Kent can tell the nitty gritty of what was broken. All I can say is that a day at the International dealer is not a particularly fun day. It is taken care of though and we are back on the road.
(Kent) An oil seal on the rear axle started to leak. No big deal but, it sure seemed to be tough to get repaired. It took them nearly 10 hours to do about 2 ½ hours of work replacing the seal and 2 ABS sensors that failed in the last week. How efficient!
A people divided. Infighting between Tory sympathizers and Patriots was as destructive as any onslaught by the British troops. Kings Mountain and Cowpens battlefield parks share some great insight on battle strategy, the role of luck (bad or good) in the outcome of battles, the difference between leadership and commanding, and the impact of these more obscure battles on the final outcome of the war. Strategy, double envelopment; bait them in, strategically regroup, then surround them. Patriot victories “spirited” the general population to take up arms when up til then they had hesitated to side with the Patriot forces…”who could never win” against the British. History, it can be great fun when it is hands on and I don’t have to take a test at the end!
South Carolina BBQ. Smoky dry roasted served with tangy, vinegary mustard sauce or tomato based sauce with a kick of hot peppers. It was good stuff. I was full so passed up the homemade peach cobbler. I sort of regretted that even as I was leaving the place. I am sure it was fantastic.
We couldn’t leave without checking out the view fromClingmans Dome. It’s THE view in the Smokys. The day is perfect with clear skies and only lightSmokyMountainblue haze. We can see mountain landmarks inVirginia,Tennessee, andNorth Carolina. Beautiful.
We couldn’t resist a short walk out the Appalachian trial. It runs the narrow ridge right across the Dome with great views on either side. Each time I set foot on some section of that trail I think how cool it might be to hike it….probably not end to end since a lot of it is in developed areas.. but at least some selection sections. Sleeping on hard ground and logistics of supplies will likely deter me from ever following through….but who knows!?
Deep Creek, Smoky Mountains
We drove some pretty remote sections of the Park along the ridges above the Parkway and the Cherokee Reservation. There were great vistas and a quiet that made falling leaves seem loud. It was a good excursion but, no bears to be seen.
But back in the town of Cherokee my wish for a bear sighting was fulfilled, sort of.
Proud, brave, wise, and at one with nature. Life size statues of the noble black bear stand street side. They have been painted by Native American artists to reflect elements of the Cherokee culture and beliefs. It is powerful imagery.
We skipped Ocracoke Island, the ferry wait was too long for our patience. I can’t really say why, we had no where else to be, but 1 ½ hours was just too long. We will have to check out Blackbeard’s stomping grounds another time.
The kite boarders were out all along the sound side of the islands. Some kites hovered as the riders prepared to set off and others darted past one another at amazing speeds and close proximity. We watched a while and Kent even got an invite to give it a try from a 60s something guy who claimed, “We have guys in their 70s out there doing it”. He says it’s much easier to learn that wind surfing…..probably not on our list of to do things ….we will see. It looks like great fun, maybe on a slightly less crowed beach front.
They moved Americas Lighthouse, the 210 foot high brick Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. The beach had eroded severely and the lighthouse was in danger of toppling. They moved it on a trolley much like the shuttle crawler at Canaveral, simpler I suppose and a lot cheaper I hope. It would have been great to see.
The towering black and white swirl is an impressive sight.
We met an interesting guy. He is an avid duck hunter who led a bird walk at the Pea Island Reserve. It is always interesting to hear other’s perspectives. His take is that “the birds don’t need all that space”. Just give one section, they will move to where people won’t bother them. I’d say he sees these islands as people’s islands and the birds will just have to deal with whatever little space we leave to them.
The attempt to balance preservation and economic use pits the National Park folks against the local businesses that make a living renting beach vehicles or beach fishing. The park just closed a couple more sections of beach for nesting plovers and locals are in an uproar. We just enjoyed the birding and the beach. It is easier to be a visitor.