Spruce Pine - Aug 25 to September 15

Spruce Pine - Aug 25 to Sept 15

 

This has been the longest visit to our Mountain Home since we moved to Beaufort in 2001.  It has been great.  We've had time to do a lot of long delayed little maintenance items, get the yard in good shape, and enjoy all the things (and people) that have endeared us to the area.

 

The weather has been beautiful almost the entire time we've been here.  The nights have been in the 50's for the most part and the days have been pleasantly warm.  The visibility has been unusually good, and we've awakened many mornings looking over clouds in the valley.  

  

During the first week, we decided to exercise the RV.  We drove over Roan Mountain to the Roan Mountain State Park in Tenn.  This was our first experience driving the RV in truly mountainous terrain.  We gained renewed confidence in the ability to maneuver it on the tight curves and steep

grades.

 

We parked the RV near a stream - Clara enjoyed reading.  I did my first true mountain bike ride in years. 

It seems that almost every evening during our stay has been filled with some event.  During this visit we:

 

• Attended the "Jubilee Jam" at the Burnsville Community Theater
• Saw the Play "The Story of Two Charlies" by Jo Carson at the Orchard
• Attended a great performance at The Carolina Barn Dance Theater featuring Kat Williams
• Participated in the Orchards annual Labor Day Cover Dish Lunch
• Ate at "The Tin Lizard", a new restaurant in downtown Spruce Pine for "Danny Turns Two", Sunday's invitation only dinner, before the Kat Williams Concert, and another special event.
• Had a group of friends over for dinner.
• Ate at the "Taste of Blue Ridge" fundraiser for Mitchell County United Way
• Had dinner with neighbors at Bill's home

 

Had dinner with Sonny and Barbara

We did a lot around the house:

• Reseed and fertilize the yard
• Put some rocks in one of the planting areas
• Pulled weeds, roundup,  and trimmed a lot of overgrown bushes
• Had new vents installed for the dryer and central vacuum
• Put up new beadboard paneling going down to the basement
• Bought a new 37" TV
• Washed the RV

Bill and Jan came over and spent a weekend.  It was great to visit with friends again.  While they were here, we took the RV and drove to Rolf Holmquist's studio.  We had met Rolf and his wife at one of the dinner's at the Tin Lizard.  His home is located on a narrow, unpaved, single track road and it was a little tight for the RV, but worked.

 

We leave here to go to Cary to spend a few days with Anna and Evan as Slade and Candace take off on a 3 day mission with their church.