We started the morning with hot biscuits and sausage for breakfast and then got ready to head out after our routines which have been abbreviated to some extent depending on how long the kiddos sleep. We had over an hour to travel the twisty roads south to Jefferson, N.C. after a stop in Sparta at the library. Bobby brought and signed the first book in the trilogy of the Epic of Haven THE GREAT DARKENING. Debbie the librarian was so excited to meet him and was quite taken back by the caliber of the finished book. She wants to purchase all 3 books and have them for the collection in her library when Bobby is finished with the series.
Well the trip to Smokey Mountain barbecue was quite eventful as we were stopped several times for flagmen while road work was being completed. What normally takes an hour took at least an extra half hour but the Sherouse's were running a little late as well and we met there a little before noon. First I must say this self serve style restaurant is a come back to again as the food was great and reasonable and we had a back banquet room mostly to ourselves for nearly 2 hours as we caught up on the past 4-5 years since we last ate there with them.
Craig still has dark hair we suspect he is coloring it which is a big laugh between us and Beverley hasn't changed a bit. We did a lot of family gatherings together until they moved away to Lakeland, Fl. sometime in the 90's to pastor a huge church there and now they are at Second Baptist in Richmond, Va. They now have 4 grand children since we last saw them and Alan their son who Bobby played with as a kid is now the pastor at a church in Greensboro after spending 4 years as a pastor in the Hell's Kitchen area of the Bronx in New York City. What a culture shock that was coming back to the south to live. Craig and Bev still have a place in the Blowing Rock area which belonged to his parents and they try to get down at least a couple times a year. He is an avid fisherman and we use to sail his sailboat on the lakes in Polk County, Florida after their first move. We always said we wanted to sail the Caribbean together before we got to old but just this past year he finally sold the sailboat. Well it was great to catch up and have a few laughs and reminisce and we forgot to take any pictures, oh well.
We headed over to the New River Outfitters for our 2 o'clock canoe reservation where we met up with Patrick and Kathrine. The kiddos were excited and we had a great driver take us several miles up country to put in at a low water bridge. We took off in very nice temps and just enough high clouds to keep us from sun burn. The river flowed nicely and paddling was an option except for some rocky shelves and in the deep pools. We all at times had to get out and hand push our canoes off of the rocks but that was infrequent unless Kathryn was navigating the currents(another round of laughs). Patrick presented the biggest laugh of the day as he was exiting the canoe after we stopped to explore a sand bar by flipping out of the canoe and landing upside down in the water. Oh well we gave him a 5 on a scale of 10 for his flip into the water.
We got back around 4:30 to the landing area and after a stop at the old fashion country store built in 1930 for pop(soda) and snacks we headed home to the cabin. It was another hour plus travel time on a different twisty, winding road but the scenery was gorgeous for all except for me the driver as some of those curves were hairpins. Gabe was fast asleep.
Bobby and I had a date to play pickle ball with 4 other fellows from Cornerstone at the exclusive Roaring Gap Club. Despite a little rain at time the non skid court was safe to play on and we did for an hour and half and then we left around 8:30. It was a fun time and Bobby despite not playing in several years showed his athletic ability and played very well. He made me proud. It was still light outside when we got back to the cabin and then he bathed the kiddos and got them ready for bedtime. It wasn't long after my shower and few chapters around 10:30 that I too was ready for some horizontal lab, LATER
