Mr. Bichler: Friday, October 12

Breakfast Stop! Biscuits and Gravy

Giant Chopper, photos by donation

Happy Birthday Luke!! It is hard to believe that Luke is 5 years old today! He was not very happy that I had to come to a wedding when he was having his birthday party. (even though we had a party when I was out a week ago and this party is for his school friends) He did get his package that I sent so he called, said thank you and didn't seem to remember that he had needed me to be at his party.
I slept so good last night and didn't wake until almost 7:30. I had planned to build a fire and fix breakfast after I took a short walk, but breakfast and the walk went out the window when it looked like rain. I packed the tent amid a few mountain sprinkles and decided to have breakfast down the road a bit. Huey, the dog, came to visit while I was picking up camp, we said our good byes and I was on the road again. I had never been in this part of North Carolina before so it was quite a treat to drive through the Nantahala Gorge this morning. I knew I was not going to make very good time after my third stop to snap photos of the river rapids and the beautiful autumn leaves. I stopped for breakfast at the Nantahala Adventure Outfitters where there was a restaurant sitting practically right on the river. While I ate, I watched as excited people of all ages, waited to be fitted with life vests and loaded on the shuttle buses for their rafting adventure. I had decided that I would take my time today and stop at anything that seemed interesting. That included 3 stops to see the river, one stop to take a picture of a motor cycle, a chopper with a skull on top, for Luke, and a stop at Vogle State Park to take a hike. The chopper was at a Harley shop and the sign by the bike said "Photos taken must donate to breast cancer awareness". This was funny only because, when I entered the store and asked about making my donation, he pointed to a manikin and said to put the money in her boobs. They had made slots in the manikin's breasts to collect the money. Of course, I didn't have my camera to take a picture of that and would have felt I had to give an extra donation if I did! My hiking adventure took on a life of it's own as well. I had to pay a $5 parking fee and instead of the 1 mile hike that I had originally decided on, I opted at the last minute for the green trail, Bear Hair Trail, that was a 3 mile loop. What I didn't know was that it was 1 mile to the trail head! So I walked a very strenuous 4.2 miles up and over Blood Mountain. It was beautiful, each and every of the many times I stopped to catch my breath. No need for bear bells, as my breathing could be heard for over a mile, I am quite sure! The hike put me about an hour and a half behind my estimated time of arrival but about 40 minutes after I collapsed into my car, I arrived at the cabin where we are staying during the wedding. The rehearsal dinner was at the club house at a nearby golf course country club. The meal was fabulous and it was nice to see all of Amy's new extended family members and their friends. Back at the cabin and 3 advil later, I fall into bed!