Monday June 14

Flag Day

(top photo taken by Chad Lovett)

to WV

This photo was taken as we were headed north on I-77 leaving Mt. Airy, NC (aka Mayberry) looking at the Blue Ridge Mountains ahead.

Above and below around the same place the first photo was taken, looking back at the Mt. Airy area as we were chug chug chugging along up one of the many mountain passes along the way.  I know they aren't great photos ~ reflection in the window out of which I was taking the photos, but they do give a decent view of our height at that point (I thought)

Not sure what is with all these funny town names - South Gap, Fancy Gap and Flat Top but they just added to the "charm" of this entire area as far as I'm concerned.

Also, Flat Top was the highest elevation we conquered on our travel Tuesday, even as we conquered the Appalachian Mountain range to get into West Virginia.

We do see some "interesting" sights along the way don't we.  We do, of course, travel with our own bathroom, we just don't strap it to the back of the coach or the trailer!

A couple decent  views along the way ~ without reflections!  Above is coming into Wytheville, NC and below is a shot as we approach the  Appalachians in Virginia.

Yup, truck escapes are a necessity to say the least.  Hopefully it never becomes a coach/trailer/RBU escape.

Made me think of Vermont quite often.

Now, as I mentioned earlier, we conquered the Appalachians, it was easy - they put tunnels through them so we don't have to go over the mountains!  I can't begin to imagine what a construction project that must have been!  We went through two of them.

Just some photos along the way ~ below some for those of you (who shall remain nameless) who think to drive 150 miles a day is whimpy - even while maneuvering these SSSSS curved roads and mountains guiding 68' ....

More poor shots with window reflections, below are barges of coal being pushed up what I believe is the Kanawha River.

And piles of coal along the river - I guess waiting to be loaded.

And finally the Capital building in Charleston, West Virginia ...

We are now in Springfield, Ohio for a few days.  Rick is at the National Air Force Museum today and Sir and I are hanging out getting "caught up" with posting park reviews on rv park reviews, tracking our travels on our map and reading .... not to mention sitting outside enjoying a gorgeous day between thunder storms and thoroughly enjoying the neighbors lovely gardens specifically designed to attract hummingbirds.  I'd love to post a few photos, but alas, I'm not quick enough to capture the beauties in a photo!  We were originally booked to stay here two nights, we've decided to stay three and perhaps four!

the pic~a~nic day way back when

So remember when, a long long time ago I mentioned in a post that we'd gone to look for some local music and took a pic~a~nic with us?  Yeah, it was Memorial Day weekend when the festival turned out to be a town wide (that went on for a mile at least) flea market (aka, in Tracey speak, "a flea circus")

Well we had taken that drive a few days prior (up and over some of the Blue Ridge Mountains to Hillsville, VA where the "festival" was) when we were just out "exploring" the area ~ something I love to do, something Rick, I think, tolerates if we are in the car, if it's on the bikes I think he loves it as well.  However Rick would not have loved this journey on his bike - it was windy with steep steep drop offs.

So, once again I digress.  When we did this route a few days earlier we traveled by this really interesting old building that we figured to be an old hotel/motel.  We didn't stop that day ~ I think we may have planned to stop on our way back to Mt. Airy, but ended up returning a totally different route.

This is where we stopped for our picnic on the "festival trip".  Not exactly what I had in mind for a picnic stop but it worked out terrifically for all of us.  We ate, Arlo played and Rick explored!

The photo above shows additional motel rooms behind this large old building.  We didn't notice this back building when we went by the first time ~ Rick discovered it on his exploration.  He didn't go into any of the rooms (not even sure they were accessible) but he did say that you could clearly see that the bottom portion of the back wall of this building is being pushed in by the mountain that it is built against!  WOW that could have led to an exciting stay back in the day if that sucker just came crashing into your room huh!  

Like I said, Sir got to do some water play.  This was such a pretty little stream coming down the mountain.  This stream was behind the smaller of the buildings out front - the one with the balconies.  There was pipework to the left of the stream that eventually fed the waterwheel in front of the property.  

It was such a neat place but we just couldn't find any information about it.  I believe it is in the town of Cana, VA but not sure.  We did ask a gentleman at the campground we were staying at in Mt. Airy if he knew anything about it and he commented that he'd been coming to the area for ten years and he'd never known it to be open.  

