginger. I guess it is a drink fermented but not alcoholic. Imagine very spicy apple cider without the sweet. For lunch I had a chicken pita that was very good. I think Needles had a mushroom and garlic crepe. We shared a lemonade and later on enjoyed a funnel cake for dessert. We watched part of a play and then watched contra dancing (think square dancing) and then some live music. By then it was starting to get dark so we wandered on into downtown Asheville to a neat lace to eat. The Early Girl Diner was a place we enjoyed the last time we were in Asheville. With the heavy Sunday crowd you could tell they had been busy as the floors were somewhat slippery from the deep fryer grease in the air. The food was warm and good. When we finished we headed out and on our way back to the cabin. When we arrived I don' t think I was in the cabin a minute before I changed and slipped out onto the deck and into the hot tub for another relaxing soak. The day to an end we went to bed still warm from the hot tub. This morning was a morning to sleep in. After getting up and a nice breakfast prepared by Cynical, Cynical and I did a quick hike up a over grown trail behind the cabin. It appears to be an old logging road that has long since grown up. We walked up the hill until we were well above the top of the cabin and could see a little ways across the valley we are nesselled in. We hiked back to the cabin for a morning dip in the hot tub and then settled in the living room to relax and enjoy the morning with no plans. I think we will be getting out this evening to do a little more grocery shopping and visiting with Ragged's family.