2012-05-10 Elk Knob Hike

We had a couple days of off and on rain so when we knew today was going to be beautiful we decided to hike Elk Knob.  The woman at the visitors center at Linville Falls had suggested it so we thought it would be a good way to end our time here.  I knew it was almost 2 miles up, and not knowing how steep it is always scares me a little.  The temps were in the 50's with a stiff breeze. A very pretty day to hike.

The trail is recently been competed and looks like this for much of the way.  Luckily the trail is switchbacks so although its a climb it's do-able.

It did get pretty steep in a few places...  But what a great job they did with this trail.

Lots of nice little resting places built in to the trail 

We stopped so we could create some rock-art along the way to beautify the trail

and to let people know we were there!

Our joint creation!

This tree was growing on a rock.  The root grew the whole length of the rock til it found ground!

At the one mile mark you get a little sneak peek view, an incentive to keep going.

Flowers growing all along the trail.  Molly knew them all too!

We made it!

Some views from the top

Molly likes to see things from a different perspective!

3 tries to get a group shot!

Again, I thank God to be able to see His creations.

 

2012-05-08 Rainy Day

Tuesday-Today was rainy on and off.  Good day to do our laundry.  We hung around the hotel for the morning and just when we were getting ready to leave to go shopping the sun seemed to be trying to break through the clouds.  We wanted to check out the KOA in Boone first.  The road there was narrow, steep with many u-turns and it's far.  As we were trying to get there I was thinking that there is NO WAY that I would ever camp there.  I'm sure it's beautiful...most places around here are, but the travel there would be difficult, if not dangerous.  I could only hope that there's another easier way to get there than the way the GPS directed us.  But I'm glad we now know...if Molly's still here next year and we have our RV, I know to not book that place.  Beautiful views though!

We hadn't bought Molly anything for her birthday so we headed to TJMaxx.  She shopped her heart out and got many beautiful things.  I got a bathing suit...our hotel has a nice hot tub that I may need with these hikes!  We had lunch at Panera while we had another downpour, but by the time we were done it was alright again. 

We headed to downtown so Molly could find out where to vote, parked the car and another downpour!  It was raining so hard that after Molly found out where she needed to go we nixed the wandering around the shops to get in the car and take her to Cove Creek so she could vote.  They have a nice little community center.  While she did her civic duty we checked out all it had to offer.  The building houses the library as well.  They have a room with many looms and different arts and crafts.  They have computers, a community room, kitchen... really cute little place. There must be an after school program as well.  A lot packed into that little building.

After a brief break from the rain it started to pour again so we nixed the shopping again til tomorrow and headed back to the hotel to wait for Brian and to check out places to eat dinner.  Of course once we got back the rain stopped for a while and the sun came out.  That's the kind of day it was.  At least it was warm.

Once Brian got out of work and showered we decided on a nice Italian Restaurant...Joe's Jazzy Rest.  It was really good and pretty reasonable.  Brian left with many leftovers for lunch tomorrow and he tried his first canoli...yummm.

Although the rain changed our plans, we had another nice day in North Carolina.

2012-05-07 Linville Falls, NC

Almost Heaven...Blue Ridge Mountains...as John Denver discovered.  He was so inspired by his surroundings he created a song.  Wish I could write, I can't but I can try to capture it in photos and maybe in words as well.  Yesterday I had that "How great thou art" feeling again.  God is just the best artist ever!!!  We headed to Linville Falls yesterday for a not too difficult hike.  We ended up hiking for about 4 hours, much of it was what I consider moderate, but we did have some more difficult climbs.  So glad I have gotten into better shape...I wouldn't have wanted to miss one second of this beautiful place.

It began with a nice walk down.

The first place to view was filled with people as it's not too difficult to get to. 

The sound here was so nice.

The falls flowed down here...  That's Molly taking it all in.

Down it goes...

And disapears...  On to the next viewing place...and the climb begins! 

But not before a very nice photographer took our picture.

After climbing to the next level we were rewarded with our next view. 

Lots of nice people hiking.  We took their picture and they took ours.

This is where it disappeared to.  And on it's way down the gorge.

Up some more...

Lots of photo opportunities for Molly.  Nice break for mom:-)

After you get to the top you have to climb to this platform on the top of this rock.

