Exploring

We drove over to West Jefferson, NC yesterday, about 4 1/2 hours away, to be closer to the race site and have a chance to check out the area while we were here. As we drove across the state, the land got significantly hillier and more rural once past Raleigh-Durham/Greensboro/Winston-Salem. West Jefferson itself is a lovely, rather large and vibrant downtown - we were all pleasantly surprised. We meandered down the main street in the late afternoon, stopping in at several shops and enjoyed a nice dinner at the Boondocks Brewing.

Historic Downtown Jefferson

Had to check out the big cows on the side street

Ashe County Cheese Co.

Enjoying a few local beers at the Boondocks Brewery/Restaurant

It was overcast but not raining when we woke up this morning, so after breakfast, we headed over to Grayson Highlands. The drive was a little less than an hour along windy roads through valleys and along bubbling streams lined with rhododendrons. It was also clear from some of the farms and houses we passed that this could be a rough place to make a living.

We would up through the hills, finally arriving at the Grayson Highlands State Park Visitors Center, which lies just below 5,000 feet. We were in the clouds but it wasn't raining. We stopped in to look around and found out that we were the first visitors of 2016! After some wandering, we headed back down the road a short ways to Massie Gap, where we hiked out on the Rhododendron Trail up to the junction with the AT.

Oh man, does this bring back memories! Such an incredibly gorgeous area, with wide sweeping vistas, open grasslands, jumbles of rhododendron and mountain laurel, rocky outcroppings and best of all, ponies! It worked out perfectly - we saw ponies, had the trails to ourselves and only got sprinkled on at the very end of the hike. So thankful to be back exploring this area even if briefly, and to share it with Sam and my parents!

Grayson Highlands State Park

Rhododendron Trail vista

Along the trail

Headed out on the trail

Ponies!

Another pony!

Hi pony!

Completely unconcerned with us ;)

Out hiking

AT junction

Sam and the AT

AT northbound

Bluets

AT trail

Oh hi there

Happy hikers

Along the trail

On the AT

Mom, Dad and the ponies

I'm certain it's going to be nice and hilly during the race tomorrow but it is sure to be a beautiful ride!

First Tooth Lost!

All of Sam's classmates lost their first teeth long ago. Finally, a few months back our dental hygenist noted that one of Sam's teeth was getting loose and we've been monitoring it ever since. And today, after only the slightly tug from Ryan, that tooth finally came out! First tooth lost ;) Sam is, needless to say, very happy ;)

Note to the tooth fairy ;)

First tooth gone!

Aside from that excitement, Ryan and I got out for a 4 mile run around the berm this morning. It was warm but breezy, with lots of turtles seen in the ponds along the way. Sam spent the day helping my mom in the garden and doing another of her favorite activities - cleaning and organizing the shells found at the beach yesterday.

Helping Neenie pot some new plants

Dirty gloves = good gardening

Getting her shell cleaning station set up

Sam and her shells

Pretty pinks and purples

Organizing

Shell collection

The yard is filling up with blooming flowers and the birds have been singing like crazy. There was another tree frog sighting too - apparently one of his favorite hiding spots is in the watering can - and later, we heard him croaking/singing from up in the gutter on the edge of the screened in porch. Neat!

Iris in bloom

Another tree frog seen

Vacation

Yesterday afternoon while Mom was out running a few errands and Sam was with Dad and Ryan playing golf and I had finished doing payroll for work and I had finished my book, I was sitting around thinking I am really bad at relaxing ;) So I got up and emptied the dishwasher and vacuumed the house. Ha! Now you can see why our vacation days are typically packed to the brim. I am just no good at sitting around ;)

Sam had a great time out on the course, and was the official scorekeeper for all 18 holes :)

Headed out to play!

At the 7th hole 

Getting ready to putt

Putting on hole #7

Scorekeeping is very serious business ;)

Putting practice

Pink shoes, pink shorts, pinkish red hat, pink ball ;)

Filling in the divets :)

No running yesterday, it being a taper week and all, so this morning I was more than ready to get out! I got up and out early along the same 4.5 mile route that Ryan and I did on Sunday, running it in the opposite direction. Warmer today with no wind. Then it was home to get ready for the beach! With temps predicted in the 80s, we figured it was the perfect day for it. Apparently, a lot of others did too, as the parking lots and beach were pretty full! We spent about 3 hours enjoying the sun, sand and water, although I'd call the water pretty darn cold, and was more than happy to just wander up and down the beach looking for shells ;) 

Yes, we are pale ;) but we did at least get out from under the umbrellas for a little bit!

Sam with Neenie and Pip

What? It's not cold!

Digging...

Little digger

Laughing gull

While Ryan and Sam were in the water, I wandered up and down the beach a few times, beach combing. So many shells, so little time...

Into the waves!

Post-beach stop at Boombalatti's. Yum!

Followed up by dinner at Flaming Amy's :)

My pretty girl ;)