MARCH 29, 2014 ASHVILLE, N. C. BLUERIDGE PARKWAY/MOUNTAINS

Rained all night and continues to mist this morning.  Heavy fog out there.  We braved it and headed for the Blue Ridge Mountains!!  Stopped at a visitor center and saw a movie on the BLUERIDGE PARKWAY and so we drove the parkway as far as we could until the highest portion of road was closed due to safety.

Stopped at Juke Box Juntion for ice cream.......dessert first!!!

This French Broad River is supposedly the 2nd oldest river in the world next to the Nile.

Unfortunately, most of the drive was very foggy and unable to see any views from the turnouts!!!  Some of the Parkway, in higher elevations, was gated off due to icing and fog.

Roadside water fall.  

We went into Cherokee and Hendersonville, as well as Maggie Valley.Most there wasn;t open yet.  However, we did see PETERS PANCAKES AND WAFFLES!!!

MARCH 28, 2014 ASHVILLE, N. C.

Friday, March 28 is a travel day from rally to Ashville, N. C.   Ran thru a little rain.   The Avellas met us about 15 mins. behind us at Bear Creek Campground and treated us to dinner at their coach, Italian, YUMMO!!  Then we did some planning for sightseeing the next day.   Campground is tiered and we are at the top looking down.

MARCH 25 CHARLOTTE N.C.

I so enjoyed going to the Billy Graham Library.

The Barn is where all the history takes place with wonderful displays.

Burial site for Ruth and Billy, when his time comes. 

The house Billy grew up in.  Taken apart piece by piece and reconstructed on this site.

MARCH 23-26 PASSPORT AMERICA CHARLOTTE, N.C.

Smaller, very laid back rally, our first Passport America.  Enjoyable and not so rush, rush.  Seminars, mostly 9:30 and 11:30 on trips, planning and coach issues.  Meeting new friends, ice cream socials and I mean ICE CREAM SOCIALS!!!!!! Entertaninment, some better than others.  It has been cold.  Seminars held at Tom Johnson RV dealership inside conference rooms and meals and entertainment held in the pavilion which is open.

 Crafts and such Thursday afternoon.  I sold one, that's one scarf.   Most ladies already crochet.

YUM!!!!!!

I won 2nd place for my Butter Pecan cake in baking contest!!

Fun music the last night.  Ran short as a woman line dancing fell and cracked her head and EMS was called.

Doggie contest!!! Sadie and Sophie won HONERABLE MENTION!!!!!

Possible new friends for Renegades.  Jack and Cindy Allensworth from Texarkana!!!!!

Sunday March 23, 2014 PASSPORT AMERICA CHARLOTTE, N. C.

Today is a travel day.  Headed to the PASSPORT AMERICA rally in Charlotte, N. C.  The day started out as a misty one, then light rain.  Rather than taking the back, two-lane roads, we opted for the freeway due to rain.
Arrived at ther Charlotte Motor Speedway, as we were told we would camp on the infield..  No signs, no cars, no motorhomes or campers!! Strange!!!!   I contacted the speedway office and were told the rally is down the road about a block.  Aha!!  Signs, volunteers, motorhomes!!!  There is more than 1 speedway and we were at the DragMax/RV Dealership.  We picked a spot and registered.
Quiet afternoon and evening relaxing in our coach.

March 22, 2014 Saturday Mountain City, Ga.

Had a fun day of adventures with the Avellas.  Visited FOXFIRE in Clayton, Ga. Foxfire is the series of books depicting life in the early days.  This community was developed by students researching the early days in Appalachia.  Students built or reassembled the old structures in this little community set up for display.   Made the rounds to all the old rebuilt houses.  Phyllis and I watched Sharon weave on the loom and of course we had to buy a chenille jacket made by her.

We held a little service for Phyllis in the old church.............but........ she made a miraculous recovery!!!

Then, on to South Carolina, which was only about 1/2 hour away.

 The Stumphouse Tunnel was dug by hand in the 1800's as a railway link.  Never finished, as funds ran out and the granite was just too tough to get thru.

 The day ended at Tiger Mountain Winery for a tasting.  Then on to our coach where we shared stew and cornbread and a campfire!!