To get this view....this is zoomed in a bit.

The un-zoomed view.  You can see how high we are!  What a rush.

After some up, up, up (more difficult part) and down, down, down...the reward!!!

This is actually on the other side of the last 2 views.

Zoomed a bit.  The sound here was amazing!!

Two of my favorite people.  We were wishing Jake could be here with us.

Then the up, up, up to get back.  This was the steepest part, and thank God it had stairs!

This park is beautiful and the trails are in great shape.  I would definately come back to this great place.

We were very tired after this great day, but it was worth it.  Thanks to our tour guide, Molly:-)
This was on one of the trails...so vey true, I couldn't have said it better.

2012-05-06 Brian's parents visit

The sun was shining bright this morning so we went for a walk, and headed to the main street in Boone.  From our hotel it's a straight shot! 

I have never seen so many churches.  This one is especially pretty.  It's all stone..awesome!

The downtown is intertwined with the ASU campus.  We came upon this cool creature.

Although driving around Boone is a bit too hilly for me...I wish we had the time to explore all the nooks and crannies of this funky little town.

We headed to Molly & Brian's cabin to meet Anne & Joe.  Sadly :-( although I had my camera,  never took it out.  We enjoyed our time with them so much that I forgot to take pictures.  I'm so upset!!!

We know why Brian is the way he is...he had great models to teach him.  If everyone from the south is like this, maybe I want to live here too! 

We had a great time...and lots of laughs too...

We had gone to the market to get some things for lunch, Molly had put the meat in the creek by their house to keep it cold and their neighbors dog ate it!  2 lbs of hamburg!!!  Luckily he doesn't like brats!  No problem though, we had lots of munchies, and Brian made an awesome dip so we were well feed! 

Hope the dog doesn't get sick!

Another great day with our girl and her beau.  Thanks guys.

2012-05-05 Happy Birthday Molly!

We stopped last night about 9 p.m. wishing to continue, but knowing we couldn't make it.  We stopped about an hour north of Roanoke at a Days Inn.  We woke early, although tired, but excited to get up, get moving and see our baby girl.  After a quick complementary breakfast we got on the road at 8:30.  We predicted we'd get there about 12:30 and we were right!  We got really excited when we actually saw what looked like the mountains around Boone!!!  We quickly got our second wind.

We got to our hotel and Molly and Brian came within minutes.  Oh what a feeling to hug my girl and see her face.  What a ray of sunshine....on  cloudy day...my girl!

We needed to stretch our legs and get some exercise so we headed to ASU for a guided tour by our own alumni, Brian.  What a beautiful campus and it's huge.  It's pretty much all of downtown Boone

Library entrance looking up.  Pretty dramatic.

Can't say that we saw many kids who were overweight!  I wonder why? 

This campus has the most hills I've ever seen at a college, but the reward,

besides a healthy heart and body are the views!

Of course we had to find the football field! ASU has one of the best football teams in the country.

They're so good they need to make this huge facility even bigger.  Here's the vision.

Brian said that when the team has a game, people are bused in.  There's just not enough room in Boone to park the large volumns of people who attend.  Someday we'll be here in the fall and you can bet we'll have tickets!!!

Found this little kitty near the library.  I miss my fur babies!! 

Thanks for the tour Brian! 

What a beautiful school ASU has here in Boone.

We had a great day.  It's wonderful to be with our girl.  This was a much needed vacation for both of us and to be with Molly is also much needed.  It's going to be a great week.

On the road to my baby!

We have been waiting for this day for quite some time now...We're headed to North Carolina and Molly!  When we left this morning the weather was dark and dreary, but as we headed west it was looking up and when we turned south we were in the sunshine.  We seemed to be just ahead of the storms.  We did get sprinkled on a few times but it was brief.

It was a nice ride and we were moving along well....then in PA...

it took us about an hour to get 2 miles!  Regardless, we have no complaints.  The weather is good and we're headed to see our baby girl!

We stopped  a little after 9 p.m.  We think we're about an hour north of Roanoke which puts us a little over 4 hours from Molly....hopefully.   It got up to about 87 degrees.  Nice.   With help from upstairs hopefully the week will be filled with nice days.

Onward!

ps.  today our furbabies turned 2!!