Driving around West Virginia we seemed to constantly get ourselves going on narrow roads with no sure sign that we were headed the right way or that they wouldn’t simply dead-end at some point. No big deal in a car, but when you’re pulling your house behind you, it suddenly becomes rather important that dirt roads don’t simply come to a narrow end.
Quite a number of people asked to see our hitch set-up. A few days before we picked up the Airstream I had a new electrical plug installed as well as a brake controller. So we’ve got a weight distribution hitch, sway bars, electric brakes, and an electric jack. Pretty nice arrangement. Tows smooth and straight. The truck struggles a bit on the bigger hills, but nothing we’re not used to after a couple of years with the Travco. The biggest drawback to this truck pulling this is that the transmission doesn’t have synchros, which makes it impossible to shift into first gear except from a dead stop. So when we’re headed up a big hill, if second gear can’t do the pulling, we need to actually stop in order to shift down into first. But this would be a rare occasion anyway.
On the way to Asheville, NC, with both beautiful weather and a beautiful changing of the seasons.
The creek was almost impossible to see beneath the bed of leaves.
We’d place one base out around second, and when the kids would hit the ball the fielder would try to get it and throw it at the batter before he could get out to the base and back home again. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen the two of them laugh so much as they did trying to avoid getting hit/tagged out.
Giving the hermit crabs a little exercise before bedtime.
Ali’s sister and our niece and nephew are in town. We all met up in Asheville on our first day and wandered around a bit before driving up into the hills to the house we had rented.
While wandering around town our kids basically grab anything that they can find that they can construe as a treasure. In Asheville, this included 4 lengths of leather scraps from one store, and Hillary signs from another. A bold choice in this very red state. Of course the signs would make perfect robots when we got home.
Later on that night I got an e-mail from the management company of the house we had rented. In it, they asked us to please remove the political signs in the front yard. I walked outside to find that Lowe had stuck them in the bushes in an area that wasn’t within view of the road. The only place they could be seen was from one neighbor’s window. Apparently we were now under surveillance.
Such a great time of year to be out here.
34 Comments on “Carolina In My Mind”
Wonderful Fall colours.
Best pictures yet! The one of Ouest and Lowe in the tub is priceless. And I’m not entirely sure what is going on in the last one. Are you about to get conked on the head by an errant cloud?
Yes racing home on the Blue Ridge Parkway before the rain.
These photos are all exceptional, but that one of Lowe against the golden leaves just slays me.
“Nothing Gold Can Stay” ~ Robert Frost
Lovely… no HDR needed!
Asheville is wonderful this time of year. The kids would love tubing on the French Broad, but it’s a bit cold for that right now. The River Arts district is fun to visit, and if you like Indian food, try Mela. The Grove Park Inn (an historic hotel) also has some breathtaking views.
Native of WNC. Grew up in Brevard, now live in Asheville. Sorry to have missed you. If you’re still local, I’ll be at Lexington Avenue Glass (glass blowing kid/dog ok) 1:30-6p
Ever give some thought to publishing a coffee table book of your travel pictures?
Pat, now admittedly I have not practiced this in an old truck pulling a heavy load up hill, but at least in theory a well timed double-clutch rev-match should snick the trans into first without grinding or coming to a full and complete stop. Seems like something you might have done in the 356 or the VW bus, or perhaps those old German gear boxes were full synchromesh decades before the International was built?
Welcome to my home state! We are always itching to go somewhere as far away as possible, and sometimes I forget how beautiful it really is here.
Check out Biltmore if you get a chance. Its full of tourists but worth seeing.
We made it there, the inside house lines were crazy. The kids couldn’t understand why we were waiting in line to look at a bed. The estate is gorgeous and the farm made it more worth it for the kids.
Time for you to get a small drone to scout ahead, not to mention the fun you would all have playing with it.
Suggestion for Friday late afternoon and evening. Sooo much fun:
“Don’t miss the drum circle, a favorite Asheville tradition for both locals and visitors. Anyone can participate by drumming, dancing or watching. Stop by the Asheville Drum Circle on every Friday night (warm weather months) in Pritchard Park downtown on Patton Avenue at College Street. Join folks of every age and description. Watch people dance to the thunderous rhythm of the dozens of drums. Or better yet, join in by playing or dancing! See the individuality and diversity of Asheville.”
