White Line Fever

It actually started way back in Texas and is now a full blown case of it! We usually only travel about 200 miles a day, but the last couple of days have been long ones.

We've had a wonderful adventure and feel very blessed to be able to have this life. We're excited to be back home and reconnect with our friends.

We are, however, already planning our trip next year to Shelby's graduation from the United States Air Force Academy in May! :-)

Laughlin Reunion

When Les and I lived in Redondo Beach back in 1983, we lived across the street from the Maguire family. Their oldest daughter, Erin (11) and her younger sister, Shannon, (8 or 9) spent alot of time at our house playing with and entertaining Kyle, who was only 2 1/2 at the time.

The girls came and stayed with us one time after we had moved to Fremont, and then we didn't see each other after that.

Erin and I had reconnected a few years ago by phone and have made an effort to stay in touch by email.

When we pulled in to Laughlin on Thursday, I thought of her because I know that she and her husband have a vacation place there. Well, as luck would have it, Erin and Ken were going to be in town the next day! We had a wonderful evening with them sharing old memories and promising to make new ones. Les and I were so happy to see what a beautiful young woman she has grown up to be.

Amarillo & The Palo Duro Canyon

We were not so impressed with Amarillo. Much of their old downtown has been boarded up and appears to have been abandoned to the homeless. It's such a shame when these wonderful old buildings are just left to decay.

What we did like was just outside of Amarillo. The Palo Duro Canyon; second in size only to the Grand Canyon. It's a really beautiful drive, which we did on the motorcycle.

The canyon is 100 miles long, but only a small portion is owned by the State, the rest is private.

It was fun crossing the water on the bike. We stopped at the top and took this picture of another motorcyclist making the crossing.
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Another thing we did like about Amarillo was the Oasis RV Resort. This is a new park that seems to have been well designed for big rigs. It's close to I-40, but no freeway noise and no train noise! Here's the best part: laundry facilities are FREE! and it's okay to wash your coach (which Les did)! We checked in for 2 nights, (using Passport America) and were told that the 3rd night is free. They have a barbecue every night, for $9.95. There's a nice pool and the spa is reserved for adults only. Somebody did their homework when they designed this park. If you're traveling I-40 through Amarillo, I can highly recommend this park. http://www.myrvoasis.com/

Back to Beaumont

We had originally planned to meet up with Jeff & Deborah again somewhere in the northern part of Texas so that we could do a little more riding together. But, after we left them back on March 1st, they went out and bought themselves a new home! So, we made our way back to Beaumont and spent a great 5 days with them helping them prep for moving in to their new home. They got a great deal on a lovely home with 2 acres on the outskirts of town. Les nicknamed it 'The Park" and the name has stuck.


They had lived in their previous home for 27 years, so this was a major decision for them. We really happy for them and think that they are going to love living here.

We can't wait to see what it looks like after they've added their own personal touch.

Lots of room for them to add that giant 40' x 60' garage/shop building!

Stormy Weather

We had not gotten very far out of Natchez/Vidalia when we came up on this storm. We just don't get this kind of stormy sky in California. We decided it was in our best interest to pull over and let this one pass us by.

For those who have never been to the south, this is Kudzu. "The vine that ate the south". It's everywhere in Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi and I'm sure other states. When it takes off, it covers everything in it's path. It's very dramatic looking and apparently, it's very hard to get rid of.

Natchez

We spent 4 days across the Mississippi River from Natchez in Vidalia, Louisiana. No, they don't grow the sweet onions there, thats in Vidalia, Georgia. This area in Vidalia is known as Old River, and when the Mississippi rises, this area floods.



If you look closely, you can see a boat at the edge of the water. The residents were having to boat across the flooded area to get to their cars that were parked on top of the levee.

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Les tells me that he's seen quite enough "Historic Districts", so after dragging him along on the carriage ride, I ventured off to tour some of Natchez's antebellum homes on my own.

Stanton Hall

Stanton Hall, circa 1857, is a preservation project of the Pilgrimage Garden Club and contains many original furnishings.

Auburn

Auburn, circa 1812, is owned by the City of Natchez. The most interesting feature of this house was it's freestanding staircase.



Longwood

Longwood was the most interesting of the homes that I toured. Construction began in 1860, using skilled workers from the north. When war broke out in 1861, these workers feared for their safety and headed home, leaving the house unfinished. Using local and slave labor, the owner, Dr. Haller Nutt, was able to complete the basement level. Dr Haller died of pneumonia in 1864, leaving the work incomplete. Of the thirty-two rooms planned for the house, only nine rooms on the basement floor were completed. Longwood is also a project of the Pilgrimage Garden Club.

Notary

We had to take a couple of days out of our busy travel schedule and take care of some home business. Before we left, Les had decided that it would be good to try and refinance to take advantage of the lower interest rates that were becoming available. So, before we left, I scanned copies of every piece of paper I thought we might need and brought it along on a flash drive.

