Friends - 2

 Harpers Ferry has been a frequent stop on our travels when we moved north and/or south on the east coast.      The National Historical Park is interesting ("John Brown's body lies a moldering in his grave"), as is the confluence of the mighty rivers - Potomac and Shenandoah.    There are numerous historic sights and beautiful old small towns.     We've explored and experienced this area numerous times, but this visit was purely to enjoy a Familiar Favorite, an old Friend (s) and good Food.     The drive up from North Carolina was pretty, albeit smoky - not something we've ever experienced here.

is that Beluga passing us?

We settled in at the Harper's Ferry KOA, a place we've stayed at many times before.    This time we had a newly created spot in the woods, just above a civil war trench in the woods.

The sites were pretty and private, but......so uneven.    We found ourselves staggering about in the dark when we got up in the middle of the night to........well, you know.    Our ankles were scraped by the door slamming closed when we let it go and I fully expected to find Dave upside down in the bedroom closet when I got up in the morning.......   We were only there for two nights and the body does acclimate eventually, so it was all fine in the end.

We met my old friend Mary and her cool husband Dave at Alma Bea in nearby, historic Shepherdstown.  Mary and I have been friends since we were in our early teens, we lived through the back field from each other and both rode rangy, grade Palomino horses - four blond pony tails among us.....

She was in my wedding, I was in hers.....

Back to the present - we had a lovely meal at Alma Bea, an old railroad warehouse beautifully redone to house a modern restaurant specializing in "Appalachian flavors, tapas style"....Intriguing!

one of Dave's choices - deviled eggs!

Mary chose Mussels

The next day Dave and I stayed inside, it was so very smoky outside we could barely see the next site.    I concentrated on laundry, bills and a blog to pass the day before meeting Dave and Mary, again in beautiful Shepherdstown, at one of  our favorite restaurants - the Press Room.

More wonderful food and conversation.    Is this becoming a pattern?

Dave (my Dave) loved his Seafood Stew

After another 3 hour meal we said our goodbyes and went our separate ways.    Dave and I walked around the little town before heading home.    As we walked in front of the old courthouse we heard someone playing a familiar tune on a harmonica, Camp Town Races I think....and then a few doors down we saw a man sitting on a bench playing accompaniment on an accordion!   

oh Dave

The Potomac River runs along behind the historic district and you know we had to make our way down to it!

little streams cascading down to the river

what do you suppose this was?

We left Harpers Ferry this morning and drove the very familiar route 15 north beside the picturesque Susquehanna River to this night's stop at Ives Run COE campground in Tioga, Pennsylvania.     The smoke abated somewhat, but was joined by drizzle and rain to make for a gloomy day.

We thought we were all settled into a nice, grassy and private site at the COE park in Tioga, but the high voltage electric kept tripping our surge protector.   Not a situation we can live with.    We prevailed upon the Ranger to find us another spot.   

large Tulip Poplar tree behind our site

 Pack things back up, unhook, drive around the loop to site # 8, (good electric service) hook up again, slides out, etc. etc., wine served and enjoyed, supper eaten and we're now happy for the night.    Tomorrow we'll drive the 90 or so miles into New York and  our old driveway at the lake!    See you there.

a gloved Tulip thief at my door.....

Friends!

 This post begins the "Friends" part of our trip.     We enjoyed 5 days of friendship and fun with Laurel and Eric in and around their new hometown of Flat Rock, North Carolina.       We stayed at a familiar favorite campground, Lakewood RV Resort, which turned out to be pretty much next door to their tiny home community.     If I wasn't tick phobic and owned a machete, we could have bushwhacked right into their backyard!     

We arrived on Dave's birthday, and Eric made a delicious meal in the tiny kitchen of  the tiny home they're renting at the Simple Life community.     We took our plates out to the lovely screened in porch to enjoy Chicken Cacciatore, polenta, asparagus, a nice Zin, and good conversation.

Sweet Magnolia was shyly attentive, always quietly in the same room we were, but not really participating in our conversation.

After dinner we walked through the development and across the street into The Hamlet, to see their own tiny house in it's early stages.

The house came already mostly built and was set on their lot.  We could only peer in the windows.... Now workers are busy doing all the finish work.    A second bedroom was being framed in and soon all the carefully curated upgrades will be applied to the inside.   

 We look forward to watching the progress Laurel - hint hint. 

