North Carolina

Leaving the Blue Ridge Parkway at Boone

North Carolina

Heading south west about three hours and staying in Fletcher, North Carolina (just outside Asheville, North Carolina).

Before I carry on,  I have to mention, Marc has been beating himself up of late.   Starting in Pennsylvania when he was walking across the grass to me sitting on a bench and stuffed a stick right up under his toenail (wearing flip flops).   

Then, the back axles tires on the trailer wore out and needed to be replaced so off he went to the tire store to pick up a couple.  While heading into the shop, he smacked his head on a steel pipe that went across the stairway.

Next - this;

While unleashing the trailer from the truck (on an incline), the chain release super extended his right arm and he has ruptured his right bicep tendon. Says it does not hurt, after the bruising, he continues on.   No pain, slight loss of strength in a specific motion but otherwise, continues on as usual. He's a lefty so pickleball goes on without a hiccup.
Well he did take 2 days off!!Looks like popeye on the right side though.

Rutledge Lake RV Park, Fletcher

Rutledge Lake/RV Resort

The crested ducks come over hoping someone will feed them

DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE

On a Saturday, October 5th, downtown is a flurry of entertainment and activity.   Asheville is situated between the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains, known for the its, outdoors and terrific cuisine.  (87,000 is the population)

This Mall is a tourist attraction, opened in 1929:  The Grove Arcade is one of the last shopping arcades constructed in the U.S.   It was a grand dream of Edwin Grove, who wanted to create Asheville's Grove Park Inn and who made millions by developing popular remedies for malaria and the common cold.   Originally intended to support a 14 story tower but only the base was built before he died.

Today, it is still home to a fine collection of local commerce and fine arts.

A great band outside the old Woolworth's building.

Inside the Woolworth's Building, the soda stand.

Asheville is a  lively, vibrant city with entertainment and parties at almost every corner

The Lazoom Room Bar and Gorilla

A bar with a different name

and a sense of humor

and they have a working bar on wheels

A pub cycle - where you can fit it all into your day with some exercise and some happy hour all at the same time.

A didgeridoo.   It is estimated that the first didgeridoos played by aboriginal people in northern Australia was 40,000 years ago.   They were made of fallen eucalyptus branches, naturally hollowed out by termites.  Today, they are made of eucalyptus, bamboo and agave.

Southern Fried Chicken is on every menu.   So, we decided to try it out at the very popular Rocky's.








Fried chicken, coleslaw and collard greens. 

The side, although it doesn't look great, was delicious.  Fried green tomatoes with a spicy chili sauce and goat cheese.

WESTFELDT PARK

Minutes from the RV Park is a playground and walking trails for Tazz.   

This park is part of the French Broad River Paddle Trail which connects over 140 miles of the river through paddle in only campsites and access sites.

While playing frisbee , this falconer came beside us to train with his red hawk.

BROAD-HEADED SKINK

Out of a stump crawled two of these little critters.  Tazz heard them rustling and did her herding dog stance, so I waited patiently waiting to see if something showed itself.    She, being my photo buddy, goes a little way past me and sits, quietly watching and waiting for me.  The skinks are extremely skiddish so I was fortunate to snap a photo.

Adults are usually brown in color.   The young are dark brown or black with yellow or bright blue tails.   They are harmless to humans but will pack a powerful bite if provoked.  These are small, probably about six inches from head to tail.

KNOXVILLE

 

Oct 12

We leave North Carolina and head northwest to Knoxville, Tennessee

Downtown Knoxville

Cruz Farm Churned Ice Cream

Historical downtown

We had an invitation to play pickleball at an exclusive Country Club/Tennis Club.   This is a view from the Country Club Resort of the Tennessee River.

Riverside RV Park and Resort

Riverside is between Sevierville and Knoxville on the Little Pigeon River.   Beautiful and quiet.   There are about a dozen rental cabins and 300 campsites.  

We got a site right on the river which you can walk along the entire length and sit, fish,

or, watch wildlife

Painted Turtles

A resident groundhog

The morning mist at sunrise

A farm next door and the animals come beside the RV Park

This cow looks at me as if to say, "boys!?"

The evening sunset glow

I leave it here.   Will be spending a couple of weeks in the area so next posting will be Pigeon Forge, Crime Museum, Seven Islands State Park, Tennessee