The Mountain Cabin with its new metal roof
I am back in hot, hot Gainesville after a 2+ week break in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina! As usually I stayed at the old family cabin just outside of Asheville. I had a wonderful time & a chance to visit with all my parents, sisters, brother’s in laws & every niece & nephew except Maggie (we missed you this year!). My doggies (Hezzie & Heidi) & Mary’s newer family dog, Scout also were there! I had a chance to visit with friends & biked or hiked 13 of the 15 days I was there. As always my loving parents were there providing much support for our whole family in our gatherings and adventures! We shared many meals. I was able to take my sisters, all 4 nephews, niece Liza & the dogs on some of my favorite hikes! I was happy to eat/collect tasty berries & harvested many edible mushrooms.
I went on some really good bike rides (including an Epic 37 mile ride at bent creek, about 6000-8000 foot total elevation climb). I got to go to Camp High Rocks to pick up Joe & Everett after their 4 week stay. My friend Val who was living in Asheville for the last 3 years, moved out of her apartment while I was there & stayed at the cabin for a week prior to moving home to Cocoa Beach. It was really nice to share time with her & reconnect! Also got to visit with P. Wallace, Shaka Paul & Mez. We had a touching ceremony for Cathy’s family dog Eli (aka Endo) who died suddenly this spring. He adapted our family by finding us at the cabin 9 summers ago & we returned his ashes to the mountain.
I am so lucky to have such a wonderful loving family & feel so grateful for the time we can share together! I could go on talking about the meaningful times we shared, but will conclude for now by sharing some photos:
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- The Mountain Cabin with its new metal roof
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- Mary & Cathy on top of Cedar Rock
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- Cathy checking out the cliff on Lane Pinnacle
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- Mary & Scout on Lane Pinnacle
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- Harry on top of Potato Knob
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- Me & Heidi on top of Potato Knob
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- Joe & Everett with their Counselor at High Rocks
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- Muddy Bike after 37 mile ride at Bent Creek
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- Liza takes a water break on Slate Rock hike
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- Nephews (Jackson, Joe & Everett) on Slate Rock
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- Hezzie & me on Slate Rock
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- Hezzie chillin’ in the shade on top of Slate Rock
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- The front runners make it back to the bottom of Slate Rock
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- Sweet mountain blueberries!
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- Hezzie & Heidi with Potato Knob in background
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- Doggies & me on top of Potato Knob
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- A few berries even made it back to the cabin to share!
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- Some of the Wild Edible Mushrooms I collected
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- Sunset from the Cabin Porch
Tom,
Great shots of a place I will always think of fondly. I could use a day out lost in the berries and rattlesnakes. Things are going great here.
Ben
I read your NC blog, surprise. Got some ideas for maybe using a blog for my online course so I figured I better try it. Dude, the cabin looks great, but a bit naked w/o the big tulip poplar. New roof sure shines. Man, you scored some forest edibles for sure–nice berries and oysters. Okay, I wrote in a blog so that’s it for now.
I come up again on the 17th for a symposium on the 18th. Maybe we can ride one of those days–the defib awaits me. Got a shirt to bring from the Great Divide brewery. I believe, do you?
BTW: Edit what you write better. The NC entry needs some polishing.
See you soon my friend.