http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/North-Carolina/Asheville/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from North America , United States , North Carolina , Asheville en-us Sat, 25 May 2013 01:32:43 +0000 Sat, 25 May 2013 01:32:43 +0000 Geri invited me down to Asheville North Carolina to spend a few days with her family and friends. Geris mother and father Margaret and George had rented a great little cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains just outside Asheville. Geris best friend Shelly flew in from California.We hiked around the mountains walked around Asheville and ate really amazing food. Margaret is a gourmet chef. Geo http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/North-Carolina/Asheville/blog-752605.html Well the arrival in Ashville was fairly impressive itself. We drove into town and decided that we should definitely have flowers for the soon to be Shannon Tourto a.k.a Shorto Especially as I was showing up to their wedding uninvited without ever having met the two before. So we went to a supermarket picked some flowers up and drove to the Tourto abode. What better way to arrive than sitting on http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/North-Carolina/Asheville/blog-752478.html July 6 2010On a sultry July morning we and a few thousand others toured America39s largest house the Biltmore located in Ashville North Carolina. Opened in 1895 by George Vanderbilt the 250 room home was opened to the public in 1930. It is not a cheap tour. We were able to get 40 tickets through AAA. You can also receive a small discount if you buy your tickets on line. On the day we we http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/North-Carolina/Asheville/blog-744046.html Here are some of the pictures from my time in Asheville more to come. http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/North-Carolina/Asheville/blog-730539.html http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/North-Carolina/Asheville/blog-714551.html Rise and Shine. Day 3 of the road trip upon us... which means another 7 hours and 59 minutes on the road before getting home. BUT to make the most of the trip we decided we39d at least have try to see a little bit more of downtown Asheville. Having experienced the wonderful hot breakfast that Hampton Inn served yesterday we decided to head back to the fancy McDonalds for breakfast. Hopefully http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/North-Carolina/Asheville/blog-698043.html Day two. We woke up early today excited to have a hot breakfast Hampton Inn style only to be disappointed.ltspangtltspangtltspangtltspangt For some reason this Hampton Inns definition of a hot breakfast consists of fresh waffles but microwaved pancakes chicken biscuits and French toast.ltspangt Not very hot and not very good.ltspangt We were disappointed but had a http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/North-Carolina/Asheville/Biltmore-Village/blog-698036.html 7 hours and 59 minutes... that39s the amount of time that it takes to travel from Alexandria VA to Asheville NC. On Saturday March 10th we embarked on this road trip. 7 hours and 59 minutes sounds a little daunting but with good company and a comfortable car... all is good.We drove for 4.5 hours and did a pit stop in Durham. We stopped by Durham for lunch at the Backyard BBQ. This was a big http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/North-Carolina/Asheville/blog-698023.html Today is flight day I have two classes to take then I will be on my way to AVL. I hate flying so Im not really looking forward to the flying part but to visit Katrine is worth it. After Asheville I fly to Chicago then the big flight to Brussels which is when I will be taking my xanax which currently I cannot find so it may have to be NyQuil then ariving in Brussels around 8 or 9 in the morni http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/North-Carolina/Asheville/blog-693079.html The Biltmore I spent today in Asheville North Carolina visiting the Biltmore.Its a Gilded Age masterpiece that happens to be the largest house ever built in the US.Visiting here creates a painful dilemma.Biltmore is an entirely private attraction so it charges very high admission fees to pay the cost of keeping the place running.The fees are so high that the only way to justify a visit is t http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/North-Carolina/Asheville/Biltmore-Village/blog-686646.html So we made it to Ashville tired and hungry after our big walk in the Smokies but we made it to David Castros couchsurfer house and got on with making pie beans and mash with gravy some nice home comfort food. Mr Castro was an interesting fellow he was a TV writer and had written for such shows as Married with Children so over a bottle of red wine he shared a lot of interesting stories http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/North-Carolina/Asheville/Biltmore-Village/blog-653922.html Nashville. The home of Country and Western A place where every second door takes you into a world of crooning chiseledjaws wearing flannels cowboy hats denim and boots Also a place where I had been told a good time was to be had by all. Joey and I searched for it. We searched high and low but after about the 15th bar proved to be as dull as the last we called it a night and headed back to th http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/North-Carolina/Asheville/blog-638504.html Today was the much anticipated day when Katherine and I got to go on a canopy tour adventure. You39ve probably seen the squirrel billboards around town. We drove up to the Navitat adventure center in Barnardsville not far from where the Hollars and Noels live and prepared ourselves for a new and exciting experience. The two of us joined 4 other people and 2 Navitat guides who rigged us up and http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/North-Carolina/Asheville/blog-635369.html We are here in Asheville North Carolina... or 39Naa Caliiiina39 as all those Southern bus drivers say. Just been out for an amazing brunch at 39Sunny Point Cafe39 and got to try the legend that is cheese grits for the first time. Verdict is that they are like porridge mixed with cous cous...but grittier. We have heard them being talked about all the time in the South one bus driver t http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/North-Carolina/Asheville/blog-630265.html I finally got to see Pirates of the Caribbean On Stranger Tides. The focus of this adventure was a race to find the fountain of youth. There is no such thing of course but it does connect nicely with my sabbatical theme . I even used this movie as an illustration back when I preach on Living Water and talked about my upcoming sabbatical. Sunday was wild and crazy and full of excitement. Jan http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/North-Carolina/Asheville/blog-624038.html Hey it39s Janine. Andrew Katherine and I dropped our traveler at the Asheville Airport this afternoon. He checked in while waiting for his connecting flight in Charlotte. He is enjoying all your cards while he flies. Enjoy the pictures from today. Thank you to everyone for a wonderful celebration http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/North-Carolina/Asheville/blog-613885.html What a great day at St. Mark39s The sendoff blessing during worship was so meaningful to our family. Then lunch was wonderful The food the decorations the remarks by Ed Hauser Pastor Seth and Nate Mueller all made the celebration perfect. Thank you to everyone for coming to say farewell. Thank you to Wolfie Suzanne and Blake for their help making the top 10 slide show make everyon http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/North-Carolina/Asheville/blog-613884.html I spent today packing my suitcase and getting everything together for my trip tomorrow. I can39t believe sabbatical is here I39ve had this date circled on my calendar for almost a year now http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/North-Carolina/Asheville/blog-613648.html 2nd Stop Asheville NCWe drive through the mountains of Tennessee and finally get to Asheville NC. We are following the back roads and passing some real live mountain folkyou know they39re actual mountain folk because they just sit on their porches all day waiting for an opportunity to wave at someonewhen our GPS named CeeCee tells us we have arrived at our destination. This can39t http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/North-Carolina/Asheville/blog-612484.html I love the feeling I get when I reach the mountains. There39s something inside of me that feels so at peace and in admiration for the way I feel so alive yet so small at the same time. That first glimpse the one that the camera doesn39t even come close to capturing where the mountains seem equally impressive in their depth as in their height and where they appear to roll on forever ..... http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/North-Carolina/Asheville/blog-612459.html