Spruce Pine - June 20-30

Arrived Monday afternoon and noticed something different in the view and quickly realized that nature had topped a tree in the viewscape.  After checking the new weather station, noted that during Monday morning a severe thunderstorm had moved through and recorded 60 mph winds.  Obviously it had taken the tree out. 

But, it opened our view significantly.

During the 10 + day visit:

• We cleaned up the top of the tree - after I had the chainsaw repaired.  It turned into quite a chore with me having to crawl up in the tree about 20 feet to a big branch and cutting out the remainder of the top of the tree that was hanging to the tree.  Upon cutting it, it fell on the laddar and Clara had a hard time getting the laddar back up so I could get down.  She later stated she thought she would have to call the fire department and ask them for help getting a "cat" out of the tree.
• We found another tree that needed cutting down, so I called a tree company and they did a much quicker and better job than I.
• We went to the Altapass Foundation annual fundraiser at the Orchard at Altapass.  There was a silent auction and one of the items was a week stay in St. John, USVI.  We bid on it and won, so now we get to go the the Virgin Islands sometime in the next year.
• We had dinner at Kit Truby's.  Included were Bill and Judy Carson.  A fine evening.
• We were invited to Brian and Joey Gurls home to celebrate our mutual friends ( Bonnie and Will Smihdt) 19th wedding anniversary.  Brian entertained us for the evening with some of his incredible music.  He is an extremely talented pianist and singer.
• We attended great musical performances at the Orchard on Saturday and Sunday.
• We found that our new motorhome had been invaded by carpenter ants, so I spent a lot of time with pest control.  Had two pest control companies come out and treat the motorhome.  We found a water leak in the skylight above the shower.  I took the RV  to Tom Johnson Camping Center in Marion and had them repair the leak.

We were going to stay through July 4 and have the kids come up to celebrate Evans birthday (July 3), but Evan wanted his birthday at Beaufort, so Thursday, we headed back in the Motorhome.  I want to keep checking for ants and do some other work on it, getting ready for the planned trip later this year out West.