Furry Kids and New Friends

We began our second session as seasoned volunteers because our new team contained three new couples who completed their training as the first session ended. We became teachers and mentors to the “newbies” who tried every day to remember what they should have learned during their training. They’ve all done great and we are enjoying making new friends.

The evenings remain essentially the same as the first session…people usually meet at someone’s site for happy hour bringing a beverage, sometimes a snack, and a chair. Everyone is welcome – no invitation needed.  We always include our “furry kids” and they’ve gotten so used to the daily event that they sit at their respective doors and whine if we are a little late in going out.  I think they enjoy the canine camaraderie as much as we enjoy the human version!

Jim moved our TV outside so we could watch the opening ceremony for the XXX Summer Olympics. It started as a happy hour and moved into watching TV. We had our own version of the Olympic rings.  What a hoot!  People began to leave around 10pm. We went inside but gave up around 11pm, so we set the DVR and went to bed since we had to work the next day.

On our next three days off we needed some adventure in addition to the usual laundry and shopping, so we took a road trip. We headed east on the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP). Everyone should plan to drive part of this road. This road runs along the upper ridge of the Appalachians Mountains and there is a fantastic panoramic view around every curve. We made a stop at the BRP Visitors Center to learn a bit of history about BRP. We headed east again and turned into the Folk Art Center. This facility has a long history of show casing local people and their talents. It is filled with handmade objects made by local people who are artists. Every piece is fantastic.

We continued driving east along the Parkway with short stops at overlooks to marvel at the incredible views. Lydia said it reminded her of what a bird must see while soaring over the mountains. Our final destination was Mt. Mitchell.  At 6684 feet it is the highest peak in North Carolina and east of the Mississippi River. We hiked a short distance to the top and enjoyed the 360 degree view.

On the way back to the parking lot, Lydia discovered the start of the Balsam Nature Trail. This hike through a Southern spruce-fir forest is a quick history lesson of the life of trees at high altitudes. During the winter the trees experience lots of snow, wind and cold; most days are below freezing. The summer brings abundant moisture in the form of rain and fog.

Unfortunately, the fog also brings bad news in terms of toxic acidic precipitation that attack the trees. Due to this and the effects of the Balsam woolly adelgid the gray-white skeletons of dead Fraser firs are all too visible on the mountains. The area is still beautiful and the variety of plants is incredible.

One highlight of this month occurred when Jim finally got the outside gas grill hooked up to the trailer propane; the happy end of a 5 month project.  Now we can get rid of the extra propane tank we carried.  Lessening the load is always an important part of this lifestyle. 

July gave way to August and everyone continues to spend more time inside watching the Olympics. One note is August 1 was our 8th month anniversary of being full timers. We celebrated by buying a small refrigerator which we will keep outside when we are parked. (Oh, well – we got rid of the extra propane tank didn’t we?) We started out using an ice chest as Jim’s beer storage and fridge overflow, but a bag of ice twice a week was not working. Of course, we had a special happy hour to celebrate that – any excuse for a party!

Lydia is having a wonderful time raiding the woods for flowers and foliage to make arrangements. We have “fresh flowers” all the time these days on the Party Patio! She’s expanded her knowledge of flora and plans to do a blog with pictures of some of the things she’s seen while at the Cradle. 

‘til next time…