Time to play catch up
-- 5 September 2006 [Tuesday]
My first day back at work. Bummer, especially after that mountain hike. It was so peaceful, I would love to live up there I believe.
Nothing special at work that I can remember. Went home, we ate, went for a nice walk, played and went to bed. We are just trying to make it through this week to get back on track from our wonderful vacation. I'm already thinking of when/where we'll go next. I think Amanda and I agreed it will be to Williamsburg, Virginia to visit Mick and Carl. Another hotel with a pool, and maybe a little sightseeing. Just a long three day weekend. These seem to work best and let us have the most vacations with my limited amount of vacation time, instead of blowing a whole week every time.
-- 4 September 2006 [Monday]
Today was the day to head home. Just 12 miles north on the Blue Ridge Parkeway was a watefall that we found in my waterfall book and wanted to visit. It's called the Cascades waterfall. So after packing up the suitcass and checking out we drove there. In one word - FOG - it was unbelievable foggy on the BRP. I've never seen nor driven in fog like it. Once I got used to it, it was OK, but man was it foggy.
We found the waterfall OK, and did the hike. It was beautiful. The kids loved it as well, stopping to play in the stream that grew and grew as the path got closer to the falls. Cool day, misting a bit, hardly anyone there, trail to ourselves. Amanda decided we should hike the trail backwards so we did. She thought she remembered reading in my book something about doing that. I don't think there was a difference, but it was fun for sure! I can't wait to do more hikes with the kids and I am thankful Amanda likes to do that stuff as well. It was nice there were no bugs and humidity too.
After the waterfall we did the drive home. We stopped at a Sonic for lunch. Ate in the truck as they bring the food out to you. It was OK, nothing special to Amanda and I. Once last stop at a McDonalds much closer to home so the kids could stretch their legs and play (ate no food thank goodness). Amanda finished the drive home as I was just so tired and actually fell asleep in the truck, which is very, very unusual for me.
Overall it was a GREAT family vacation and I can't wait for our next one!
-- 3 September 2006 [Sunday]
Tweetsie - what more can I say. We spent the WHOLE day there. The weather was perfect. Overcast and a bit cooler at times which is what we want when we are outside all day without shade.
We grabbed a nice continental breakfast again in the hotel lobby and then drove to Tweetsie. Got there around 10am. We left at 6pm when they were closing the doors. All the kids were still awake too!
We did everything. Keegan was really dragging when we first got there, so I spent $5 to get a double push stroller for him and Ian and we pushed Carson in the umbrella stoller we had. That was a great decision as we used it the whole day and it was easy to steer through the crowds.
Carson did *every* single ride in that park and then went back and did his favorites multiple times. I couldn't believe it. It loves to be spun around. Neither Keegan nor I can take it, and Amanda can just deal with it so he has someone to go with. After a couple of the rides it took her some time to recouperate and she wouldn't go on them again. Carsons favorite ride by far was the airplane ride where he could move the stick up and down to control the height of the airplane. He was scared on bit being up high by himself on that. He went on the ferris wheel with me and even let go of the bar on our way down!!! He loved it!
Keegan liked the gas go-kart driving attraction the most I believe (after he mined for Gems of course!). He did try everything, except for the rides that spin you in one fashion or another. The ferris wheel didn't bother me at all motion sickness wise. That was a nice suprise for me.
I think my favorite was the chairlift that carried you up to the third level at Tweetsie. I could sit down and let my legs hang and relax them! :)
Of course Ian seemed to like everything and didn't scream. I took him and Carson on the Merry-Go-Round and he did great on that. He also rode in the go-karts and liked that too from what we could tell.
We had lunch there which wasn't too bad if you ignored their high prices. We brought in the chips and drinks from home which saved us money and just bought the corn dogs, hamburgers and hot dogs there.
The steam train ride was nice, except for the two stops it made to put on some kind of 'wild west' show. None of us cared for it, and in my opinion (and Keegans) it ruined a beautiful train ride in the mountains, although it would be quite short without those two stops. In fact Keegan didn't want to go on it again because he said it stopped too much and he had no interest in the shows as they were going on. I happy for that as I felt they weren't good either and not geared toward kids. That was the only disappointing part of our entire day.
We stopped at Kentucky Fried Chicken on the way back to the hotel and had the buffet which worked out great. Of course we had to get a large side of Macaroni and Cheese for the boys which they devoured. Amanda met an older couple in line ahead of her and they let her use their $3.99 buffet coupon, and we all know how much Amanda likes coupons! :) I think our total meal for all five of us was around $12. Now that's a bargain!