We were busy in Flat Rock.     So many things to do, so little time.      We spent pleasant hours walking through the North Carolina Arboretum, Bullington Botanical Gardens and it's magical Fairy Trail, strolling through the nearby little town of Hendersonville,  touring Carl Sandburg's home, an antique airplane museum, sharing good food each day at some of their favorites and some new places,  and ending our trip at the fantastic Marked Tree winery.     We were busy but had such a good time.   We'll miss it.   

we arrived in time for a huge plant sale

one of many beautiful bonsai

oh Dave

beauty in green

oh Dave

the boys explore the fairy doors

peek a boo

fairy balcony

We passed several fairies on the trail.   Legend has it that  when a fairy encounters a human stranger they will "freeze" and not move a muscle or wing......    

Some fairies, perhaps younger ones, couldn't stay frozen for very long.....

Oh Dave, Oh Eric....

love that smile

Are you tired of pictures yet?    I told you we were busy.    Just a few more........

Eric learns to fly a helicopter

Laurel wonders what are those things "sticking up"

two of the Sandburg Home's famous dairy goats

"if I don't look at the goat, it's not there"

dinner at the Purple Onion

they wait and wonder where we've gone.....

Marked Tree winery grounds

in one of the tasting rooms

no, we're not observing covid spacing rules.....

We said our farewells on Monday afternoon and continued our travels on Tuesday morning.   It was a wonderful few days indeed.     Thanks guys.....

We're now in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia.     I'll show you a few more "friends and food" pictures in another short blog tomorrow -  you've been patient enough through all those pictures! 

Freightliner

 We're still in Flat Rock, North Carolina, playing with good friends, Eric and Laurel.   We've stayed at this RV park before and it turns out we're just "through the field" from the tiny house they're renting at Simple Life.....sweet.

So, my last post left off as we were approaching Freightliner Service center in Gaffney, South Carolina.   Beluga had a appointment for a complete physical and we wanted to arrive at their "rv park" (think gravel sites with electric hook ups behind the service center) in time to score a site for a few nights.  

  

Only about half the spaces were taken so we were able to back Beluga into a really great end spot with a bird filled woods right out our doorstep.    Our service person, Brandon, checked with us to make sure his service order was correct and left saying he'd see us bright an early the next morning.....like 7 a.m. the next morning. 

  He arrived right on time and we waved to Beluga as Brandon carefully pulled her into Bay 1.    We had an appointment to tour the Freightliner Chassis assembly plant a bit later in the morning so we sought out tiny Sunny's Donuts for a little nourishment until the tour was over.

There were only three of us on the 10 a.m. tour.  It was really up close and personal, pretty intense for a factory tour.   No catwalks or safety videos.     We did have to wear safety glasses and reflective vests, but otherwise, we mingled with the workers as they worked..... Evidently the vests let the tug drivers know we are not employees and they should not run us over as they raced by us, pulling long trains of loaded metal wagons.      The noise was deafening, but our guide, Rodney, just kept on talking.  

There were three lines in the factory, one assembling School Bus chassis, one concentrating on RV chassis and one working on smaller trucks such as UPS vehicles.    Machinery was hanging from above, air hoses dangling, tugs bringing in huge yellow school bus front end assemblies and jockeying them into place, honking their horns as they approached our yellow vests (to see us jump out of the way?),  people digging through enormous bins of bolts and lock nuts and washers, sparks flying from workers spot welding ground lugs, racks of big tires and wheels moving from one line to another, deafening crashes and bangs as workers positioned long steel frame rails onto fixtures and then hammered and bolted cross members into place with pneumatic tools, bells or buzzers sounding to signify something.....    Phew.     I wasn't listening to Rodney at all, I was just looking and watching and attempting to stay somewhat near the faded yellow line we were told to try and walk on, and avoid the occasional oil/wet spots.....  It was fascinating to just try and absorb what was happening at each station, to watch each person do their individual job along the way, to feel the living being that is an assembly line.  

dangling engine

 After I'd taken these two pictures, Rodney informed me that I wasn't supposed to be taking pictures.  Ok then.  

After the tour was over we drove along "scenic" SC 11 to check out part of our route from Gaffney to Flat Rock the next day.      We stopped at Cowpens National Battlefield and enjoyed a leafy green respite to the frenetic factory tour.    We had a surprisingly good lunch at a huge tourist trap along the way.....Strawberry Hill USA (and a tiny little scoop of their homemade ice cream just because it wouldn't have been polite not to.....)       Brandon called to tell us that Beluga was finished and back in her site, waiting for us so we headed back.       All went well, and if we wanted to sell her he had several people interested! 

The next day we drove the 60 or so miles into North Carolina and settled into Lakewood RV Park in Flat Rock.    It was Dave's  birthday and Eric made us a delicious dinner at their tiny rental cottage.  More on that later!