Road Trip Along the Blue Ridge Parkway

After our last airplane/train/city adventure in Chicago, we decided it was time to take the edge off the summer heat with a mountain hiking trip. We also wanted to do a “big” trip to celebrate our 20th anniversary, but without the hassle of plane travel. Thus was born the idea of a leisurely road trip … Read more

Food, Friends, and Festivities in Winston-Salem

When we planned our two-month summer sojourn in North Carolina, one of the main objectives of the Winston-Salem leg was to get our fill of urban amenities that are lacking in our very beautiful but very rural home community. I think I can say without reservation that we achieved that goal. After suffering through my … Read more

Overcoming Smoke and Rain in Western North Carolina

This was a good week to be somewhat more modest in our hiking and sightseeing ambitions, since a north wind brought a lot of Canadian wildfire smoke to the area followed by several days of rain. Not only did we get hit with air quality advisories, but the airborne particles pretty much destroyed the nice … Read more

Week Two in Western North Carolina

We learned from years of full-time travel that whenever we hit a new location, we need to plan our most important visits at the front end of the planned stay. Weather, mechanical problems, distractions of various sorts, and sheer laziness can all prevent us from getting to some planned destinations if we wait too long … Read more