July 11, 2010

July 11 - arrived in Raleigh for a late dinner yesterday at the home of Andy, Lauren, Paisley, Chloe and Keira. Nice that Mom, Ruth and Rachael made it down from Norfolk. So nice to connect with all and check out the steps picture. Good looking crew!

Took a walk to a park near their house that had a great Frisbee Golf course. What fun! And, saw some cicada shells....check out the cool poem:

Persistence

Did it yell

till it became all voice?

Cicada-shell!

- Basho

On the road again around 6 - heading to Stone Mountain State Park outside of Elkin, NC. We have to start getting to places sooner! We got to the park too late - the gates close at 9 pm and they do not let you in after the gates are closed. Harrumph. When we called at 4 pm asking about availability and sites, the lady said there were plenty for the night. But, she didn't mention when they closed. Lesson learned. Next time, we ask. :-) Good note - met some lovely people outside the gate (there seems to be some sort of system of parking cars outside the gate when you are meeting people who already have a tent site and then walking in to meet them) who were really helpful - even going to get the ranger to see if they would open the gate for us. Ranger was polite, but firm. Gates are closed, no gettin' in. Harrumph. Nice people told us to go for cheap motel in Elkin down the road....

So, here we are - writing this from the Elk-Inn in Elkin, NC (Motel 6 quality but they didn't even cut us a break considering it was 11 pm!). Sooo disappointed that we are not camping as it is such a beautiful night. Ah well. There will be plenty to come. Looking forward to seeing the beautiful NC mountains in the morning - the first really different landscape we will see on the trip so far. And, hoping to meet up with some old friends as well. Short time to be here as we'll be moving through to near the Tennessee border by tomorrow night.