Great pictures as usual. The colors are all gone up here in New England, but they let us keep our blue political signs.
As an old f@rt, I learned to drive at age 10 in a ’46 Willy’s Jeep with a non-synchro gear box. One of the things we had to learn was how to double clutch to drop into first without stopping. Look on youtube if you want, but it’s dead simple and just takes a bit of practice to get the RPM’s right. Clutch in, pop out of second into neutral, clutch out, rev to correct sound, clutch in, pop into first, clutch out. Rinse and repeat. After you have it nailed without the trailer, you should be able to hook up and only stop when that’s your intent.
Great photos you guys. Thanks for sharing. I really like the one of Ouest at bat. Looks like she could easily knock one “outta the park”.
I live in BC, but spent some time in and around Asheville. Loved it there. Enjoy your stay. Watch out fer them nosy neighbors. I thought it was a free country.
Gorgeous! Ashville is on our list to visit for sure!
Lovely pics. The kids are getting so big (especially Lowe!). NC is actually about 50/50 now with a real chance to move to purple this election. People are touchy right now though.
You guys are the greatest. Always love reading your Posts. Carry on my friends (whom I have never met.) 🙂
One of my favorite posts EVER! The colors (and kids) are so beautiful!! XO
Absolutely spectacular photos! Your children are full of light and laughter. Delightful!
I was in Asheville this weekend! It was so pretty. What a wonderful drive, and a great little city to explore.
The Folk Art Museum on the Blue Ridge Parkway is a freebie and only about 20 minutes from down town, head north off of Tunnel Road.
The weather is supposed to warm up and clear off this week so the higher altitude stuff (high for around here) will be more tolerable.
Asheville Pizza and Brewing on Merrimon is inside an old movie theater. Eat pizza, drink beer and watch a movie with the kids. Check out online to see what is playing. Also it has a huge game room the kids would like.
Google double clutching and you’ll be able to downshift into any gear at any time you want.
I love reading about your adventures and these fall photos with the kids were some of the best. I hope your kids know what awesome parents they have. Happy trails!
Pat Wanna drive old stuff, then you gotta learn to double clutch. I do it all the time in my Road Ranger gearbox truck. Then once you have mastered that you can go up and down through th gears without using the clutch. Just aim for about 13-1500RPM difference between gears. Also remember that the gate of the gears is a square H parallel with the chassis rails and you are sitting offside of it so it takes a bit of concentration to just knock it in the right slot as you change. Try it, its a hoot to drive up through the gears and back down with your clutch foot on the dash.
The world or the universe is your magnificent and spacious apartment. Nature is the largest and most beautiful playroom for your children. And yet you have nothing. That is freedom.
I like this. It should be used as a quote in the inside cover of a book someday – written by Ouest. (We will be in touch for your permission and full name of course.)
Drove an 18 wheeler for a while. Seldom used the clutch except for starting from a dead stop. Slow, easy & gentle
shifts were kind to the gearbox. Suggest you practice double clutching without the trailer, start on level ground at slow speeds & work your way up, & “Be gentle”
Asheville is on it’s way to being “loved to death” (see Boulder, Bozeman, etc).
Look at a map of the SouthEast. Asheville is the most accessible “mountain” town for nearby Atlanta, Charlotte, Greenville (all part of the I-85 Megalopolis to come).
It’ll look much the same, it’ll just get so freaking expensive… going into lunacy. My partner-in-crime and I are already looking afield. Close, but also close to Charlotte and Boone and a little more laid back.
Asheville was good for a few days but I can see what you are saying. We weren’t in town much, always off driving to the different parks, and we rented a house in Marshall, which was a cute small town.
Curious to get your opinion of Asheville tacos if you’ve had the chance to sample.
My review is that they’ve been “crafted” into ridiculousness.
I went to White Duck Tacos and I thought they were nasty. Just give me a taco instead of these pretentious “craft” tacos!
No tacos were consumed in Asheville – our nephew isn’t a fan of Mexican food. I know, right?! But White Duck was on my list – but agree they sounded a bit fancy. Lowe’s meat with a tortilla would have probably been messed up. 😉
Pat Ali I know you guys are busy but have you ever thought of putting up a “where have we been” type page with a map of USAand the real world and a coloured snail trail running around it. Primarily so us foreigners and old farts with a decaying memory can get a sense of your travels. Thanks Muzza