Yesterday the weather began as overcast and worked itself into a full downpour by lunch time. We went to Bryson City for lunch and some antiquing. We did a section of the Dragons Tail en route to Bryson City that was crazy curvy! We actually drove through some clouds too.

Today we took the dogs with us up to Highlands. Now that is an even curvier road only two lanes and the way up always has me biting my nails because I can see straight down the side of the mountain, much more comfortable going back down when I am on the mountain side of the road. The ride is only about 9 miles but you have to take most of it at 35 mph, some parts are even 15mph. Once we got up the mountain we did some shopping, I could hardly believe the Stone Lantern is still in business, last time I shopped there my oldest child was two and she just turned 40, they have been in business 53 years I was told.

The air in the Highlands is the sweetest I believe I have ever had the pleasure to breathe, it is crisp and cool and there is a meld of pine and rich earth and moss and a touch of something sweet. It is like tasting fine wine to fill your lungs with its deliciousness. We stopped at the dry falls on our way back down the mountain, last time we were there was on our honeymoon 1975. Climbing down to walk under the falls and back up again wore the dogs plumb out. Their little legs are so short they have to take 4-5 steps to our one.

We love this mountain weather, so cool every night and warms up to low eighties in the late afternoon. Today the sky is clouded in it has drizzled a few times, it is suppose to go down to 48 tonight. Decided to spend a few more days exploring the area and just being here relaxing before heading up the road to see sister Patty and her hubby Jeff. Then Tennessee is in our sights!

Gearing up for the first big retirerment trip

Changing over from pulling a dolly with a Prius on board, to flat towing a CR-V behind the rig. Lots of things to install and wiring to run and learning a whole new system. Hope to be all done and road worthy in two weeks time. Also have to get the front brakes on the RV done before we go. Have begun a deep cleaning the inside and making piles of things to load in. Our friend John at RV Detailing got our rig all cleaned up and shiny,  she was covered in spring pollen when we dropped her off and she looked like new when we picked her up. Thanks for always doing a great job and your attention to detail John.

Just Look at that shine!!

First outing since retirement

We are presently on our first camping trip since retirement on March 31.We enjoyed the cool rainy weather here @ Stone Mountain GA (the flat tire not so much), wish we could send the rain south to our parched drought situation in Tampa.The Carolina mountains are magnificent (as always), the dogwoods are in bloom and the weather is picture perfect. Although I have never lived here I always feel at home here. The canines are now in camping mode and enjoying their daily walks in the woods as am I.

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Gearing up for the BIG retirement trip

We are now officially retired. We are in the middle of switching from a car dolly towing system to flat towing our CR-V behind the rig but have a lot of installing, wiring, and a huge learing curve to figure out before we can head out. We just had the "Weinerbago" cleaned and treated with PolyGlow by John and she looks amazing she was covered in green/yellow pollen haze