Finger Lakes Area

My nephew Ben and Grand nephew Enzo

Niece Sarah carrying Enzo on our hike to Taughannock Falls which falls into Cayuga Lake, Ithaca, NY.

Shenandoah National Park

Finishing 3 wonderful days at Big Meadows Campground filled with hikes ranger talks bike ride and fun and fellowship with cousin Jim and wife Jane from Maryland Park is celebrating its 75th year. The first presidential retreat was built here by Hoover at his expense. We had a great tour of Rapadian led by a ranger. Driving Skyline Drive is driving through a forest. What a treasure only 100 miles from D C.

July 23 with Lester

 Lester McCumbers (center) with Kim and Bill

Planing this trip, I wanted to do something special on July 23, the birthday of my Les(ter) and the 4th anniversary of my decision to buy a small motor home which has led to 4 years of adventure.  Knowing I would be in the "fiddle capital" area Galax Virginia, I googled for music venues.  I found the Blueridge Parkway Music Center, a new facility with a display tracing American Music roots from the 1600's with African, English, and Scot-Irish influences. I was told on the phone that I had a special night with 2 "old time" family fiddler groups, 90 year old Lester McCumbers who has been performing since he was 12.  In addition to the 7 p..m. concert, ticket holders could attend a special 5 p.m. performance where both bands would play and talk about themselves and their music.  All this for $10!  In addition the Galax well known restaurant Smokehouse Barbeque had great barbeque sandwiches with slaw and brownies for dessert with my water totalling $7.  It was a great evening celebrating music heritage and for me, remembering my Les(ter).
If your travels take you near the Blue Ridge Park Way, part of our National Park System, between June and September, check the Music Center out. Frequently area musicians are playing on the porch and you can enjoy the music and scenery from a rocking chair.

Onto the Blue Ridge Parkway

Dulcimer jamming begins even before the camp starts.  Jams continued frequently each day.

 Taken from my chair in the ensemble group

Julian Price Campgroud on Blue Ridge Parkway

Scene near Blowing Rock on Parkway.  "Smokey looking"  This area has a number of horse trails and I saw a number of riders and horse trailers as well as motorcycles and bicycles along the way.

July 22, 2011 Julian Price Campground on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  This area was the former estate of Julian Price.  It is a scenic area near Blowing Rock.  My day ended a bit later than planned but there were many activities packed into it from my 6:30 a.m. alarm.  Today was departure from Western Carolina U where we had creased our finger tips on dulcimer strings as well as added to our musical skills with new songs, new methods of playing, new appreciation of the versatility of the instrument.  Came to know many people who shared the love of the dulcimer and though at various skills levels, were more than willing to give us newbies a hand. Our closing assembly included the performance of the ensemble in which I participated.  The 3 pieces of music were challenging and I admit I had to skip over some of the more difficult parts but I’m told it came out well and may yet appear on U Tube!  Saying goodby  was difficult and of course we were encouraged to return next year as well as participate in a winter workshop in January.

My stop in Asheville to get groceries also included showing off my Roadtrek to a friend of a friend.  It was a coincidence that I received an email this week which asked my permission for someone in Asheville to get in touch re the vehicle.  Little did she know I was just an hour away from Asheville and had already planned a stop there.  It’s always fun to show off the features of the compact little travel van.

I was on the Parkway by 4 and thought it would take less than 2 hours to reach the campground.  Those curves going through the mountain add a lot of time, not to mention the scenic vistas, too good to miss.  The Smokeys were living up to their name with lots of low lying white clouds in the valleys. The temperature was low 70’s high 60’s which I’m sure most of the country would love to experience.  Tonight I’ll sleep with the windows open and the forest fragrance coming it.  Rhododenron bushes are nearby and many still have blossoms. It is a beautiful area.

Dulcimer Week

This is the last full day of classes and I've learned so much. Tonight there will be a community concert by all the instructors. Last night was aconcert by students and some staff followed by cakes made by one of the students in the shape of dulcimers after which we did some clog and reel dancing on the outside terrace. So much talent in this group.

Dulcimer Week

This is Blue Ridge Hall a conference center & dormitory facility recently opened at Western Carolina U. It's about an hour west of Asheville. Mornings are filled with a skills class taught by a fabulous teacher Janita Baker from California an owner of Blue Lion company. There are 7 in our class all eager to learn at 8:30 in am. Afternoons begin with electives. I did chords on Monday & fifties music Tues where we sang as well as played (they didn't use many chords with that music). Then we beginners have an hour of slow tempo jamming. After that is ensemble practice. We will perform Friday. One of the pieces is from Beethovens 5th. Way above my ability level but I'm trying. Evenings are performances by instructors in small intimate settings. The day ends with optional devotions & a jam session til ?? We sleep in dorm rooms & eat inthe college dining hall with students athletes & others here for summer programs. Makes you feel young.

Scenes of Vicksburg, MS from April trip

Up in the Mountains

Back on the road again! After 3 months at home during which I accomplished many delayed tasks of sorting, cleaning, purging, and redoing the tile in a bathroom (a contractor did the work; I just did the choosing and paying) I decided to list the place for sale.  It will go on the market July 20.  Real Estate being what it is and Florida particularly at this time of year, I'm sure not much will happen while I'm gone.  The good news is that I won't be there to tidy up each day and wonder if anyone will come by.  Instead I'm off on a trip that will take me to GA, SC, NC, VA, PA, NY, a bit of Ontario, MI, WI, and IL.  That news kept the credit card folks busy adding all that to my travel plans so hopefully they'll allow me to charge in those places!

 New Tile

After a night at Crooked River State Park in the SE corner of Georgia, I had heavy rains followed by off and on showers on I95 and I 26 while making my way to Hendersonville, NC.  My new tires performed well on the wet pavement.  (Yes I also spent over $2000 on Big Mama with repairs and improvements!) My host is Kay Beckett and we've been on the go with bluegrass and barbeque, her Gold Wings Motorcycle Club meeting, a visit to my uncle in Asheville, and a fantastic local theatre production of "Driving Miss Daisy".  Today I'll head off up the mountain to Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC where I'll be taking Mountain Dulcimer classes the rest of the week and living life in a dormitory. (Link is on this post.) Google is giving me an option of making the blog more "Mobile devices friendly".  Not sure I'm ready for that but love feedback from those of you who follow along.