Music at The Country Store in Floyd, Virginia

Wonderful weekend in the mountains of Virginia.  The Man and I took "Elsewhere" (our motor home) to the mountains of Virginia for a few days.

I have heard about and read about Friday night music at "The Country Store" in Floyd, Virginia for years so we decided to see for ourselves.  Floyd is a really small town with one stoplight so it's easy to find "The Country Store".  It really is an old fashioned country store.  The music has become so popular and the crowds so big that an addition was added on to the back of the store.

We ate lunch at the lunch counter in "The Country Store".  Delicious.  Ken had Parsnip Soup - we had never heard of Parsnip Soup.  They have fresh bread from the local bakery - all kinds of desserts and ice cream (even waffle cones).

Everyone we met in Floyd was friendly and talkative.  They love telling about their town and the music it is know for.  The lady in the local convenience store told us we were welcome to park Elsewhere in their back parking lot so we wouldn't have to look for a place after the music was over.  How nice!
It was really cold and windy so we parked Elsewhere close to the country store - then after the show we parked at the convenience store - started the generator and settled in for the night.  Perfect!

The Friday night show - you really have to go!  Not just to listen - but to talk to people - and of course to dance if you're brave enough.  The first hour (starts at 6:30) is old fashioned mountain gospel music.
No dancing this hour!  There were two different bands - 90 minutes each. The dance floor was so packed - and everyone seemed to be having the time of their lives.  I think there were people on the dance floor from 3 to 93!  And you didn't have to have a partner - just start dancing.  What fun.

We met and talked top people from Texas, Oregon, Canada, Pennsylvania, Florida and China!  How did all these people hear about the music at Floyd?

We drove the backroads to Roanoke Saturday morning - not much traffic.  Elsewhere had a couple of questions for the great guys at Camping World of Roanoke - that's where we found him.  They had coffee and donuts - wonder if that's a daily thing or just Saturday.  Or maybe they had them because we were coming?!

We liked Floyd so much we drove back Saturday afternoon - disappointed to find that they only have Saturday afternoon music - they close at 5.  Stayed at our friendly neighborhood convenience store again - that's the nice thing about a motor home - have everything we need with us - even electricity (generator).  We had dinner, watched a movie - very nice.

We left earlier than planned - it was beginning to sleet and the forecast was for sleet and snow with the temperature below freezing.  Better to get us and Elsewhere down the big mountain!  It was snowing hard going down the mountain - but stopped as we drove south.  The Man is a great driver and knows all about Elsewhere - thank goodness.

One other really nice thing about this trip - an unexpected bonus.  Wooly Jumper Yarn Shop next door to The Country Store!  Next door!  Did I go to the Yarn Shop?  Of course I did.  More friendly people and lots of beautiful yarn.  Floyd has got it all!

Elsewhere is Here

Can it really be March 20, 2013?  Guess I'm probably not the only one who feels like I'm in a time machine going way too fast!  

Since I can't travel ALL the time this blog needs to reinvent itself to include my life when I'm not in the motor home or car or plane or boat - but just living life at home.  As much as I do love traveling - I love home and family even more.  

Our new motor home needs a name - we never named any of the previous ones - but somehow this one seems to want a name.  Elsewhere!  Perfect.  When we're in the motorhome we are not at home - we are Elsewhere!!!  But he is surely not a Saint!  and definitely is a He.  Elsewhere is very young - just got him a couple of weeks ago.  We had looked at motor homes for six weeks - found exactly the floorplan we wanted - then could NOT find one anywhere.  Worn out from looking we decided to just keep the one we had - after all we really liked it...

March 8 -Loaded up and left for a trip to a Pennsylvania Mud Sale (more about that later).  I was in the back taking a nap (not all that unusual) when the Man yelled "Wake Up"!  Seems there was a Camping World in Roanoke, Virginia right alongside the Interstate.  Should we stop?  Why not?  Well...we pulled into the parking lot - right behind a motorhome that had just been delivered - not even washed and put on the lot.  What kind of motorhome?  The exact one we had been looking for!  Really?  We looked at several others just 'cause that's the way we are - have to make sure.  But it was meant to be, don't you think?  

The people at Camping World of Roanoke were great - gave us a good deal trading in our Class C for the Class A.  Cleaned up Elsewhere - hooked us up in their service area - parked our Class C next door with the doors facing so we could "move in"!  Didn't take long.  So we spent our first night with Elsewhere at Camping World of Roanoke.