Once again the kids managed to stay away until the hotel and insisted we go swimming again. Nothing like putting on a still wet and cold swimsuit with a full stomach. Ugh. But it was fun in the end and relaxed us from all that walking.
-- 2 September 2006 [Saturday]
Kids got up early of course as the excitement of the trip was upon them. Amanda took Keegan and Carson to Home Depot for the 'First Saturday of every month' wood working project at 9am. While they were there I cleaned out the truck and loaded all our stuff up and got the cooler ready with drinks. Checked the tire in back and it only lost maybe 1/2 lb of air, so I think we'll be fine. Ian played outside as it was very nice and cool. Amanda got home around 10am and the kids shows me their bird houses they built.
On the road by about 10:15am. Drive went fine. We stopped at a gas station to eat lunch that Amanda had packed (this is really much nicer than fast food which costs money and isn't good for us anyway. Right across the street I saw a nice covered drive thru bay of a dry cleaning store and it turns out they closed for the day at Noon and since it was 12:15pm the place was empty, so we moved over there and ate lunch in the shade on the back of the tailgate. Kids loved it and so did we. It gives them a chance to stretch their legs as well.
We arrived at the Super 8 motel in Boone around 2pm. Very very nice hotel. Clean and pretty. Lots of brick and rock used in it. They let us check in early (check in was at 3pm) and we got our room on the 2nd floor, which was actually ground level in back since it was built on a small hill. Our window faced the lobby which I wasn't crazy about but we decided not to move. Of course the kids wanted to go swimming right away in the indoor pool so we did. We swam for about 1 1/2 hours and it was a nice way to unwind from the three hour truck ride there. We cleaned up then and headed over to Tweetsie Railroad in Blowing Rock (the next town over) around 4pm. This was the purpose of our trip this weekend. Tweetsie is only open until 6pm, but if you come in between 3pm and 6pm they let you come back for free the next day. So we figured we'd stop over for a couple of hours and scope the place out so we knew better the next day what to do. It worked out great. Most of the rides were empty by 4:30pm and we got on several. It's a neat place for sure. So glad we could take the kids their. I know Keegan and Carson will remember some of it, but Ian is probably too small. We had heard and read that this was the last year Tweetsie was going to remain open after being a NC landmark for 50+ years. It seems that they rent the land up there and the area has grown a lot and the land has become expensive and the current owner has thought about selling the land which is too expensive for Tweetsie to purchase so we wanted to make sure to get the kids out there at least once in case that scenario happens.
Stopped at Chik-Fil-A on the drive back to the hotel. Kids ate great and then played for awhile in the play area.
We couldn't believe that when we got back to the hotel that they weren't all asleep yet. It was just too exciting I guess and it makes me smile when I see how much fun they are having.
I can't remember if we got in a quick swim or not, but eventually we all fell asleep, anxious for our 'Big' day at Tweetsie tomorrow.
-- 1 September 2006 [Friday]
Got to leave work early today at 3:30pm. It was our last day of testing the RMS 4.5.0 release and we are done, so that was the reward. Worked out nice because tomorrow morning we leave for Boone, NC and our three day vacation. I am so looking forward to that.
Filled up the truck tires and noticed that the left rear was very low! Yikes, that has never happened. It must have a leak. Sure enough checked around and find a nail in the tire. What luck. BUT it was in fact luck, as I couldn't feel any air leaking. So I filled the tire up to 43 PSI and decided to check it in the morning. I'll see how much it leaks in that 15 hour period and decide if we should put the spare on now. Then I packed up the suitcases with the clothes Amanda had laid out and we got the kids in bed.
-- 31 August 2006 [Thursday]
We'll it's now Sept. 5th when I'm writing this, so unfortunately I can't recall anything about this day. I know I worked and went home as usual though. :)
My first day back at work. Bummer, especially after that mountain hike. It was so peaceful, I would love to live up there I believe.
Nothing special at work that I can remember. Went home, we ate, went for a nice walk, played and went to bed. We are just trying to make it through this week to get back on track from our wonderful vacation. I'm already thinking of when/where we'll go next. I think Amanda and I agreed it will be to Williamsburg, Virginia to visit Mick and Carl. Another hotel with a pool, and maybe a little sightseeing. Just a long three day weekend. These seem to work best and let us have the most vacations with my limited amount of vacation time, instead of blowing a whole week every time.
