The Carolinas are definitely a place we loved and will return for longer period of time. We spent May 21-30 in South Carolina in Fairplay which is close to Greenville and close to dear friends, Mary Jo and Tim. They chose this area to build their retirement home on lakefront property which we would love to share with them. We enjoyed our time together by visiting several antique places to help decorate their new lake home. Besides that we also tried to find the many waterfalls located in the area. We did find Isaquenna Falls; Whitewater Falls; and Blue Sluice Falls where we watch the kayakers and rubber rafts shoot the rapids in that area. From here we drove around to various areas trying to find the other falls – if we found them it was a hike with rough terrain or we could not find them at all. We also spent time with her brother and wife – Pete and Janet – and fell in love with their waterfront property. We are so tempted to sell and buy waterfront property here – but we continued on and found we are doing exactly what we want to do. Next stop was in Boone, NC. We went to see Mast General Store which was built in 1883. The building had a character all of its own with slanted floors, unleveled stairs due to use, and an old post office that was still operational. To top that off it had some neat clothes, old fashion candy and other stuff. Wow to see the old store and be able to shop at the same time – what more can you ask for! We finished the day by going to Grandfather Mountain which is the highest peak of the Blue Ridge Mountains at 5280 feet above sea level. There you walk across a swinging bridge that is 5300 feet high – and luckily it did not swing that much!!!

Next we packed a lunch and took Blitz and headed to Love Valley NC – a place Jack’s brother, Tom, spent some time in 1965. Love Valley was a dream of Andy Barker as he always wanted to live in a western town. In 1954 he purchased land in the foothills of the Brushy Mountains, north of Statesville, NC, moved his family and built his town. It is now known as Cowboy Capital and no cars are allowed in the small town where rodeos, horse parades, benefit concerts and cook-offs among other events take place. We even met Andy Barker and his wife in the hardware store he actively runs at age 83.

From here we headed to the Blue Ridge Parkway for a beautiful drive back to camp. The various shades of green trees, mountains, Mount Laurel flowers of white, pink or even orange made the drive breathtaking. Can only image what the drive is like in the fall season. We will return again and hopefully in the fall. The Carolinas definitely appeal to us and we will return in the near future. For now we are shuffling off to Buffalo – or rather Rochester to spend time with our son.