Down Memory Lane and Some New Trails Too! ----- Sussex, England!

A long time ago-- in 1965-- I studied for 6 weeks at the University of Sussex in England.  The new Library behind Terry had just been dedicated by Queen Elizabeth in Nov. 1964.

 Just last year it was listed as a Historic Place on it's 50th Birthday.  We had to search the now huge campus to find it and get special permission to enter.  I was beyond happy to see the corners where I had studied just the same.  The windows weren't open as they always used to be though.  I remember I was always chilly in there!

Returning to Sussex was the main reason for our visit to England.  I had always wanted to see the rolling hills and seaside again.  Many times we had been about 40 minutes away at Gatwick Airport on our way to Ireland from Raleigh.  Then last winter our neighbors, John and Pat, got us hooked on the BBC Series, 'Foyle's War' set in the town of Hastings on the Sussex Coast.  Suddenly we both had an interest in Sussex and it's history.  So we spent 3 days exploring the Hastings area east of the University.


One of our favorite towns was Alfriston, a stumble on, when we were forced off a roundabout by an accident ahead.   The very narrow crowded streets were scary, but a nice lunch at the deli in the Post Office strengthened us for exploring.

Some of the timbered buildings looked very old.

The tea shop we enjoyed later was built in 1480.  Terry had to stoop under the doors and timbers.

We didn't know that the courtyard seating had this view of the green and Church.

I remembered reading about a trail to a nearby town so after tea we wandered down a promising lane and to my surprise

 we found one of England's 37 National Trails leading to several towns and the seaside.  We only walked a little across the White Bridge to gaze at the hills beyond.

But --- you got to love a country that values walking enough to have 37 trails like this!

Dancing in the Street-Sparta, NC

There's lots to celebrate in the NC mountains and fall is a great season for special events.  Last weekend the Blue Ridge Parkway remembered the early settlers along the ridge at Brinegar Cabin.
Volunteers brought sheep and wool, cooked Apple Butter and Ranger Abby demonstrated natural dyeing with local plants.  Lots of activities on a beautiful day!

What a face on this little yearling- too young to be sheared this season!

The town of Sparta is just below the Brinegar Cabin and some descendants still call Sparta home.  Each September Sparta celebrates with the Mountain Heritage Festival.  The main street is closed and filled with music, dancers, food and crafts.  Local school children are taught traditional mountain music at school.  The Festival usually includes a performance with some amazing skill on display.

The old movie theater is across the street from the Courthouse and just past our wonderful hardware  store.  Decades ago it was converted to Alleghany Jubilee, a local music and dance hall.  Every Monday night finds me there line dancing with a really fine performance group.  Here they come!  Ready to dance!

You can tell we have a great time!

I am so lucky to have such a fine group of friends who can share the joy of dancing each week and performing at home and across the state.

There are about 8 more dancers who come and go like I do and don't perform, but our shared fun glues us together.  Our annual Bar-B-Que (that means sauced pork) is Monday night at Helen's farm.  I've never been here for the event, so I'm excited!

The leaves are just beginning to turn yellow and blow about in the wind.  The geese were calling as they flew from the river to the lake.  More mornings are foggy than bright.  The hay has been cut and baled.  The pumpkins are being loaded in wagons to take to the trucks.  Fall is really coming to the mountains of NC.

Keeping Up with Rex and the Wedding Day

We were so pleased when Terry's, Uncle Rex, said he would join us for a visit to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.  We had only been there once for a short visit.  Being there with him enabled us to see all of the Grand Canyon in 3 days.  I don't think we missed a single overlook, shuttle trip or museum in the South Side.  His energy kept us on the move from 7:30 am when he awaited us at his hotel to late afternoon each day.  The west Rim Drive requires bus travel only and the air conditioned buses were most comfortable for our trip out to Hermit's Rest View.

In the early year's of the tourist visitation, a horse back trip led to a tent camp in the trees above the river seen down below.  Mary Coulter designed a lodge here above which is now a gift shop and cafe.

We also enjoyed a wonderful IMAX movie about raft travel through the Canyon.  It was an amazing and 'gripping' experience.  Here's one of the steepest rapids in the world seen from an overlook on the rim.

We rested a day at Mather Campground after Rex left to catch our breath and reflect on what a wonderful time we had enjoyed together!

The next day we headed west to Oregon for our friend, Carlie's wedding.  We worked with Carlie for 3 years at Willamette Mission State Park. She was engaged while we were there and we had to return for her wedding on June 11.  Of course, it was held in Oregon's premier State Park, Silver Falls.  It was a lovely setting as you can see as the 'happy couple' walk to the reception shelter.

All the decor was handmade by Carlie and Craig and they raffled it for their honeymoon fund.  What a cool idea!  We both won Oregon tree branch tea light stands, moss included.

And how about the roaring fire in the fireplace behind the lovely couple!  It was a very cool Oregon day.  Terry and I were both happy to tend the fire and restock it!  Here's a close up look at our very special newly married friends!!

It was truly an event worth driving across country to share!!

