[at-l] North Carolina Vacation Vaguely Trail Related

[ARTCLOUTMN@aol.com (ARTCLOUTMN@aol.com)]

My wife Sue's cousins arrived at Crystal lake about 1 PM on saturday July 7th 
to take over management of our vacation cottage business for the next week 
and 1/2.  We left New Hampshire about 3 PM after giving Jack and Jan (the 
cousins) detailed instructions on how to deal with the various problems that 
come up including PLUMBING.  We spent the night in our house in CT then 
headed to Hertz to rent a car fearing 3000 miles added to the 250,000 miles 
already on the odometer of our best car would be risky.  If the Hertz car 
broke down it would be their problem to get us back on the road.  We ended up 
with a Hyundai.  So by 11 AM on Sunday July 8th we were heading south.  
    We booked a motel in Chambersburg, PA with a nice pool so Sue could get 
appropriate exercise for her FibroMyalgia.  Walking and swimming as well as 
diet make a big difference to her.   Monday morning I got up early and jogged 
around a mall for an hour or so while Sue swam in the motel pool.  We had 
breakfast in our room the confirmed our reservation for the return trip and 
hit the trail sout on Rt I-81 by 10 PM.
    We made several stops along the way for stretches and food.  And we made 
a side trip to Damascus, Va.  He showed Sue where the AT came into and left 
town.  We never got out of the car but it was a great thrill for me.  I'm not 
sure Sue understood the significance.  We made it into Asheville about 8:30 
PM and we imediately made some calls to the nursing home that Sue's sister 
live in with MS,  the mother of a friend -Laura -who was renting a cottage 
from us and we called Cheryl and Sly.  
    Tuesday morning we spent some time with Sue's sister Linda then took a 
spin on the Blue Ridge Parkway - Sly's advice- Stopped at the Folk Art 
Center, had a picknick then headed over to visit Laura's mom in Black 
Mountain.  
    Wed after a visit with Linda we drove to Mt Mitchell.  Walked up to the 
base of the tower.  Sue could not make it up the tower but I did and spent 
1/2 hour taking in the views and talking with people.  We left the mountain 
and stopped at Craggy Garden Picknick area.  I took a walk along the Craggy 
Garden trail - Sue didn't like that I left her for 20 minutes.  I'm always 
getting in trouble when it come to hiking.  Got back to the motel about 4:30 
PM.   Took a brisk swim in the pool then waited for Cheryl to arrive at 5:15 
sharp.  Cheryl rode with us to Mt Pisgah.  We had dinner at the inn on the 
mountain and gabbed about all kinds of things including hiking.  I mentioned 
to Cheryl that we spotted trail signs for the Mountains to Shore Trail on the 
Summit of Mt Mitchell and that got us into some nice discriptions of that 
trail from Cheryl.  
    Next morning Thursday, July 12th, after our morning walks and swims, we 
had breakfast with Sly.  It would have been fun to meet with Sly and Cheryl 
at the same time but they work different shifts so would only be possible 
between 11 PM and 7 AM - my time to sleep.  Since Sue had her fill of 
mountains, Sly and I talked for a few hours outside the motel room.  Sue made 
us tuna sandwiches from foil packed tunafish for lunch.  After lunch Sue and 
I headed for the art musium in downtown Asheville.  We saw the Linda 
McCartney Photo Exhibit - Travels. And took in a movie - Pearl Harbor - I 
thought it was very good.  Sly left the ATC Convention materials for me - 
thanks Sly.  I never thought about the fact that Chambersburg was only 10 
miles away from the Convention site.  Unfortunately we had to get back to NH 
and were not able to make the side trip.  Maybe next year.  
    Friday morning we started our return trip after settling our bill with 
the motel. Stopped again in Chambersburg PA and again in CT then back to 
Crystal Lake in NH.  Sue was pissed that she got a ticket for speeding 80 in 
65 mph zone.  It has always been with much pride that she had no blemishes on 
her driving record and I have one ticket for going through a red light, and a 
few warnings.
    It was wonderful to finally meet my internet friends Cheryl and Sly.  The 
mountains near Asheville are spectacular.  It would be a great place in which 
to retire.  Sorry that POG was out of town but the world does not rotate 
about me.

                                                Art