Friends are family

Ah-h-h ..... this is better ..... surrounded by friends ..... I think we'll survive after all.

Vera leaves on a cruise tomorrow .. gone for two weeks .... whee-e-e-e-e Charlie and I can play!
We told Vera if the bus wasn't here when she returned, we'd leave forwarding instructions in the office.

Later, Marilyn

culture shock

We've been in the mountains of western North Carolina for 6 plus months .... in a semi-rustic campground ...... on a mountain .... by a lakeside .... 10 miles to the nearest small town ....  no sounds at night except coyotes once in a while ... and no freeways for at least 20 miles.

Needless to say, by the time we came around the beltway in rush hour traffic, and settled onto our approximately 25' x 65' concrete pad ..... then listened to the roar of freeway traffic all night .....
we are beyond culture shock.

Seriously, we are depressed, with very long faces, and a few tears.... and ready to turn around and go back - we might if not for the impending winter there.  So I guess we'll wait for spring.  Interesting though, that was the first place we've encountered that felt like home; and that we want to go back to, like, semi-permanently at least.

So, since we were already reeling from being in the middle of a big city anyway, we all three went to the Nutcracker Market yesterday. For other friends from away, this is an enormous annual, pre-Christmas shopping extravaganza in one of the convention halls here. 
So, now that we are "immersed" again in urban life..... we'll start getting together with old friends, and setting doctor and dentist appointments.  We will probably leave around the first of February.
And it will most likely be back to the Asheville area... we've kinda decided maybe Alaska is not in our future, at least to drive.  Its just too far, and too hard, and too expensive.

taken from our front window a few days before we left

 

more later, Marilyn

almost there

Tonight in Shreveport, Louisiana..... 250 or so more miles to Houston.  We are still feeling the sadness of leaving such good friends and 6 months of wonderful memories.
We have all three decided we will definitely return to the Asheville area to spend more time there. After all, there are many more hikes and waterfalls to discover. 
Here are three more:

this is Linville Falls, as you can see a rather popular spot

This is a beautiful hike we took to find Courthouse Falls .... but we got off on the wrong trail and didn't find the falls.

the river was gorgeous though

 

 

And this one we can't remember the name, but it was really beautiful .... couldn't get very close to it.

 

And this is Vera saying "I wonder if that means us ?"



 

 

Later, Marilyn

heading "home"

I hesitated when I entered the title "home" ..... because after almost exactly 3 years of a full time RV lifestyle, ..... home really is where we park the wheels.  However, our roots are in Houston, and we especially feel pulled to our friends there when the holiday season starts approaching.

We left Cascade Lake Campground this morning (sadly). It has been a wonderful home for 6 months, with wonderful friends who have been like a family.  Quite a nice experience.  So, we are heading back to Houston for 3 months for the holidays before we head west next year.


We have visited many waterfalls in North Carolina, with many beautiful (usually short) hikes in the mountains.  One was called Graveyard Fields, on the Blue Ridge Parkway:

from the bottom

from the top

Vera

Charlie

 

 

Tonite we are near Atlanta, tomorrow near Jackson, MS to stop and visit our friend Charlotte.

 

Later, Marilyn



getting very wet

This is the action shot of our rafting trip several weeks ago down the Nantahala River Gorge.  The river outfitter companies have a (semi)professional photographer stationed along the rapids areas; and by the time you finish your trip, back at the office they have your photos ready to purchase..... it's worth it, because there was no way my camera was in a position to get any shots at this point. 

Things you never think about: for those of us who wear eyeglasses... buy a pair of those little rubber grippers for the ear pieces, with a cord to go around your neck - just in case (kinda like life preservers, only different).

The next three photos are of Grandfather Mountain .... one BIG hunk of rock.

 

 

The suspension bridge was pretty daunting ..... but look at those tiny figures way in the background on top of the very tip top ......

Oh, look, one of them is Charlie!

more later, Marilyn

Leaf rain

Several mornings recently, we awoke to the sound of a light pattering of rain on our roof.  Turns out it is just a lot of leaves falling and sounds like rain hitting our motorhome roof. The colors of fall are "washing over" us "as we speak". Every day is a new look, every trip down the mountain into town is a surprise at what has changed overnite. 
Last year at this time, you may remember, we were still in Maine, and had experienced the same "washed over" effect. I believe that is the best way to experience the changing of the colors.. to stay still and let them come to you.  Right now is the peak season here in the Western North Carolina mountains for "leaf peepers", and the place is packed with tourists.

We have been packing in as much adventure as we can stand.  We actually hiked a portion of the Appalachian Trail. It was so exhilarating, and so beautiful. I've always thought it sounded so intriguing, but never thought I'd ever be "on it".  You know it stretches from Georgia to Maine, and covers some 1800 plus miles, almost all mountains.
This photo is a typical view of the trail as it winds around, up and over the hills.  It is marked with white tree blazes every few hundred yards.

 

 

 

This last photo is of our group of five walking up the road to the very top of the ridge where the trail crosses the gravel road. We took a left, and hiked (some of us) about 1.5 miles to an old fire lookout tower with a 360 degree view of the surrounding country side and mountains.  Actually, two of us didn't make it the whole way (I'll never say which two), but just being "on The Trail" was enough.  The elevation gain for the 1.5 miles was 700'...... so, needless to say, it wasn't classified as "easy" or "moderate".

The road crossing the ridge at that point is known as Teleco Gap.  You can see the power transmission lines going over the mountain ..... it's the lowest point on that mountain.

 

more later, Marilyn

 



Still here in NC

I am so sorry that I appear to have abandoned my loyal following ..... not true, but I have been really negligent.

Vera's brother-in-law is doing quite well. In fact at his follow-up visit to the surgeon, the doctor thumped on his chest and asked if he was sore and Charlie said no.  I can't imagine .... I think the old term "crack open the chest" is not entirely a figure of speech.

We returned here from the two week New York/ Pennsylvania trip and immediately took the motorhome in for some overdue maintenance.  The facility was a 2 hour drive from here, and it turned into a four day trip ........ however, it was farther east and closer to several attractions we had on our 'to see' list.  So it turned  into a vacation away from our permanent vacation.
We hiked Linnville Falls, went to Grandfather Mountain, and to the top of Mount Mitchell.
Photos to follow!

Then, we came back to our "home" for the last 5+ months, Cascade Lake Campground; and the next week took a three day trip (with our other two adventure friends here at the campground), back to the Nantahala Gorge, and on over the Newfound Gap into Gatlinburg.  We did a half day hike on the Appalachian Trail (just a few miles of it), near Teleco Gap.  That was another bucket list thing.  A friend told Vera that she didn't know how long Vera's bucket list was; but perhaps she shouldn't be checking them off quite so fast. :)
Photos to follow!

More later, Marilyn