Bumpy Road to the Grand Canyon

Our 'mobile mansion' is sitting beside the cabin as we 'rough it' this time out West.  Little did we know that we would both get awful colds on the way, I'd have multiple agonizing bites from a New Mexico creepy crawler, and the refrigerator would fail.  Sooo we were very thankful for some recovery time in a Rt. 66 Motel-The Sunset Inn- in Moriarity, NM. and finally a lovely campsite at the Grand Canyon.  The site was huge, peaceful, quiet and right next to a clean restroom.  Our campground was only a few miles from Uncle Rex's exceptionally nice Best Western and we actually arrived within minutes of each other!  We made an easy connect for a wonderful adventure together.

The next day we got an early morning start to travel 22 miles east to the Desert View Watchtower.  A structure designed and built about 1930 by Mary Coulter an architect for the Fred Harvey Company of the Santa Fe Railroad.  She was hired to further the connection with the Native Americans who had lived and worshipped in the Grand Canyon for centuries.  She traveled all over the Southwest to study Native architecture and the Watchtower is a structure similar to a square one we saw at Hovenweap NM in Colorado.  It is very famous for the detail in the stone structure.

The interior walls and ceiling are richly painted with Hopi symbols in brilliant colors.  Narrow stairs circle up to the top view deck.

Terry and Rex studied the light sconces made from pottery bowls.  There is almost too much to see!

After admiring the view from the top we had coffee and a snack at the shop.  It was beginning to get crowded so we drove back toward the Visitor Center and stopped to see a view of the river rapids.

There is an actual Native American village ruin and museum on this Drive.  Archeologists found very unusual split twig figures made from one twig. They can be viewed at the museum.

After a very full exciting first day on the South Rim, it was nice to return to our little Teardrop and the comfort of our own bed.  Doesn't it look great with the colorful quilt Jane made for Terry on it??!!

Our sweet and simple 'bed on wheels' gets much attention and we have lots of  'tours' to give each day.

Route 66 Remembrances

 You can still drive Route 66 in many places.  It parallels Interstate 40 across the Texas Panhandle and has many museums. motels and cafes that celebrate days gone by.  Last year we stopped for the first time at the Midpoint Cafe and Bakery.   It is actually at the midpoint of the Route in Adrian, TX.

The cafe decor includes license plates from all over the US both old and new.  Last year we enjoyed looking for NC and other states.

 Since we are pulling the Teardrop this trip we thought it was right to take it to the Midpoint Cafe and Gift Shop next door and enjoy an old fashioned lunch and pie.

After lunch Terry remembered that we had with us our first license plate for the Teardrop.  We decided that  the NC Parkway trailer plate needed a spot on the wall here.  The owner asked us to sign it and hung it immediately.

It was fun for us to leave a bit of NC here in memory of my Texas friend, Gale Phipps, who told me about the Cafe.  She died about a month ago, but the love she shared for Texas lives on as a part of our life and brought a bit of NC here.

So next time you are leaving Texas on I-40 about 15 miles from the New Mexico border, look for the tiny town of Adrian.  Stop by for great sandwiches, fantastic homemade pies and look for our NC Parkway License Plate.

Volunteering at The Blue Ridge Parkway Clean Up

It is hard to keep us away from campfires and leaf blowers.  Terry, the fire build master, spent his birthday toting firewood to the CCC Shelter at Cumberland Knob on the Parkway.  It is a favorite spot of ours with a fireplace and all.  It was a little messy when we arrived.

But by tea time and then lunch it looked really nice.  The fire kept us nice and warm.

One of Terry's fires does take a while to settle down though.

We both got to use my favorite tools --- the broom and rake.

The next weekend April 2 was the Friends of the Parkway Clean Up with help from the NPS Rangers and their trailer full of tools.

Guess who couldn't wait to get his hands on a leaf blower???!!!

We were both just too happy doing our familiar maintenance jobs!  I picked up limbs and trash and raked around the picnic tables and up the trail.  Later Terry cleared the leaves all the way up the path to the shelter.  What a great day!

Such a nice dose of beauty and fun right in our own neighborhood (about 4 miles away)!  In the last few years when we were traveling the local Friends group became very active and we were so pleased to get involved with their season kick-off project.  I couldn't' leave the overlook without a photo of my favorite tree against the blue sky.

Winter at the Cabin-Old and New

This winter has given us lots of time inside to organize and sort all that we brought home and all that fills our closets and corners.  As always we are more aware of how little we actually used what we had tucked away.  Each year of living 'small' helps us see that we have so much more than we need.  It is quite freeing to share it with others.

  Two snow storms and a few very cold days and nights have given us time for new projects too.  We are both participating in the National Parks on the Air program.  Ham Radio operators are setting up stations in the 409 National Park units this year to help celebrate 100 Years of the National Park Service.  I have made 3 NP contacts and Terry has made about 12.  We have both tried for many more, but getting through with so many others trying is a challenge.

We love feeding the birds in winter and they often wait their turn in our maple tree.  This was after our first good snow of about 8 inches.

Our second snow storm of 3 days ended with a beautiful inch of brushwork look splatter on every branch.  It took my breath away in the early morning light.

