Well Amy and family still have no power after a week, luckily we got ours back on so they can at least stay cool at nights and take showers and cook what food they can find in the grocery stores. They did spend the day cleaning out their house and yards as well as ours which was very nice of them. They are hoping sometime today or Sunday they will be able to get back into their house but there are several thousands still with out power in our county.
Friday started out with Nancy getting ready to travel to Sparta to have her hair lightened and have the gray colored. I was surprised she had a 9 AM appointment but up here you take what is available and I guess that was the closest time she could get before heading back to Florida next week. We aren't sure if her hair dresser has power in Florida but since we are there just a limited time she thought best to get it done her. She was gone until around lunch time. I did my usual morning routines that started with my hot tea, some quiet time and then caught up on some social media while the washing machine ran for a couple of loads of sheets and blankets. The day was starting out with sunshine and blue skies.
I did some garden hoeing and then helped neighbor Gerald who was down for a day or so load a couch into his truck for his son Gabriel at college. We never did get in a hike as we met the Tracy's for a day trip down the mountain after a stop at the Old Beau Country Club. I had never been back in there and the gate was open so we ventured inside. Wow what a nice place with a huge club house and the vistas were awesome. The Tracy's inquired about rentals and learned there is always some available from the members and property owners. We met a man from Florida who is designing a huge motor coach area for the club and he too has a new rental cabin out on the parkway soon available for occupancy. We drove through the area and saw some beautiful houses and condo's. The golf course is amazing tucked back into the mountain side.
We took the Thurmond road just down off the divide into an area called Devotion. This land was once owned by the R.J.Reynolds Family and encompassed thousands of acres of land. The hard road soon turned into a dirt and gravel road and we were deep into forrest land that was undeveloped except for a few nice places along with some run down trailers. We finally found our way back to Rt.89 which took us down towards Mt.Airy but first we wanted to go to the area in Virginia called Cana. We made a stop at this beautiful farm market which was on the state line between N.C. and VA. This place is the best in the area with all kinds of fresh local produce, candies, meats and flowers plus just about any kind canned pickles and veggies as well as buckwheat pancake flower. We loaded up on some fresh produce and a few other items before heading on into Mt. Airy for supper.
Well we saw this place called 13 Bones and while there were several eateries in the area this one was packed. There was a 45 minute wait but we lucked out as there were 4 seats at the bar where we ate a delicious meal of salmon, steak, barbecue chicken, fried pickles and a very tasty homemade dream sickle cake. The bar tender was very personable and the meal was one of the best ever and reasonable in cost. We will definitely go there again when in the area. After waddling out of the place we headed over to gander at Andy Griffith home place which was nothing spectacular. Just a plain one story house in a lower social economic section of the town. It was available to rent for the night if one desired as the info was posted outside.
Well we got back on the mountain before dark and said our good bye's for the night then made plans to visit Sparta today (Sat.) as it Heritage Festival in town with local bands, food and vendors as the town shuts down to only foot traffic. We will meet in town after lunch then share in the local festivities and eat out again at one of the local eateries or grab something from one of the many vendors. The weather is supposed to be beautiful with the highs in the lower 70's and bright sunshine and blue skies, LATER
