Nantahala National Park, NC

Driving back to Durham from Blue Ridge we drove through the smokey mountains (I think?) and through Nantahala National Park. This was my third time passing through the park in the past few months, that I decided we'd better stop and take in some of the awesome scenery and even catch a few kayakers braving the rapids down the (name?) river.




The weather was sunny but a bit windy, but not as cold as Kelly's attire would suggest. Kelly always tends to err on the side of over-dressing.

We stopped at a look-out point and took some pictures besides said river. Ethan was all eyes and ears and was very much interested and attentive to everything around him. We even managed to capture a couple family pics placing our camera on some rocks, though the angle is quite low to the ground.





Many folks were already out doing the hiking, kayaking thing. We passed by a couple "outfitter" shops with bike rentals and kayak rentals, and groups of people on motorbikes -- the summer scenes in this area must be buzzing for sure, if this much action is found in April. And only an hour or so from Blue Ridge, we are sure to make more trips to this area and maybe even explore our adventurous sides and do a bit of kayaking or rafting one day.




We will be certain to make trips here when family and friends are over to visit.

The Cabin

Kelly, Ethan and I were treated to dinner by the Tidmans - Lee, Ray and one of their four children, daughter Susan. Dinner was at The Cabin, a rustic mountain cabin eatery famous for their Blue Ridge burger and fried green tomatoes. Lee and Ray were fresh off their 20-year wedding anniversary retreat, having returned from the Grand Cayman islands last night. Both were radiant and smiling and looked great. We stayed (as usual) at their Lake house, which is situated on a private (gated) cove right on the edge (quite literally) of Lake Blue Ridge. It is a short drive away from where our home will be once we move to Blue Ridge in July. I am just so thankful that, even when out of town, the Tidmans always accommodate our travel plans to Blue Ridge and put us in their Lake house. We have sort of taken over the master suite, which boasts a few (dozen) pillows and a plasma TV with satellite. Most of the pillows and comforters are filled with goose down, to which I am allergic, so I usually end up on one of their oversized leather couches with a memory-foam pillow, and a knitted quilt blanket :-) Did I just paint a perfect mountain getaway or what? ... though this is precisely what I need to do in order to get some sleep and keep my allergies under control. So, again, many many thanks Lee and Ray!!
Our love,
Kelly, Ethan, and Max

Home With A View

Hi. Just a quick note. We are in Blue Ridge, GA for the weekend. Meeting up with a builder to see a house and also meeting up with the director of Kaleidoscope Childcare Inc. to check out their facilities for Ethan. We are staying at Dr. Tidman's Lake house which is right on a private cove on Lake Blue Ridge. Gated, and very cozy, the place has a rustic cabin feel with an amazing view. The place we are checking out (our potential home if it is God's will) is literally about 400 yards from Lake Blue Ridge also, though the other end, some 5.8 miles from the Tidmans. Fingers crossed.