Jen and Eric's Wedding

They called it the first look, or something equally romantic. It’s the moment when the father of the bride sees his daughter in her wedding gown. The father stood on the alcove until his daughter touches his shoulder and turning there she is. The little girl who once wore rabbit ears was now a stunning woman grown, where did the years go?

We had flown to North Carolina for our daughter’s wedding. Guests had arrived from as far away as San Francisco. The couple has been blessed with so many friends and family. The destination wedding, at a mountain resort allowed us to meet the groom’s family and friends.

Now we stood poised to walk down the sandy beach and of course it started to pour as a torrential mountain downpour swept over the ridge. The wedding facilitator and others quickly ignored the rain and carried the folding chairs into the reception building, a rustic dance hall and speakeasy built in 1904.

It all fit into the theme, a nineteen twenties wedding. The guests were mostly dressed in flapper dresses, zoot suits, knickers and bow ties. Waiting at the door the music started, the theme song from Jurassic Park, and I made a few steps before bursting into tears. Trying to smile we walked slowly down the aisle and reaching the minister, Jen’s Aunt Mona. I still tried to smile but I was simply overcome with emotion and love as I handed her to the bridegroom.

The words were all said, stories of love told and sacred vows exchanged. Renita and I cried but we were not alone as I glanced at the groom’s parents. Her dad, also named Mark and her Mom were all we could hope for. Jen was marrying into a close knit and loving family.

Later we gathered in the speakeasy as the rain finally stopped and heading back upstairs the music begin and the dances followed. The newlyweds smiled as they danced their first dance and then it was the groom and his mother's turn.

Now it was my time to dance with Jen and the song I had picked was one of my favorites. It was a 1930’s jazz recording of Summertime, sung by Bille Holiday. When I was a teacher I would start singing it every May and here I was trying to follow the words.

The dance floor itself was filled with dancing and artistry. At least seven of the guests, were or had been professional dancers and the movements and energy filled the hall. Jen herself was once a member of a professional Jazz Dance Company and she picked up her train and did her steps with ease.

The last dance played and it was time to wish our families and friends goodbye. I never got to make my toast, I know I would have botched it and broke into more tears of joy, and so I write it here, “ To Jen and Eric, and to the family and friends. May the blessings and friendships from this marriage last through time.” Clear skies

Floating Wilsons Creek, at Brown Mountain Beach Resort in Western North Carolina

I now know what a pinball feels like, while its bouncing from bumper to bumper without any control. That’s because I was a human pinball as I rode the inner tube down Wilsons Creek while bouncing off the rocks and boulders being propelled from chute to chute and rapid to plunge pool.

Renita and I had left Star Valley, driven to Salt Lake City, and flown to Charlotte, North Carolina for our daughter’s wedding. It was a destination wedding at a resort, located between Morgenton and Lenoir.

The soon to be married couple had chosen the location as it had all the requisites. These included waterfalls, trees, and it was an in between place where all the families and friends could meet.

It was the day before the wedding and a group of seventeen daredevil individuals carried each one’s tube down the tree shrouded path to the water’s edge. Pushing off required all to dodge some low rocks and to learn not to allow ones behind to stick through the bottom of the tube. This was because the rocks and bottom were a way of getting hung up and it hurt when you hit a rock!

Quickly the group became separated as the myriad channels moved at different speeds. Compounding this, was the frequent stops as everyone bounced off rocks and learned, I already said this, to not let one’s bottom stick through the bottom of the tube as you got hung up.

Even though many of the floaters were good swimmers, it also became quickly apparent that one could not control the tube. Trying to change direction with one’s arms and legs by paddling and kicking had almost no effect. So when the minister, Mona, became stuck in the middle of a rapids almost everyone sped by all out of control and unable to help.

Luckily the bride, knowing that the minister was an important component of the wedding, was able to get near her and talk her through the white water and large boulders, (Jen had earlier told us she would allow nothing to stop her wedding).

