We’re on Gateway Mountain now, just outside of Old Fort, NC on the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Old Fort is exit 73 off of I-40, about 220 miles from Raleigh pavement-wise. We’re in a house overlooking the gorgeous mountains. Its surrounded by woods and up a quite-steep one-lane road.
I’d tell you how quiet it is here but the truth is the cicadas made a big racket last night. We must be surrounded by them. Even so, I think we’ll try sleeping with the windows open, because country noises can be soothing, too.
We spent most of the day wandering around Black Mountain, NC today, taking in their annual Sourwood Festival. There was some music, but mostly booths of arts and crafts dealers. The kids did some time inside the inflatable jumping-type things and we checked out the jewelry and such.
A caricaturist named Dave Washburn was there drawing people and I could immediately tell he was good. So, we sat down in front of him for 20 fun minutes while he drew a most-excellent caricature of the whole family. It was the best money we spent all day, in my opinion! Send Dave a picture and he’ll be happy to draw one of you, too.
On the way back we ventured around the rest of Gateway Mountain, checking out the waterfall on the mountain. Though the kids were tired by then (and Hallie took a spill near the bottom of the falls) it was worth the walk. It was like our own private waterfall, tucked far down this dirt road, with towering rock cliffs on either side. I took some amazing pictures.
Now its time for some spaghetti dinner, relaxing on the porch that overlooks a wondrous valley, and then a relaxing bedtime. Tomorrow, we’ll check out Lake Lure and Chimney Rock. That should keep us busy.