We did leave Mt. Airy (after extending and extending our stay) yesterday and spent last night and tonight at a fabulous campground in Romance, WV.  OMG words can not do this property justice.  Unfortunately it rained today so I don't have any pictures of it and they do not (strangely enough) have a website.  We are at Rippling Waters (Church of God) Campground.  To say the least I was very apprehensive to even make the phone call because it was church related and I had "odd" feelings but I'm so glad I did - absolutely outstanding, peaceful beautiful place.  On a scale of one to ten I rate it a nine point nine nine nine.  There are cardinals and bluebirds all around as well as deer and who knows what else that we can't see, but they can see us!  Oh what a place this is.  Another place I'd love to work camp at but I don't think I'd fit in real well in that capacity.

Our plan is to leave here in the morning unless Rick hears back from a friend from way back who lives in WV.  

I do have photos ~ many many photos ~ uploaded for the next post, pictures of our travel from NC to WV.  I'll try to do that post in a day or so ... seems I just can't do them when we get to our destination on a "travel day" however.  Suffice it to say for now that it was  a beautiful trip.

A follow up to a previous post - we did get brave enough to color my hair which is now a lovely shade of greenish/blue.

The washer, we were successful in repairing - Chuck and Anneke email me (tpw0607@gmail.com) and I'll give you the specifics as best I can if you are still having issues - I don't want to bore people here with  what we did .....

Monday morning "humor"/irony

Interesting sign to see at a BP station don't you think!  

(thank you Bethie)

Hey diddle diddle

The people and the fiddle(s)

lots and lots of fiddles, banjos, bass fiddles (cello???) guitars, mandolins...

I think the first photo is dulcimers, but not certain (Jon or Candy care to chime in here?)  Last night reminded me so much of you two - a long long time ago with banjo and guitar in hand at a Peck party I believe (maybe the one where baby Owen slept in the drawer ~ speaking of which Owen may have the pictures of the event I am remembering)!

Anyway, this is the weekend of the 39th Annual Fiddlers Convention here in Mt. Airy (being broadcast live, streaming live on the web at WPAQ).  I know I'm posting this late but hopefully someone may read it in time that they are still broadcasting (they do broadcast live every Saturday morning from one of the downtown Mt Airy venues).  I believe the broadcast of the convention will go through tonights performances.

We attended last night and had so darn much fun.  This is the music/instruments we wanted to hear in this area.  Last night's performances (being judged) started at 7:00.  The rain started around 7:35 (at least it was a bit later than last Friday nights outside entertainment!).  It did clear up enough about 25 minutes later and the entertainment resumed for about 45 more minutes and then the skies just opened and we decided to call it a night.

The photo above is of a family (well I did assume they were related) doing some dancing.  I think there is a dancing competition today but I'm not positive (there were no printed programs available at the convention!!)

Last nights program started with Bluegrass Music and ended with "Old Time".  I'm not sure what the definition is of Old Time, but boy we loved the Bluegrass.  The program tonight starts with Old Time and ends with Bluegrass (both are being judged again).  I don't know what the itinerary is for today, because we will definitely NOT be there ~ it is predicted to be in the low 90's today and it so humid I just can't deal with being outside.  So after I finish this post I will be settling in to work on some doll clothes!

The pictures in this post are just random photos in and around the event.  I don't remember, unfortunately, the names of the groups so I won't be a wealth of information today (useless or otherwise).  

The photo just above is a group that had just gotten off the stage (look how young they are).  Each group performed one song then the next group came on.  I was very very impressed how rapidly and smoothly it all went (I guess that being the 39th annual, they've worked out all the "kinks" ... well they do have no control over the weather!!)

Strolling the grounds there was lots of strumming and fiddling and pickin' going on - Rick was so disappointed that we were not staying there.  I did read that dogs were not allowed in the campground area which really surprised me - seriously, fiddlers don't travel with dogs ~ how is that possible.  It would have been a hoot to stay there, surely we wouldn't have gotten much sleep but what a terrific way to be exhausted - staying up listening to these local tunes all night!

The photo below is one of my favorites.  This little girl with crossed arms (all right "young lady") was so intent on what was going on.  I never did see her perform, but check out that fiddle case with all those stickers.  She was just precious.  The Arts council here has free fiddle and guitar lessons on Thursday nights for children 6-16 years old.  I am so impressed with how the area keeps this aspect of their heritage alive and promotes it so actively.

So the photo below .... was one of our favorites from last night - Kill Basa Bill's Roadshow.  OMG, hopefully you can enlarge it and and check out the "outfit" front and center ~ hopefully truly appreciate them.  Their entertainment starts as soon as they step on stage - without even opening their mouths!  The song they performed last night was titled something to the effect of "I Met Her in the Porta Potti Line" or "I Fell in Love in the Porta Potti Line" - it was, not surprisingly, hysterical.  Unfortunately, it is not on the play list on their myspace page -BUT the page is worth going to!