We spent some time getting to know Elsewhere before heading north to Pennsylvania - didn't make it in time for the mud sale - we'll put that on the list for the future.

Boondocked at a Walmart somewhere in Pennsylvania.  There were five other RV's there - our own little community.  Did some shopping in Walmart - ate supper at Sam's - walked back to Elsewhere and started the generator - watched a blu ray movie.  Perfect Day.

Sunday in Lancaster and Intercourse, Pennsylvania.  Lots of Amish horses and buggies on the road - families walking - children playing.  Such a peaceful life they seem to live.  We spent the day walking around the town of Intercourse - smaller and more enjoyable than the city of Lancaster.

The Man found the quilt of his dreams - at Miller's Quilts in Intercourse.  He has wanted a Mariner's Compass quilt since he first saw one a couple of years ago.  I had plans to make it for him - but not until the really big Double Wedding Ring for Son 2 and wife is finished (yes, it will be finished one day)!  This quilt is amazing - pieced and hand quilted by an Amish lady.  He is a happy man.  

Drove to Hershey, Pa - really nice, leisurely day.  Spent the night in Hershey Campground - quiet, wooded.  

Headed south Monday morning with a few stops on the way.  We went back by Camping World of Roanoke - to ask a few more questions about Elsewhere.

Got home and realized that Elsewhere barely fits in our tallest building - the Man will have to make some modifications or building additions to accommodate our newest addition.

Home!

Tamarack in West Virginia

Home tonight!  As much as I love to travel - I love coming home.  It is good.

Table at Tamarack - yes they go through the glass!

Tamarack in West Virginia is a wonderful cross section of the work of the many talented people there.  We really enjoyed looking at all the handmade arts & crafts.  

A few stops on the way home... 14 days - a great road trip.  4,500 miles.  Our car was so full - we should have taken a picture before we unloaded it. 

Everything seemed more expensive in the Northeast - gasoline, room rates, everything.  And those TOLLS.  We spent $70 to $80 on tolls - lost count at some point.  

I've traveled in 49 of the 50 states - all but Hawaii and to Italy, Canada and Mexico. Lester has been to all 50 states.  We live in a wonderfully diverse country.  I love visiting other places, but there is nowhere I would rather live than right here in North Carolina.

A great trip - now for the unpacking, laundry, catching up on everything.  

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Blue skies were back today.  Beautiful day to be on the road.

If you're ever in this area look for the I-76 AAA Antique Mall.  We spent some time there - so many unusual and beautiful things to see. 

We skipped a couple of things we had planned for this trip.  The Frank Lloyd Wright houses in New York weren't open when we were there - maybe another time.

Fenton Art Glass

We spent several hours at the Fenton Art Glass Company in Williamstown, West Virginia.  You want to see what's happened to our economy in the last 4 years - you can see it here.  It was so sad it was hard to be there in the midst of some of the most beautiful glass you can imagine.  The factory building is huge with a great shopping area.  A few years ago Fenton employed 800 people in glass making - now there are 7 people working in the glass area and a few in the shopping area.  We talked to several of the employees - I feel so much compassion for all those who have lost their jobs.  They still have a huge stock of beautiful glass but they won't be making any more.  You can buy it there or at their online store.  They made Fenton glass for over 100 years.  They will continue to make glass beads - I bought three for my Pandora bracelet.  We bought a few other things...

Heading to Tamarack, West Virginia tomorrow.



Life is good.

A Little Rain Must Fall...

September 18, 2012

Lake Placid

       
Today was our first rainy day - all day.  Not complaining - 12 days on the road and one rainy day - not bad at all.

Hoss's in Blue Lake

    We went to Lake Placid, New York this morning.  Beautiful resort town.  The 1932 and the 1980 Olympics were held in Lake Placid.  This area has so many beautiful lakes. Long Lake, Blue Lake, Seventh Lake, Sixth Lake, Fifth Lake, Fourth Lake and ........
    We spent some time in a really fun store in Blue Lake - Hoss's - they have everything.  Even a huge tree growing up through the middle of the store.  All kinds of fun things as well as clothing, hunting and fishing stuff, quilts and much more.  A fun stop.

Fall Leaves Beginning to Turn

    Somewhere along the way on Highway 12 is the biggest Antique Shop Ever (really).  If we had a trailer I think Lester would have filled it up.  As it is, the car is stuffed.  Ken would love this store.  
   Tiger Lily Quilt Co. in Utica - Don't you love that name for a quilt shop?  Fun shop - lots of beautiful quilts on display.  