After jumping through several hoops from Florida to North Carolina, a notary was dispatched to our motorhome in Marion, Mississippi, and we were able to sign the new note papers.

It can be quite a challange to accomplish all the paperwork involved while being on the road.

Crash!

We took a little side trip in to Chattanooga to stop at the AAA office and pick up some tour books and maps. As we were stopped at a stop light ~ crash ~ someone had run into the tow.


Les put on the flashers and we got out to inspect the damage.

Fortunately for us, there was very little damage to our truck; just a tear on the bumper step. Mr. Shull, unfortunately, wasn't quite so lucky. (We suspect he might have been drinking his lunch.)

Needless to say, he had no insurance and since our damage was very minor, we all went on our merry way.

Tail of the Dragon

An 11 mile section of US 129, that runs through the Great Smoky Mountains, is known as 'The Tail of the Dragon'. With 318 curves in those 11 miles, it is a street riders dream ride. It is also a great revenue source for Tennessee and North Carolina State Police. (It crosses the state line.)


Les had heard about this from a couple of friends and had been looking forward to riding it. He watched the weather report and finally had one day that would give him a break from the rain to make the ride.

Scenic Cherohola Parkway took him from our location in Ocoee, Tennessee, to the east end of the Tail of the Dragon.

At this gas station you could buy dragon fuel: 110 Octane, $7.99 a gallon!

The only thing that would have made this more fun for him would have been the presence of some of his favorite riding buddies. You know you are!

Pigeon Forge and The Great Smoky Mountains

We went to Pigeon Forge with the idea of going to Dollywood and touring Gatlinburg. Well, it rained for the better part of the 3 days we were there, so we didn't do either of those things! We did, however, get to drive around the Gatlinburg area, which is a cute tourist town.

The real highlight of this area is The Great Smoky Mountains. Oh my, they are glorious! And the greens are in shades that you just can't describe.

On our first day, we ventured off in the rain for a little drive out to Townsend. I had packed a lunch and the skies cleared long enough for us to enjoy our picnic along this beautiful river.

The next rainy day didn't stop us from another great drive up through Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There was actually something really special about the smell of the fresh rain.
This from the NPS brochure: Simply being inside the magnificent forests can be a multi-sensory experience rich with sights, sounds, smells, and that special skin warmth felt as light rays penetrate the deep shade cast by a forest canopy. Dwarfed by the trees, your sense of scale may even be altered. I couldn't have said it better myself.

The heavy rains had created this very impressive waterfall.

On the west end of the park is Cades Cove, which has an array of historic buildings, dating back to the late 19th and early 20th century. Every year up to 2 million people visit Cades Cove, so it's very slow going making the 11 mile loop around the cove. But it is beautiful and certainly worth the effort.

A view of Cades Cove from above the valley.

This spontaneous creek was flowing across Old Cades Cove road. We were actually stopped in the middle of the water.

Back at the RV Park, we had little visitors that I couldn't resist feeding.

Breathtaking Biltmore!

George Washington Vanderbilt was the 1oth and last child of William Henry Vanderbilt (who was the firstborn son of Cornelius, 'the Commodore'). When The Commodore died in 1877, he left the bulk of his estate to his oldest son, William, who inherited 100 million dollars. Within 10 years, he had almost doubled that amount. When he died in 1885, he left the bulk of his estate to his 2 oldest sons and left 23 year old George, 10 million dollars. (That's about $250 million in today's dollar.)

In 1888, George hired Richard Morris Hunt to design a summer estate. He also hired Frederick Law Olmsted (who designed Central Park)to design the gardens. Work began in 1889 and was completed in time for a Christmas Party in 1895, when George was 33 years old. Talk about an eligible bachelor!

The 4 story house is 175,000 sq. feet (4 acres), with 250 rooms, 65 fireplaces, 43 bathrooms and 34 bedrooms! It has it's own bowling alley, indoor pool and gymnasium. With a staff of 30 -35, the kitchen ran almost around the clock.

The estate was designed after several French estates and was designed to be a working estate.

Biltmore is the largest privately owned house in the United States.

In 1898, George married Edith Stuyvesant Dresser, and in 1900 they had their only child, a daughter Cornelia. George died in 1914, at the ripe young age of 52, from complications of an appendectomy. His daughter was only 13 years old. In 1924, Cornelia married John Francis Amherst Cecil. They opened the home for tours starting in 1930. It is her youngest son, William Amherst Vanderbilt Cecil and his children who own and operate Biltmore today. They are responsible for the amazing restoration work that is going on.

It is not inexpensive to visit Biltmore. My ticket was $45 (through the RV park, $50 at the door) and you must rent the $8 headset which gives you all the background information. You should also plan to spend at least a full day as there is so much to see! (Because I bought my ticket from the RV park, it was actually good for 2 days.)

