Day 18 - Shopping and Picnic in Grayson Highlands State Park

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Sunday!

This morning I went for a drive with Martha and Emily to Jefferson to Ingles Grocery Shopping Centre! I guess it sounds kind of boring, but it's great to see the little differences between Australia and USA. It was also a really pretty drive to Jefferson, snaking through all the little towns and seeing all the interesting houses.

We were stocking on some groceries and preparing for a BBQ and jam we were to have later in the day with a few friends.

The Picnic was really nice. Set in the Grayson Highlands State Park. I met the Spencer's friends like Deana and Ersel, Gail and his wife (sorry forgot her name), and Eric and Maisy, and I met Martha's brother, Kilby for the first time as well.

Martha's friend Deana also showed us around some of the heritage houses in the park. She is a ranger for the park.

It was great fun and a privilege to be hanging out with everyone and playing great music.

At night we stopped off at Massie Gap (we would walk there in the day time).

Back at Jackson's place, we watched a couple of bluegrass videos, one called "High Lonesome" and another one about "Jimmy Martin". They were really interesting and quite funny as well, especially the one about Jimmy!

We were checking out Jackson's new fiddle as well. I'm waiting for the Rooster fiddle! Hopefully Martha can bring it to Australia next year.

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Photos

Jackson's fiddle
Jackson's latest Fiddle. He's up to the varnishing stage. Looks pretty good!

Morning in Whitetop
I like this one of Jackson.

The grey ghost
I thought this was a nice photo of one of the kittens

On the way to the picnic
Grayson Highlands State Park is extremely beautiful

Huge Tomatoes
One of Emily's friends gave us some produce, including these huge tomatoes

Thornton
Thornton kicking off the jamming

Getting ready for lunch
A little Southern hospitality

Ersel on the guitar
Ersel was a great guy and good friend of the Spencers

Jackson, Martha and Deana
Deana is a park ranger and Martha's friend from school

Martha putting in her order
She wants a rooster fiddle. I want one too!

Jackson's workshop
The light box is to dry his fiddle (not to grow certain plants!)