The morning started out with the kiddos getting up quite early around 6'ish. We had some quality time with them while Bob and Jill slept in. I put a skillet of bacon on the outside grille to brown up while Nancy put together some superb buckwheat cakes with banana and wine berries in the batter for our breakfast. After eating we decided to head down the foggy, rainy mountain to Dobson where one of the prettiest vineyards and winery is located at Shelton Winery. It was overcast and wet but the temps were in the low 70's which made for a pleasant visit. Bob and Jill did some tasting while Nancy and I took the kiddos down to the beautiful creek and pond with some fish food and fed the fish. The ponds were full of hungry fat fish and this entertained the kiddos until it was time to head out for some lunch in Elkin.
We had heard of a small restaurant called Jonboy and we found it as well as does most of the local citizens. It was a order yourself and picked up yourself style which helped to keep the prices down and the food was tasty and plentiful. We all ate for less than 20 bucks. Afterwards we rode through the old section of Elkin and saw some neat old buildings before stopping at McDonald for some ice cream cones for the kiddos and Nancy. It was head back up towards the mountain where we had located another new vineyard that was featured on a North Carolina T.V. show.
We were surprised at the location of this new recently opened vineyard that lies just at the foot of our mountain on Rt.21 and just a short distance from the main highway. Wow what ambiance and the tasting room was just beautiful as well. There were beautiful rows of grapes on the hillsides and the long distance views were awesome as well. We could see the Roaring Gap homes on top of the mountain from the tasting room and patio area. This place just opened for business this past April. It seems two sisters and their husbands started this vineyard in 2007 and named it jones & von drehle after their married last names. The wine is made from grapes grown on the property thus it's a 100% estate winery. I would rank it right up there with Sheldons Vineyard in appearance, but with the added beauty of the mountains and foothills that makes it so much more attractive to take friends and visitors.
Well the temp's dropped another 10 degrees as we got back on top of the mountain down into the low 60's once again with rain drizzle and some fog. Bobby decided to take Sugar their pup on a run up the back trail and to the top in the drizzle. She initially left with him but we saw her back on the porch then noticed she was gone again. She got her workout as she ran back and forth to him and the cabin.
We sat around and read while Gabe took a nap and then got ready to make some supper. Nancy had sweet taters in the oven baking and Bobby made a delicious sauce to go over the grilled steaks once they hit your plates. I must say these steaks were some of the finest pieces of sirloin I've eaten in quite sometime and to think we can get them direct order from the mid-west at anytime on dry ice. We had a nice salad with fresh basil and nasturtium flowers on top. Seems Annsley and I are the only ones who like the decorative and tasty flowers. Annsley and I headed down to the neighbors chicken pen and she gathered her first egg ever and proudly carried it back to the cabin.