Meanwhile I heard the water roaring and realized I was near a waterfall/chute that I really didn’t want to go down. Attempting to stop, the current sped up and, like everyone else, I had no choice but to go along for the ride!

Surviving the ordeal, it was really fun after all , I was able to stop and take images of others as they screamed, shouted, and laughed, as the water took them for their own bobsled ride.

The rest of the way to the resort was more of the same. I was never in control and like the proverbial pinball bounced from rock to rock as they acted like bumpers and flippers spinning me down the stream.

Finally, I reached the old broken dam surviving one more rapids and catching up with the rest of the group in a large slow pool. A rope hung from the far side and a large group of thrill seekers headed over to it but I decided that I was too tired and paddled to the beach.

Everyone had fun and some of the group rode the rapids the day of the wedding. However, I was in the wedding party and so I watched with envy as I dressed in my finest and waited for pictures. Clear skies

The Trip Back To Wyoming, Service Berry Time, and a Welcome Sunset

We said our goodbyes on Saturday night, and after lots of hugs woke up to an early morning wake up call. Our flight was due to leave Raleigh at seven am and so we took a taxi to the airport, it only cost forty five dollars, (I can buy lots of rocks for forty five dollars).

The flight left on time and again was packed to the gills. Several people were singing, “Viva Las Vegas”, which was where the plane was heading. I wondered if they would be singing or simply stewing over their losses on their flight back home. Renitas relatives lived in Las Vegas, we visited it often, and as we are not gamblers the city has little appeal.

The second flight was also on time and by twelve thirty local time we were driving back to Star Valley. Deciding to take a different route and we drove to Logan and then up Logan Canyon to Bear Lake. Bear Lake is a large natural lake that formed when earthquake faults, still active, formed a natural depression. It’s almost exactly like the San Andreas Lakes just south of San Francisco.

The rest stop had several humming bird feeders set up and they were swarmed by Broad Tailed Hummingbirds. We drove through a series of small towns and wanted to stop for dinner but this area was settled by Mormons and all the restaurants and grocery stores close on Sunday. Luckily there was a fast food place in Afton and so we didn’t have to cook dinner at the end of a long day.

The next day we rested even though we knew it was service berry season. We did call our friends Val and George, who told us the berries were ripe and the bushes full. The next morning we ate breakfast and then headed up McCoy Road in search of the delicious little purple berry.

Our very first stop produced almost a gallon of berries! Keeping an eye out for bears we made two other stops and had over two gallons of berries in less than two hours. Last year I had only picked a quart which made four jars of jam and this year I hope to make enough for Christmas gifts.

The next night we were greeted with a beautiful sunset, and even though our neighbor John, took lots of pictures for his blog, I still had to take a few for ours. The summer is going fast and we still need to go to Flaming Gorge and Colorado for more fishing. Then we have another show and it will be time for Doctors and packing before we head to Florida.

Clear skies

Ben and Louise, A Family Wedding and Gathering

Ever since we got the wedding invitation to Louise and Ben's wedding, we knew we simply had to attend. It’s a long way to North Carolina and so we bought our first plane tickets in ten years, made reservations on line, and kept in touch using texts, email, and even a little snail mail.

It’s been a while since we had a family gathering, the last time was Yesmeen’s and Pete’s wedding, and so Renita had to go dress shopping and I had to see if my suit still fit. We even got the dog into a plush kennel and drove to Salt Lake City the day before our flight.

Going through security, I got to experience a pat down search and even had my hands tested for nitrates. After that the day went smoothly until we got to Baltimore. There we ran into a strong cold front and plane problems, causing a six hour delay.

Arriving in Raleigh, North Carolina, we collapsed in the hotel room and slept fitfully in a strange bed. The next morning we slept in late before meeting Jenn and Eric for a southern breakfast at an excellent restaurant. The menu included giant pancakes and fried catfish and of course that’s what I ordered.

Soon it was time to dress up and make the short walk to the wedding. Arriving early we had a chance to catch up on family news and reacquaint ourselves and meet for the first time members of Louise and Ben’s family. Some were from Norway and even Egypt and it’s such a blessing to visit with people from other cultures.

