One cannot visit Asheville, North Carolina and not go to visit the Biltmore. The house itself was pretty much what we expected to see. However the gardens and the care they receive is extraordinary. I will add that the care that is taken in the details is as fine as I have seen anywhere.
The first evening we were treated to the fireflies on a lawn in Luray.The following day started with the guided tour of the luray caverns an extraordinary event. I had no idea it was there. If ever you have the opportunity I encourage the detour. A second long day of driving, as we headed for skyline drive (shenandoah national park) for part of the trip to Asheville, NC. Stopping for ice cream at the pink cadillac. Both days driving at 2:30 pm we had thunderstorms with torrential rain, only lasting 1/2 hour each time, enough to merit pulling to the side of the road until it passed. We have not made much westing on our trip to California yet.
Perhaps my most favorite saying from my most favorite movie (I Know Where I’m Going) While I am stretching the intent of the phrase in this case; this intrepid group was traveling by jumping trains, hitchhiking and any other means to get around. On this day, they could not play music to beg as it was illegal, but the have a sign and panhandle was not.
They considered themselves migrant workers. Willing to pick potatoes, or anything that needed collecting. Their goal was to save enough to buy a truck so that travel would not be quite as hard.
It does not perhaps seem very realistic; what they were doing; but why not? It would certainly make very interesting reading if they were to write it down. Not just the travails of their journey, but the interaction with those they meet.
I asked if I could photograph them and they consented. I added that I was going to write a post, which left them scratching their heads. I gave them some water and some power bars, because that is what I travel with; a woman came up to them very shortly after that and gave them what must have been enough to meet their goal, because they picked up and left.
