Saturday - May 4

 Lots of rain, thunder and lightning during the night with a lot more rain on a very soggy, cool Saturday.   Brooke and Blair were off for her cheer competition at Hickory High School.    Mark, Michael and I came a bit later- 'Fever" as the sponsor for this big cheer event with many schools participating and $20 per person to watch......Blair's team "Storm" did very well with 1st place in novice overall.   Blair got 2nd out of 7 for her tumble off.    Glad we got to watch her and the team,.  

Proud grandparents

Proud Mom and Dad

Our little cheerleader and gymnast

 In between events, we went to Mas Amor Cantina for delicious lunch and margaritas.   This old building was formerly a hosiery factory and converted into a brewery and this Mexican place - did a great job renovating.

It rained very hard while we were eating (and before and after)....Brooke and Blair went back to school for more events and awards.   I went back home with the guys.    Mark and I took a nap and then played Clue (won by Blair) and Sky Jo ((won by Grandma)..   Michael and Brooke met some friends at Mica Town in Nebo.

We were all stuffed from lunch so leftovers for supper - Flo's fridge is overflowing with styrofoam containers.

Congrats to Connor and his fishing pals representing CCHS at state

What a very exciting finish to the 150th Kentucky Derby with "Mystik Dan" the winner!

Thursday-Friday - May 2 and 3

 Hello from Lake James where we arrived around 2:45 this afternoon (spending 3 nights at Michael and Brooke's.    Here's  recap of yesterday/today

Thursday - we were up early and out the door at 7:10 AM for 8:00 graduation.  Lots and lots of people in line waiting for the doors to open at 7:30.    We connected with rest of the family, got our seats and then thrills and chills as Pomp and Circumstance played over and over as the graduates processed into Reynolds Coliseum.

Good speakers and then the conferment of diplomas.....Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) is the 2nd largest department at NC State after the school of business.   The ceremony lasted 2 hours and then we walked out into very warm bright sunshine.   Had coffee at Java Cafe in the student union and then pictures at the Bell Tower.    Lunch at The Village Draft House (very good) and back to The Loft where family was staying to change into casual clothes.

Judy, Brooke, Blair, Mark and I walked to The Village District and Blair and I got some Boba tea (she did not like it).   We set up Sky Jo on the patio and so pleasant playing this game which I won!

Walked back to the Loft and played euchre.   Bob and Michael joined us.  Fun afternoon and then time to change clothes again for our celebratory dinner with Davis at Capital Grille.    This is one of Michael's favorites but 1st time for Mark and me.   Excellent meal, service and ambiance.   Said our good byes and Davis took us back to the campground which is fairly close to his house which he shares with 4 other guys.    Michael is driving my car back to the lake tomorrow which is much appreciated.  On May 31st, we'll be back at the lake to celebrate Davis and Brady (graduates on the 30th). 

Memory from 8 years ago at Davis's 8th grade graduation

Submitted by Philip

College graduation

Bell Tower - landmark on North Carolina State campus - Raleigh

Davis with Grandma and Grandpa

Davis and Grandparents

Davis and Blair

Lunch at The Village Draft House

Not a fan of boba tea

Playing SkyJo

The graduate

Dinner at Capital Grille

Judy, Brooke, Blair, Davis, Michael, Mark, Pat, Bob

Friday - Enjoyed a good night's sleep after our big day but had a leisurely morning getting ready to travel again,    I rode with Mark in Big Red pulling Flo and away we went around 9:30.    Stopped for diesel in Mebane and then near Winston Salem (Kernersville) lunch at Cracker Barrel.    Michael and Mark had on headsets and he helped guide us in on Brady's basketball court.

Brady came oui to Flo for a good chat.   Michael took us for a nice boat ride over to Philip's dock.    Had a good visit with Annette and Maeve (Luke, too) and their friends Keith and Doug on the dock!   Back home for delicious BBQ (brisket, ribs and pork) + potato salad, baked beans and jalapeno grits.

Brady - so excited about his Notre Dame college career coming soon!

 

Thursday - May 2

 BIG day celebrating Davis and his graduation from NC State.    Internet is very slow here at the state fair campground.   More details and pics coming tomorrow when we'll head back to Lake James for the weekend.   Nighty night from Raleigh!

Wednesday - May 1

 Happy May Day and hello from Raleigh!    We left the campground at 8:45 this morning and stopped for gas for Ruby a short ways down the road on I-95.    Traffic was awful so Mark had the brilliant idea of  "let's take the back roads and we'll only add 20 minutes to our trip"   Sounded good to me.   Saw scenic SC on good roads with little traffic.   Drove past many many churches both in towns and in the country.   When we were in FL, the new apartment complexes are going up like crazy EVERYWHERE and also many large storage buildings,   Here's it all about churches.  So, a good trip and arrived at the NC State Fair Campground at noon.   This is a very busy place - maybe all here for graduation?

We settled in Flo, Mark got the Wi Fi hooked up, had lunch and he took Ruby for a good car wash.   We  changed clothes and left around 3 for the "Order of Engineering" ceremony.   This is an initiation for all engineering students and they are presented with a ring and certificate.   The program lasted over 2 hours as they introduced each of the students (750+).

Enjoyed dinner at Tupelo Honey (Michael, Brooke, Davis, Blair, Bob and Judy, Caroline (Brooke's niece who will be a senior at NC State) Mark and I.    On home......tomorrow at 8 AM is graduation for Mechanical and  Aerospace Engineering!

Some of the inductees

Davis waves to his family

The official engineering ring

Davis with his Gram and Grand Bob at Tupelo, Honey

Tuesday - April 30

 Good travel day with mostly cloudy skies but we are oh so happy to be off the road.   We were on Highway 301 for 24 miles and I-95 rest of the way covering 333 miles.  After 2 big days, my shoulder and hand are ready for a break - sore and stiff!

We left the campground at 8:35 this morning.  I enjoyed my oldies, Mark, the peace 'n quiet and we prayed the rosary.    Stopped for gas (Ruby) and diesel (Big Red) in  Yulee, FL with another stop in Yemassee SC for lunch at Love's truck stop (Hardees).    We arrived at 2 at the Midpoint I-95 RV Park in Sellers, SC  - nothing fancy but got good reviews and not a lot to choose from in these parts. 

 Took a nap and then went into Dillon, closest big town at 6000+.    Dinner at La Oaxaquena Tienda and Taqueria (authentic Mexican only open a little over a month.)    Food was good but sooo cold in there we both got sweatshirts from the car.    Dillon has a super Walmart, so we walked around a bit and then drove to Sellers - not much here and sure has fallen on hard times - post office was about it.   On home...

Can't believe it's the last day of April!    Tomorrow we head to Raleigh and start Davis's graduation festivities!