The grounds are breathtaking. And spring is a great time to see the Azaleas in bloom in the conservatory area.

The view from the balcony.
Most of the trees you see in the foreground were planted when the house was built.

This is my favorite photo.

Visiting the Biltmore was definitely a highlight of this trip. Les had opted to ride his motorcycle that day, and I'm sorry that he didn't get to experience this, but it also gave me the freedom to see it at my leisure. If you ever get the chance, this is a 'must-see'.

Seagrove Pottery

Just south of Asheboro, NC, is the little town of Seagrove. It's a mecca for pottery. I had learned about it from Peggy, so I ventured off by myself on a Sunday afternoon to check it out. The countryside is so beautiful that it took my breath away. Many of the potters work out of their own home studios and open their shops to tourists. Unfortunately, because it was Sunday, they were closed, but there were a couple of cute shops in town that had a great selection. I had a fun time picking up a couple of pieces that caught my eye.

I didn't take any pictures... sorry!

High Point NC

We arrived in High Point during "Market" and the city run RV park was full, however, they offered to let us stay in their 'overflow' spot which just so happened to overlook the lake! We had the best spot in the whole place. We liked it so much, our one night stay turned into 3.

The view out our front window. :-)

For those who don't know, High Point is known for it's furniture and textile manufacturing. The semi-annual market attracts thousands of people into the area. That's the only time that the RV park can be reserved, the rest of the year it is first come-first serve. We were told that some of the local residents will rent their homes out and stay at the campground, making a hefty profit. One man pays his whole years mortgage with those 2 weeks of income!

The Mart

Just northeast of High Point is Furnitureland South, the self-proclaimed "World's Largest Home Furnishings Showplace", and with more that one million square feet of showroom, I believe them! There are 2 buildings, one they call the Mart and one called the Showroom. They even have their own Starbucks and a restaurant. I had heard about this place and knew that this was a destination for me! I would rather shop for furniture than go to a mall any day! Les was nice enough to go along with me, but after about 3 hours, he was very done! We had lunch and left. I knew I hadn't seen it all and would probably never get another chance, so I went back by myself the next day and spent a few more hours, checking out every floor in the showroom. I was on a mission to find a new coctail table for my living room, since I had severly damaged mine with candles 2 Christmases ago.

This may have been a mistake. I found and fell in love with a new bedroom set. And with the current economy, they are very motivated sellers! I only have a few more days to make a decision and get the great bargain on shipping.

Here's a link if you're interested: http://www.bernhardt.com/marthastewartfurniture/group.php?VIEW=all&COL=Skylands&CAT=Bedroom&CATABR=BR

The Showroom

(The two buildings are connected by a skywalk)
My sales rep told me that they have people fly in from all over the world to shop there. They will even book your hotel room and arrange shuttle service for you.

If you're ever in this part of the country (and you like furniture), I highly recommend this as a stop!

Duke Homestead

Washington Duke (1820-1905) was a farmer in the Raleigh/Durham area. During the civil war he was conscripted into the Confederate Army. During his brief military career, Duke was captured by Union forces and imprisoned in Richmond, Virginia. At the end of the war the Federals released and shipped him to New Bern, North Carolina. Lacking money and transportation, the veteran walked back to his homestead--a distance of 135 miles. After he returned he focused on growing bright leaf tobacco, which the Union troops had taken a liking to.

He was married twice, producing 2 children with his first wife, and 3 children with his second. Both wives died young, leaving him to raise his children alone.

The Duke Homestead, built in 1852.

He and his children would process smoking tobacco and label it with hand-lettered tags bearing the name "Pro Bono Publico", latin for "for the public good".

This was the "Third Factory". The original factory was a small building on the side of the house. Son Brodie had established a second factory in town, but Duke chose to continue operations at the homestead. By 1873, the Dukes were producing around 125,000 pounds of smoking tobacco annually.

I especially loved this wagon. Lester's grandfather hand carved a replica of a wagon similar to this that was have in our home.

Although W. Duke, Sons and Company enjoyed a healthy trade in smoking tobacco, the Dukes began to manufacture cigarettes in 1881. The practice of using cigarettes had spread from the European countries to the United States around 1860.

The invention of the Bonsack 'rolling machine' was instrumental in cutting the cost of cigarette manufacturing in half. Up until this time, all cigarettes were rolled by hand.


Duke used his influence to have Trinity College moved to Durham. The institution opened its new campus in 1892 with he and son Benjamin as its principal benefactors. In 1896, Duke gifted the college with $100,000 (about $2,200,000 in 2005 dollars) on the condition that it open its doors to women. Trinity College was renamed in honor of Duke in 1924, becoming Duke University.

Flowers

I have really enjoyed the spring flowers on this trip. At home my azaleas are about the size of a 5 gallon bucket; here they're the size of hedges!



The dogwoods are beautiful and smell great too.