Hopefully, the heat and humidity will back off a bit, the rain will hold off (predicted at a 40% chance tonight - UGH) and we will return to the 39th Annual Fiddler's Convention ~ we sure had fun.

With all that said, I still have a post to do about our pic-a-nic day last Saturday, in search of the "festival" aka miles upon miles of "flea market" in Hillsville last week.  

We are out of here on Tuesday morning - headed north and west - Sioux Falls here we come .... slowly slowly, ever so slowly, but here we come!

Memorial Day festivities

Yes, I do realize I am a few days behind with this post ....  

Rick went to the brief Memorial Day celebration (is it really a celebration?  I think it should be referred to as an acknowledgement of the day, but then again it is half past midnight and I should be in bed, so work with me here a bit).  Anyway, Rick went to that (photo above) while Sir and I stayed back at the campground just "chillin'" for a bit.

The campground had it's own "time" and what a great time it was, I refer to it as a "holiday picnic" for no other reason that it really didn't have much that I could see to do with the  "holiday" (well other than red, white and blue balloons etc) it was just a festive event ... and a fun festive event at that, I thought.

The campground had local entertainment ~ the Easter Brothers.  They played the instruments we'd hoped to be listening to in these parts - although it was "gospel music" which isn't what we listen to, but it was a nice time, followed by hamburgers and hot dogs and rain rain rain ~ have I mentioned that it seems to rain here every day?  First it is so hot you can't stand the thought of putting on jeans and boots and getting on your bike then it rains.  

But, once again, I digress!  The three previous photos are the event that the campground put on Monday and we thoroughly enjoyed it.  Well Rick and I did - I had taken Sir out for a walk while Rick was at the downtown festivities.  The Easter Brothers were doing sound checks and "warming up" or whatever it may be called.  As soon as that started Sir was headed back to the coach.  NOT because it was offensive in ANY way, but because it was a louder than normal (for these parts) noise and because he didn't recognize it.  Yeah the big brave fool that thinks he is the boss of the entire acreage here runs for his coach when anything "startles" him.  That's my dog .... 

a date night

So here in Mt. Airy they have a wonderful arts council  and are very very "into" their local culture and history ~ as I think I've mentioned in a few previous posts.  


The local music was one of the reasons we wanted to come here (well that and of course, Mayberry!).  Unfortunately, we had not come across the local traditional music we'd hoped for and I'm not convinced it was for lack of trying, but for some reason the Arts Council seems to mostly book "beach" music for Friday and Saturdays at this marvelous amphitheatre.

We decided the other night that this amphitheatre was just such a terrific venue that we should just go and enjoy whatever the music was.  The entertainment this evening was "the Fantastic Shakers".  What the heck, at $10. each  it seemed like a decent night out (date night, date night).  

There is a dance "style" in the Carolinas called "shagging".  Since we aren't much for dancing I couldn't begin to describe it because I don't know for sure if I've seen it!  We were first aware of it a few years ago in the Myrtle Beach area.  Well the Fantastic Shakers schedule indicates they play at shagging events ~ seemed like yet another reason to go see them!  

It started out great - what a terrific venue ~ gorgeous green grass, bring your own chairs (or in our case, a sheet to sit on ~ why we don't keep two "bag chairs" in the car is beyond me, but that would be a different blog post for sure).  Come to find out you can even bring food - a pic~a~nic (I LOVE pic~a~nics.... I have such fond memories of picnics when the boys were young with my Mother's favorite picnic recipe ~ "gooey buns" ~ another blog post, but trust me, in spite of the name they are oh so yummy).  

Once again, I've digressed .... The first song in their set (and I can't remember what that was, after all it was four days ago!) people were up dancing away having a grand ole time.  In fact the fourth song they played (yup I can't remember that either, other than it was a Righteous Brothers song) we got up to be dancers.

 Then the skies just opened up - seriously not even 90 seconds into our dance!

The Shakers had to cover their equipment, and take cover, as did the audience .... so under the amphitheatre roof we went and stayed and stayed and stayed as the rain came down, the lightning flashed, the thunder rumbled ....

We waited and waited and chatted with the others, made nice with the Shakers and waited and waited and waited, then decided after about 45 minutes of this downpour that we'd just spent money to hear four tunes, got part of one dance and it was just time to "call it a night".  We sure did have fun while it lasted!

With all that said, while the weather did not want to "play nice" this is an outstanding venue and the town of Mt. Airy and Surry County should be very very proud of what they've created.  Rain, however, is out of our control ....

With all that said, there is the annual Mt. Airy Fiddlers Convention this coming weekend, so guess what ~ 

yup, we've extended our stay again!