The music started and there was the bride and my brother walking down the aisle as Ben waited, tears in everyone’s eyes. The vows were exchanged, the words all said, and the kiss sealed the event, now it was party time!

As Ben and Louise both swing dance, a lesson was given to the guests and almost everyone filled the dance floor, (I definitely have two left feet). There being no dance judges no one noticed and the dancing was only interrupted by the wedding dinner. Most people behaved themselves but there were a couple in a dark corner making out like teenagers, (don’t worry C and G, I won’t post your picture).

It was a great gathering of the families, all too rare now days. Our family is spread out all over the country and so this was a special time for us. Renita and I stayed till the reception ended, which was way past my bedtime.

It was a blessing to be able to attend the festivities! Thank you Louise and Ben. Clear skies

Heading North into a Giant Traffic Jam

We left Charleston and headed North through Columbia and then Charlotte, North Carolina. The traffic was ok and we turned off I 26 onto ! 77.  It picked up a bit as we crossed into North Carolina but we hit Charlotte at the right time and it wasn't heavy. About the only thing I remember was crossing the Pee Pee River.
Entering Virginia we stated to climb the Blue Ridge Mountains and the truck traffic became heavy as the rigth lane was full of slow moving trucks and the second lane had trucks that were trying to pass. Our Chevy climbed the hill with ease and we passed vehicle after vehicle climbing to the gap,(Out west we call these passes but here they are called gaps, hence the term water gap?).
It was a beautiful drive and then we saw the sign, I 81 was closed ahead due to a sinkhole collapse. We were ready to stop anyway as we had driven over 340 miles,a a long day for us, and so we took exit 101 on I 81 for Claytor State Park.
The park was virtually empty and we had our choice of campsites. Campground D had a bunch of pull throughs and even though the online site said that the maximum was 35 feet we didn;t have to unhook our truck as we stayed attached and just slid.
Going to the kiosk I discovered that while camping cost just 26.25 we had to pay 5.25 in a pet fee for our dog! 5.25 for a shi-tsu! I talked with another camper and he said that you only had to pay 15 dollars for a week, how kind of Virginia, I thought as I decided to spend as little as possible in a state that charges for dogs.
It was pretty there and we did have a nice walk to the lake. We saw cardinals and titmouse and lots of eastern towhees and it was cold so cold! The temperature dropped to forty degrees that night and it frosted in the area but not where we were at. We left the next morning having no idea of the mess we were heading into.
The news had reported on the sink hole and the first sign we saw said a detour had been made so we thought no big deal right. The sign read that the detour was from exit 195 and then back on I 81 on mile marker 200. It didn't sound bad until I had to stand on my brakes as the truck in front of me suddenly stopped at mile marker 187, oh no a seven mile traffic jam!
A Virgina DOT pickup backed past us with its sign telling people to slow down, and I realized that the Virginia people didn't have a clue. It took us an hour to go two miles. As the next hour passed we reached an exit for I-64,(mile marker 191 and still four miles from the detour), and using the GPS and truckers atlas Renita found a route so we headed west and then north on  US 11(At that point we wer still four miles from the detour exit).
It turned out to be a great decision as we only had to stop for a few minutes as we crossed under I 81 and we found the spot where the traffic was exiting the jam and merging onto 11. We made it past the jam! We did have to stop a few places but after 20 miles of detour we reentered 1-81 and sped back up!

We had planned on driving to a rv park at the north end of the Blue Ridge Parkway but Renita consulted the Woodalls and found out it was rated a two, which is real bad! It was priced at 38-68 bucks a night and as I was tired I had almost resigned myself to finding a walmart when She found another park at Winchester, Virignia.

It was far enough north for us to visit Antietam and Harpers Ferry but still close enough for us to Check out Shenandoah National Park, so we grimaced a bit and paid for four mights at forty six dollars a night! At least it was a nice quiet place outside the city limits. Time to rest a bit and become tourists as we sight see some history. Clear skies.