We are Outta Here.

The New Hampshire winter wasn't turning out to be the kind of winter we like so in mid February we decided to visit some old Navy Friends in North Carolina.  One friend in particular has everyman's dream shop and offered it for me to finish Cheryl's kayak...  that's a  no brainer.  In our usual manner of directed wandering we visited with friends in Vermont and relatives in New York, then followed the Susquehanna River south into Pennsylvania.

Our trip through Pennsylvania passed so close to Gettysburg National Military Park that we felt it was worth visiting, even for a short time.  A quick drive through was enough to tell us that this is a place to return to when we had more time.

Gettysburg is a solemn and sacred reminder of the difficult history we Americans have faced together.

We also crossed the Potomac River on this trip, got weathered out of the Shenandoah Skyline Drive and so took a little side trip to Mt Airy, North Carolina.  Did you know that Mt Airy, North Carolina was the inspiration for Mayberry RFD?

Barney Fife is still on patrol.

North Carolina is a beautiful state.  We traveled from Mt Airy, along part of the Blue Ridge Parkway, to the Asheville area.

While we visited with our friends I doggedly pursued our goal of a completed kayak and finally presented Cheryl with her kayak "Connemara"

Between bouts of fiberglassing and sanding we managed to pick off a few of the local sites.
Our Daily Walk.

The Biltmore Estate, from the Italian Garden

The Rose Garden...yet to bloom.

And, of course, a North Carolina sunrise.

After much good food, some excellent beer (try the French Broad Brewery's "Ryehopper Ale" if you ever get the chance), and the company of wonderful friends we left to meet up with some more friends south of Asheville for a trip to Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas, and the launch of Connemara.