Friday - May 5

 Hello from Galloway, OH and the Alton RV Park where we arrived at 2:00.   We left Brush Creek Falls at 9:05 and enjoyed the beauty of West Virginia, but oh my........constant curvy, winding roads on I-77 and I-64. 

 Happy to be settled and ready to party with all the Chamberlains this wedding weekend.

 Jim and Lydia were here when we arrived and visited briefly and enjoyed a warm blueberry scone Jim made.    

Today is Cinco de Mayo Day......and yesterday was "May the 4th be with you" (Star Wars) and check out this little cutie who went to school with her "space" buns.

Miss Maeve

At 4:30, we drove to the Hampton Inn where we campers were invited to join rest of the family for a Cinco de Mayo party - beef, pork and chicken tacos with all the toppings + several other appetizers and a large array of drinks!    Lots of visiting and then games - Jim, Lydia, Janet, Joan and I played SkyJo and others played various card games.    It was a fun and great start to the weekend.

Thursday - May 4

 We left the kiddos and the lake at 9:15 with our little caravan heading to Morganton and do a dumping of our tanks at their campground.    While Mark was doing that, I drove down the road to Starbucks.    And then we got on I-40 heading east to Statesville and then north on I-77.   Loved all the poppies (red and pink along the NC roadway - sooo pretty).  

 We stopped in Bastion, VA for lunch at the Down Shift Diner (always enjoy diner food).

Good lunch

Jim and Lydia were coming from Charlotte and we arrived about 45 minutes before them.    With 2 reservations for "Chamberlain", the office lady gave us Jim's spot.....so a little mix-up but all is well and we both settled in for the night.   

Jim got a little ride in the Can Am (like our boys have) here at the campground looking for his site

Jim and Lydia's RV/car

 Chilly here with 57 and cloudy.   Overall, it was a good day for travel

with lots of sunshine.

So tonight we're at the Brush Creek Falls RV Resort in Princeton, WV.    Mark and I went for a short walk in the park - a bit too chilly for us Floridians.    However, the temp is predicted to get down to 37 by morning.   Burrrr....

 Tomorrow onto Galloway, OH where we'll stay for 2 nights for all the wedding festivities for Matt and Kara.

There was a "cutest dog" contest at CCHS today - 11 dogs were entered and our grand dog, Gibson won!!!    His prize was a frisbee, shirt, and $30 gift card to Petco.

Way to go Gibson!!!

 

 

Wednesday - May 3

Today marks the 4th straight day of very strong winds!    Been praying that all the tall trees surrounding Flo and Michael's house do not dare to come down!  

Did some laundry and sat with Brooke for a little session learning more of the many features on my apple watch.

A happy man and his dog!

I fixed Jack Daniels pulled pork for lunch and then Mark and I hiked our favorite trail - can't believe today is our last day and we've yet to do that....just been walking on the roads.

Taking a break resting on "our" bench

Beauty at Lake James

Drove to Philip and Annette's - he'll be off to work later so bye bye till we meet again at Liam's graduation in a few weeks.    Mark  hooked Big Red to Flo and almost ready for departure tomorrow morning.     They are having large glass windows installed today on their former screened-in porch making it year-round.    Wow.....looks awesome!

Natural beauty up close!

Mark, Drew and I played 3-handed euchre with the guys each winning a game.

Michael, Drew, Mark and I met Brady, Blair and Brooke at Town Tavern for dinner.    We had wanted to go to Bones Jones but when we got there, the parking lot was packed and lots of people waiting - Annette later told us Wednesdays are "Wings" night and very popular.    But Town Tavern was good, so...

Mark and I went to Annette's to see the kiddos (Philip flew to FL tonight for work) and say our good byes - sooo hoping they'll come visit this summer on Catrina.

Grandpa, Luke, Maeve, Carlos, Grandma

Back to Michael's for 2 games of euchre with Mark and Drew against Michael and me and we won both!!!

School project

Brady's birthday based on the Mayan calendar

Grandma and Blair

Blair and Grandpa

Tomorrow we head northeast to Princeton, West Virginia.    The 2 1/2 weeks here at Lake James have flown by with so much fun, beauty, good eating and awesome being with family!    BIG thanks to Michael, Brooke, Philip and Annette for their warm hospitality!   AND to Ryan for use of his shower, washer and dryer!

Michael, Philip, Ryan and Drew are coming for Liam's graduation!!!  🎓🎓🎓

 

 

Tuesday - May 2

 Wow.....another blustery day with chilly temps.    We packed in a very big day starting with Jim and Lydia's arrival at 11.    They are staying in the Charlotte area for 2 nights  after leaving Fort Myers - today was all about Lake James and seeing some of the family and tomorrow, to spend the day with Lydia's sister and family in Davidson (suburb of Charlotte).

We gave them the tour of Michael's home and then off to Philip's where we enjoyed a delicious lunch of navy bean soup, ham/cheese sliders, pasta salad and assorted little desserts.    Showed them around the house, Philip's workshop and Ryan's carriage house.

Then to the Camp and walked around and they got to see all the amenities, etc.    Then to tour Mike and Theresa's home and back to Michael's as Brooke and Blair were back from her class field trip to Grandfather Mountain (COLD and WINDY).   Visited for about an hour and then 1 final stop to meet Luke and Maeve who came home from school with Daddy while we were there.    Said our good byes and off to Black Mountain.

We drove around town, showed them Givens Highland Farms (continuous care facility where we plan to be someday) and then dinner at Que Sera - very good.    What a big day but so fun and happy they came to visit Nebo, NC, Lake James, and our kiddos.

Springtime beauty at Camp Lake James

Jim  and Lydia at Mike and Theresa's home

Lydia, Jim, Mark, Pat at Que Sera

We'll be meeting Jim and Lydia Thursday afternoon as we both travel in our RV's to WV before heading to nephew, Matt's wedding near Columbus, OH.

Monday - May 1

 Happy May Day!

The crazy winds finally died down during the night only to return today!   But the sun was shining and we reached 63.    We went into town and got a few groceries at Ingles + Starbucks.    On home, put away the food and went for a walk.    Such a pretty day and out of the wind, felt so good with all the sunshine.

After lunch, I put away laundry and washed my car.   With all the rain, driving on the interstate and pollen, it's hard to keep clean.

Drew is virtual so working from his parents here for a week.    And enjoying Maverick running all over the place in the wide-open space.

Grandma and Maverick

Brooke made delicious ham and potato soup which really hit the spot this chilly, windy evening.     She and Blair were off to have Blair's dance pics taken....

Ready to pose 

I watched the 7th episode of "Call the Midwife"....the season is winding down! 😥