The snow had stopped the day before and even began to melt so the new snow was a lovely surprise!  As you can see we had just gotten a much needed wood delivery.  So we could stay warm and comfortable.

We also have enjoyed 2 wonderful visits with camp host friends here in NC.  We met Lisa from Heceta Head Lighthouse and her sister down in New Bern just after Christmas and did some traveling together over New Years.  What fun we had!  Then yesterday Ranger Kate from our years at Great Basin met us in Chapel Hill for lunch and a little NC shopping at Southern Season.  We are so fortunate to share such good times with our 'out west' friends on NC soil.

Terry has re-joined our Wellness Gym here after finding such health benefits from the Madison Ranger gym at Yellowstone and is getting stronger daily.  I am continuing my Yoga class and Line Dancing (on the 2 nights the weather has allowed it since January) and doing a video workout 3 times a week at home.  I've had one good long hike at Pilot Mountain and look forward to spring wildflower hikes before long.

My sister, Ann and I are working on a quilt with help from Jane, the master quilter in our family.  It is great fun to work on this project together.  We are so lucky to have several quilt shops near by and Ann  
knows lots of quilters here who can help us.

The worst of winter is behind us and we have so much to fill every hour that spring will be here before we know it.  We are looking forward to a "No Work" trip in mid May and visits with family and friends in June.  We'll take our Teardrop Trailer which will be a little different for us.

Wishing "Happy Trails" to all of you!

Christmas at Home

For the last 2 years we have celebrated Christmas while working near Salem, OR at Willamette Mission State Park and visiting with Terry's family a few days after Christmas.  Terry took this photo last year on Christmas Day in our new bigger trailer with couch.  Luxury living!

This year we are excited to be back at our cabin near my sister and seeing our friends here.  Christmas celebrations have quickly filled our calendar between doctors appointments, exercise sessions  and moving  7 months of stuff in from the trailer; a long slow process.  

The stockings are hung from the mantle above the wood stove and its flickering flames warm our mornings  and evenings.  I baked some cookies today and Terry has the wood bin filled.  We've had a dusting of snow and our bird feeders are up and well stocked.  We are enjoying the company of our friends and sharing activities with them.

Though our travels this year seemed especially full of beauty and special places, being here at home for Christmas and winter is delightful!

 We wish you a Christmas filled with the simple things that give you pleasure and peace.

The Splendor of Oregon

The rainy skies that brought lots of snow to Mt. Hood finally cleared and today we could see the 'Mountain' at last. Of course, I screeched at it's beauty and Terry slammed on the brakes not knowing why I screamed.  This is one of  the views we have of Mt. Hood from our Park.  It never fails to take my breath away.  The days we can see it are a true delight.

With Jane closer to Portland, however, some of our adventures have been up her way.   We both were so excited about seeing the Japanese Gardens there.  The traffic wasn't bad as we skirted the edge of town twisting and turning uphill to find it.  As we approached we noticed some parking lot construction and thought little of it until the sign before us read CLOSED until March 2016.  What a disappointment!  Little did we know that the Portland Rose Garden was across the Park street, however.

The view from above was a certain invite down the massive stone steps.  The Rose Garden is high above the city with glimpses of high rise buildings between the massive trees. ( Oregon trees are just magnificent anywhere you go.  I love them all-- especially in the fall!)

This walkway is one of 4 that have Rose Gardens on each side.  It would take most of the day to see all of the roses.  We spent about 3 hours and took lots of photos.  It was so much fun exclaiming over the varieties and sizes and colors.  All these blooms were there to enjoy in late October.  I can't imagine the Garden in summer!  That's another trip one day.

The only way I know to get to Jane's house is on rural country roads that parallel Interstate 5.  The farms and huge tree nurseries along the way are beautiful every trip I make.  One morning I left early to get back to the park and never expected that the sunrise would break through the clouds.  It was such a lovely morning that I stopped 4 times for photographs.

The pink sky and blue-gray mountain contrast was so intense against the deep green of the fir trees!  Oh! Oregon!  You can see why all those wagon trains were headed here.

On Veterans' Day we accepted the Park Staff invitation to honor Terry with a day off. And off we went to lunch at our favorite restaurant on the coast in Yachats.  The Luna Seafood House is owned by a boat captain who catches the fare served in his restaurant.  We both had salmon for lunch that he caught the day before.  So fresh and so delicious!  You can imagine our surprise when the check came and Terry's lunch was complimentary as a thank you for his service.

 
Last weekend Jane and I visited the Oregon Garden about 15 miles east of our park.  It was a chilly morning that cleared off enough for us to enjoy several hours there searching out plant combinations for Jane's garden at her new home.  The many nurseries in the area designed the garden that opened in 2001.  Very impressive for a young garden.  The trees still had lots of color to enjoy!

We can hardly believe that in 9 days our time here at the park will be over.  I have learned to love 'maintenance hosting' here.  We have both enjoyed seeing the jobs we do make the park safer and more pleasant for the visitors.  It will be sad to say goodbye to our friends and co-workers.  The times we have shared with our families have been wonderful and we will miss their closeness.  By mid-December we hope to be back with family and friends in NC however.