Welcome to 2018

As in the past, our New Year celebration consisted of watching some tv on the eve and then bed even before the ball dropped.  New Year's Day I updated my new 2018 calendar and Bob watched football.  The unusually cold weather continued, and we were again treated to a snowfall January 17th.  But, we decided it would be fun to see more snow, so we made reservations at a year round campground in Banner Elk, NC, near Boone, for a 3 day outing January 30 - Feb 2.

Doesn't look like Roscoe is ready to come in.  Or maybe he's afraid Bob's going to give him an ice bath!

The "smoke" here is actually snow being blown by the blustery winds at Grandfather Campground where we stayed.  The owner said the snow began the night before and had stopped a couple of hours before we arrived in the afternoon.  Banner Elk is about a 3.5 hour drive from Seneca, and once we got off the interstate at Spartanburg, we took scenic highways to our destination.

Our campsite was along a creek.  We got settled in and stayed in the trailer for the evening.

The ski resorts in the area were closed during the week, so we decided to do some touring.  Our first stop was in Blowing Rock where the library was having a book sale. 

Someone was thoughtful and put a warm shawl around the girl on the bench.

This is the way every library should be!

 

I didn't dare plunk the piano for fear the librarian would shush me.

In order to get to "the" Blowing Rock, an outcropping which is known for the winds that swirl snow upwards, you have to go through private property and pay a fee. So, after Bob bought a couple of books at the library, we headed north and found ourselves in Tennessee.

We pulled into the overlook to stretch our legs...

...and so bob could throw a snow ball at me.

Watauga Lake was beautiful even in wintertime.

The next day, we went to Hawksnest in Seven Devils, just a few miles from the campground.  This snow resort specializes in snow tubing and zip lines, and is the only one open during the week.  When we planned the trip, our initial thought was to try tubing, but then we got some sense (read chickened out).  

This peak is Grandfather Mountain, the highest point in the Blue Ridge, and is the namesake for the campground where we are staying.  The state park is accessible only by foot trails or through a private park which charges $18 per person for entry.   No thanks.

We attempted to drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway, but road conditions were too hazardous. 

Even with 4 wheel drive, the truck started sliding,  so the first chance we got to turn back, we did. The view is best seen from above, not careening downhill.

We continued our journey on US 221 and stopped at the New River State Park.  We visited the river before, in West Virginia, when we saw the gorge.

This is one of two canoe/kayak access points to the river along 221.

All along the highways in this area are acres and acres of tree farms.  North Carolina is one of the largest suppliers of Frasier firs.  When we reached the junction of Hwy 16 at Sparta, NC, we drove back to camp.  We would be leaving for home the next day.

We woke up to 16 degree temps and icy snow.  Bob had trouble getting the trailer hooked to the truck until a neighboring camper gave him a hand.  We were told the roads were clear, only to find folks were probably speaking of the roads going into Boone.  We were heading in the opposite direction.

It was a little dicey until we got off the mountain, and then it was as though it was spring.  We didn't feel this trip wast as enjoyable as we anticipated.  Both of us thought maybe it's because "there's no place like home."

 

 

 

 



Wrapping up 2017

I've been remiss in keeping up the blog.  Other than a very special Thanksgiving and Christmas in our new home, nothing felt really "blog worthy".  Autumn was a disappointment; there wasn't a lot of color change, and we seemed to jump right into winter.  We were treated to a snowfall in early December, but did not have a White Christmas.  Then once again, it was time to usher in a new year.

At the end of October, we took a ride to the mountains in Franklin, NC, about an hour or so away.  Due to the dry, hot  summer, most of the trees had already lost their leaves, and those that didn't were wearing a coat of faded autumn colors.

 

Mid-November, we drove up to Caesar's Head State Park (elevation 3208 feet) along SC Hwy 11.  Although the views from the mountains were pretty, there wasn't much fall color here either. 

On Veteran's Day, there was a car show in West Union that we went to. It was very cold and damp that morning, so we sat in Bob's truck while the cars drove in, and then left shortly after.

Veterans' Day weekend, the Viet Nam Memorial Moving Wall was on display in Seneca.  Never having seen the one in D.C., it was truly "moving" for me.  I was able to find the names of Keith Perrelli and Richard Cyran, two  fallen warriors who grew up with me in Clifton.

 

We had our Thanksgiving the Saturday after Thanksgiving Thursday.  It was the first time in a very long while that we were able to celebrate it with one of my brothers and Bob's son.  Here Valerie, Mark, Jenna, and Bobby are giving a tomahawk cheer for the 'Noles before the feast...

while David, Amanda, and Bob root for the Gators.

Later, Mark and Owen had room for a bed time snack.

At the end of November, we drove to Stephens Park on the Georgia side of the Tugaloo River, about 40 minutes from Seneca, to see if we could gather up some pine cones for Christmas decorations.

The low water level showed the effect of the dry summer.

A little over a week later, it was a winter wonderland by us.

It snowed most of the day and part of the next morning, but most of it was gone by the following day.

It was wonderful to have the room to have a real Christmas tree again, and fun decorating around the house, even though it was just the two of us.

Oops!  Didn't mean to forget you, Roscoe!