Away for the Weekend!

Do you see Grandfather's profile?

Not sure what brought it on- I'm just glad it happened. Jason Harwell (the husband of my wife's dear friend, with whom I have struck up a profound friendship) felt the need to clear out of town for a weekend. So Daniel, his brother, and I joined him in a jaunt up to Grandfather Mountain where his family has a place... and not just any place. The photo above was taken off the back deck!

After catching a quick bit at Taqueria del Sol (where else?) we drove up to Blowing Rock, NC in beautiful weather. By that night, though, we heard thunder approaching and saw lightning flashing. Seriously, we saw...

 Thunder Snow!

Jason called this "Snizzle." I call it SNOW, dog!

Inside the chateau

The snow held us back not at all, though. We had movies (Trading Places yes, that one and Kurusawa's Seven Samurai) and it was NCAA Final Four. If you're gonna watch basketball, those are the games to catch. Ah, Butler.....sigh... We had plenty of popcorn and brownies to make it through. 

We also did some hiking and some "driveway" maintenance. The road washes out pretty seriously. I couldn't help but think of the CCC workers who built the Blue Ridge Parkway. Sure, roadwork isn't much fun but if you got to see this every time you looked up? Good work if you can get it. Jason tells me that the BRP construction crews, North and South, joined not far from le chateau.
 

Outside the chateau.

On the Blue Ridge Pkwy, 20 yards from le chateau.

 The main goal of the weekend was to decompress. No internet, no rules. Just three fathers without their email. The conversation flowed nicely.
Since all the snow melted by midday Saturday, we were able to make a dream come true on Sunday.

A dream comes to fruition- the boys sip morning coffee on the porch.

Thanks, Harwells (and Dalelios). It was a great weekend.
-r