Date: 2007-12-08
From: HOME

To: Blowing Rock,NC
Miles today: 0.0

Fri Nov.30th My wife & I have the enjoyment of a week in the Western North Carolina Mtns each fall/winter season (just after Thanksgiving)...Just a few days to get away after Thanksgiving...(& what better place to be THANKFUL than in the mountains!)We left home about 7am on friday morning & drove (about 8 hours from our house)East thru Knoxville, then up to Johnson City, TN then thru Elizabethton (home of Pals burgers) then into NC...Elk Park, then Banner Elk (i love that little town) & then thru Boone & into the tiny little burg called Blowing Rock, NC.Its kinda of a "Ritzy" little town...lots of rich folks live here...but, doesnt stop us (make way for us COMMON FOLKS!).Oh yea..i have to tell ya...about 3/4 way here..i was pulling off an exit to get some (over-priced) gas....& as i'm rolling down the exit ramp.....KERRRRRRRRRRRRRRR-THUMP!....i looked at Donna...i said:..."What the HECK (i used a different word) was that?"....shw looked out towards the hood & saw a box of batteries (double A-s for the new digital camera)....& then my heart sank....i just knew then...i had left the batteries AND BRAND NEW CAMERA on top of the car.....Now, i'm envisioning that BRAND NEW NIKON CAMERA splattered all over the road somewhere....my heart sank.....but, Donna jumped out of the car...& came back with....you guessed it...our BRAND NEW CAMERA...that had ridden 197 miles (along with the box of double A batteries ontop of the car protected by Donna's car's luggage rack!....WOW!God loves me & my NIKON camera!   woooooooooooo...what a relief!i told that story to everybody all week...(that would listen!)anyway,we got to Blowing Rock about 4pm, & checked in @ Chetola Resort (we own, along with our friends Terry & Sharon Price a timeshare week here & vaation here every year together)...unpacked our luggage...went back out for fire wood...& then stopped by Kojays (coffee shop)for a pound of coffee for the week, hit our fave ICE CREAM shop, Kilwins (its the best!)& then back to the condo to settle in for the night....ahhhhhh...i'm tired.Saturday Dec 1st.   i was already in bed last night when the Prices arrived (about 11:30pm)..but, Donna stayed up to greet them...today we're all heading to Boone...to Samaritans Purse (Franklin Graham's ministires home office) to delilver shoeboxes filled with toys for kids around the world...as part of "Operation: Christmas Child".Our church, Cross Roads Baptist in Greenbrier, TN has participated now for over 10 years & we love to deliver the shoeboxes "IN-PERSON"...it gives us a sense of "helping" & we actually get to see the shoeboxes & tour the facilities. They do great work..& its a true blessig to our church in our participation.The rest of the day we spend in & around Blowing Rock...in & out of shops...the Price boys, Briley & John are with them & the join us...At the end of the day...we drive out to a tree farm just outside of Boone & pick our Christmas Tree...we'llpick it up later in the week....then....we again hit Kilwins....yummy!In for the night & a nice roaring fire...ahhhhhhhhh.Sunday Dec 2nd. We head to Fred's today high atop Beech Mtn (5,506ft elevation) its a few miles away from Blowing Rock...so, the girls have us stop @ a few shops along the way (we're in two cars)...then we meet them @ Fred's for lunch....we have nachos as we wait & then Fred's chili & a sandwich when they arrive....yummmmmmmmm!Mon.Dec 3rd The Prices only get to stay til Tuesday so,... today they get to pick our schedule...first, The Prices are looking @ several homes in & near blowing Rock for possible purchase...we tag along...constantly reminding them we are their "BESTEST FRIENDS"...hehehehehehe...for the rest of the day...we stay close to the condo & hit all the Main street shops in Blowing Rock...we dine @ PISGHETTIS...of course you have to finish the day with a trip to Kilwins...(our fave ice cream shop)Tues Dec 4 We say goodbye to the Prices as they head back to Springfield...Donna & i have a few more days...we head to Valle Crucis then Banner Elk...hit the Mast General Store & a few other shoppes...then back to the condo for a short day...ahhhhhhhhhh...nice to be in the mountains....it was very cold today...dont think it EVER got above freezing...& the WINDS were gusting to 25-35 mph....OUCH!Wed.Dec 5 we head to West Jefferson (NC) north from Blowing Rock & Boone...Donna & i hit all the shops on the Main street & visit several of the Art Galleries here...very nice artwork here...but, sooooo many galleries....dont see how they stay in business! (such a small town)we eat lunch @ Fraziers....then back to Blowing Rock.Thur.Dec 6 our last FULL day in the mountains...(Darn!)we hit a few shops (again) in Blowing Rock..we had a slight dusting of SNOW last nite...we usually get a snow while we're here...we head to the tree farm & pick up our Christmas tree (along with the Prices)...then we head to the local Performing Arts theatre for a presentation of "The Christmas Bus"..it was very good...its been a great vacation!Fri Dec 7th...TRAVEL DAY....we head home...always SAD to leave the mountians...but,....we'll be back next year..."Good Lord willin' & the creek don't rise".Good vacation!Merry Christmas to All!