    

Ben and Jerry's for Lunch - a really good day

September 17, 2012

Morning Fog in Vermont

Vermont Farm

    Driving south in Vermont - so green here.  The fog in the valleys was beautiful.  There are still lots of big farms in Vermont and New York.  Beautiful barns.  Lots of antique shops - we only stopped at a few.  Our car is almost completely full.  Lester might have to ship some more home!
    We spent some time in two different glass blowing studios - bought a couple of pieces.  I love watching glass blowers.  I told them we were from North Carolina and I had been to Penland School of Crafts in the North Carolina mountains - both of them had studied there and one of them taught there.  They also know the Bernsteins - I've been to their studio several times and bought a couple of pieces from them.  Penland is known and respected all over the world and most people in North Carolina haven't heard of it.  

Von Trapp Family Lodge

     Ben and Jerry's tour and ice cream tasting.  The tour was fun - short and informative.  We were treated to a flavor that is being tested and considered for marketing "Cherry Malt".  It was really good but I prefer a little crunch in my Ben and Jerry's.  Ice cream for lunch - a very good day.  Each employee gets to take 3 pints of ice cream home each day - do you think they get tired of ice cream?
    Stowe, Vermont - very upscale resort town.  It is probably very busy during ski season.  Thanks to Henry (our GPS) we found  Stowe Fabric and Yarn Shop in an old house - like so many businesses in the Northeast.  Really nice shop and friendly shop owner.  Lester has not been very nice to Henry GPS at times - he disagrees with him.  I do think Henry is almost always right but we've learned to keep quiet.  Sometimes it's best not to argue.  I would never want to take a road trip without Henry or one of his family.  I'm really curious about one thing - we have Lester's IPad with Verizon 3G - it works great until we cross the border into Canada and instantly - no service.  How in the world does the signal stop that precisely.  Anybody know?
   We drove across to the Lake Champlain Islands and then into New York.  The lake is huge and really beautiful.  A nice restful day of antiquing, ice cream eating and driving the backroads of Vermont.  Crossed the bridge over Lake Champlain into New York.
   

Old Town Quebec - Might Be the Best Day Yet!

Thousands of Stairs - yes they are steep!

September 16, 2012  

    We spent the day in Old Town Quebec - it is amazing.  It must be like being in France.  It sure reminded me of my trip to Italy.  Quebec is very French - all signs were in French and everyone speaks French.  New Brunswick and Nova Scotia seemed mostly English speaking.

    I can't even estimate how many stairs we climbed - and the hills were harder to climb - I've never seen streets with such a steep incline.  We actually found ourselves leaning forward climbing the streets.

    It is really hard to describe Old Town.  It is a walled city.  We walked the wall - quite a long walk.  The city is a fortress with huge guns and the city walls have openings - I guess for soldiers fire their weapons to protect the city.The streets are stone and very uneven - you really have to watch your step.  The doors into the shops have high, uneven steps.  the buildings are very old interesting.  The pictures don't begin to show what the city is like.

We parked down in the newer part of the city.  You can drive up to Old Town but we didn't see much parking.

They have a Funicular (like a railcar) going up about one fourth of the climb.  Did we ride the Funicular??  Of course not - we climbed the whole way and then walked the wall.

43 degrees this morning and 75 degrees this afternoon.  We were the only ones there without coats - these people are cold natured.  Some were wrapped up like mummies.


Lots and lots of shops.  We did some shopping and lots of looking.

Lunch was delicious - I had a French Croissant sandwich and a tiny little dessert pastry (about an inch in diameter) that was delicious - don't know what it was.  A very light pastry with layers of raspberry and another layer of something yummy.

I did have a scoop of Strawberry Gellato.

The sidewalk cafe got crowded around noon.  Very nice atmosphere.

Artists are set up along the street in certain areas painting and selling their art.  Prices from $10 to thousands of dollars.  Lester and I each bought a 16 x 20 watercolor.  The artists were very friendly and tried to speak a little English - better than our French to be sure.

Funicular

Beautiful flowers everywhere.

When we left Old Town, we drove about 7 or 8 miles to Montmorency Falls.  I guess if we had not been to Niagara Falls it might have been impressive.  Lester climbed all the way to the top - see those stairs on the right - I didn't go with him.

Montmorency Falls