-- 4 September 2006 [Monday]
Today was the day to head home. Just 12 miles north on the Blue Ridge Parkeway was a watefall that we found in my waterfall book and wanted to visit. It's called the Cascades waterfall. So after packing up the suitcass and checking out we drove there. In one word - FOG - it was unbelievable foggy on the BRP. I've never seen nor driven in fog like it. Once I got used to it, it was OK, but man was it foggy.
We found the waterfall OK, and did the hike. It was beautiful. The kids loved it as well, stopping to play in the stream that grew and grew as the path got closer to the falls. Cool day, misting a bit, hardly anyone there, trail to ourselves. Amanda decided we should hike the trail backwards so we did. She thought she remembered reading in my book something about doing that. I don't think there was a difference, but it was fun for sure! I can't wait to do more hikes with the kids and I am thankful Amanda likes to do that stuff as well. It was nice there were no bugs and humidity too.
After the waterfall we did the drive home. We stopped at a Sonic for lunch. Ate in the truck as they bring the food out to you. It was OK, nothing special to Amanda and I. Once last stop at a McDonalds much closer to home so the kids could stretch their legs and play (ate no food thank goodness). Amanda finished the drive home as I was just so tired and actually fell asleep in the truck, which is very, very unusual for me.
Overall it was a GREAT family vacation and I can't wait for our next one!
-- 3 September 2006 [Sunday]
Tweetsie - what more can I say. We spent the WHOLE day there. The weather was perfect. Overcast and a bit cooler at times which is what we want when we are outside all day without shade.
We grabbed a nice continental breakfast again in the hotel lobby and then drove to Tweetsie. Got there around 10am. We left at 6pm when they were closing the doors. All the kids were still awake too!
We did everything. Keegan was really dragging when we first got there, so I spent $5 to get a double push stroller for him and Ian and we pushed Carson in the umbrella stoller we had. That was a great decision as we used it the whole day and it was easy to steer through the crowds.
Carson did *every* single ride in that park and then went back and did his favorites multiple times. I couldn't believe it. It loves to be spun around. Neither Keegan nor I can take it, and Amanda can just deal with it so he has someone to go with. After a couple of the rides it took her some time to recouperate and she wouldn't go on them again. Carsons favorite ride by far was the airplane ride where he could move the stick up and down to control the height of the airplane. He was scared on bit being up high by himself on that. He went on the ferris wheel with me and even let go of the bar on our way down!!! He loved it!
Keegan liked the gas go-kart driving attraction the most I believe (after he mined for Gems of course!). He did try everything, except for the rides that spin you in one fashion or another. The ferris wheel didn't bother me at all motion sickness wise. That was a nice suprise for me.
I think my favorite was the chairlift that carried you up to the third level at Tweetsie. I could sit down and let my legs hang and relax them! :)
Of course Ian seemed to like everything and didn't scream. I took him and Carson on the Merry-Go-Round and he did great on that. He also rode in the go-karts and liked that too from what we could tell.
We had lunch there which wasn't too bad if you ignored their high prices. We brought in the chips and drinks from home which saved us money and just bought the corn dogs, hamburgers and hot dogs there.
The steam train ride was nice, except for the two stops it made to put on some kind of 'wild west' show. None of us cared for it, and in my opinion (and Keegans) it ruined a beautiful train ride in the mountains, although it would be quite short without those two stops. In fact Keegan didn't want to go on it again because he said it stopped too much and he had no interest in the shows as they were going on. I happy for that as I felt they weren't good either and not geared toward kids. That was the only disappointing part of our entire day.
We stopped at Kentucky Fried Chicken on the way back to the hotel and had the buffet which worked out great. Of course we had to get a large side of Macaroni and Cheese for the boys which they devoured. Amanda met an older couple in line ahead of her and they let her use their $3.99 buffet coupon, and we all know how much Amanda likes coupons! :) I think our total meal for all five of us was around $12. Now that's a bargain!
Once again the kids managed to stay away until the hotel and insisted we go swimming again. Nothing like putting on a still wet and cold swimsuit with a full stomach. Ugh. But it was fun in the end and relaxed us from all that walking.
-- 2 September 2006 [Saturday]
Kids got up early of course as the excitement of the trip was upon them. Amanda took Keegan and Carson to Home Depot for the 'First Saturday of every month' wood working project at 9am. While they were there I cleaned out the truck and loaded all our stuff up and got the cooler ready with drinks. Checked the tire in back and it only lost maybe 1/2 lb of air, so I think we'll be fine. Ian played outside as it was very nice and cool. Amanda got home around 10am and the kids shows me their bird houses they built.
On the road by about 10:15am. Drive went fine. We stopped at a gas station to eat lunch that Amanda had packed (this is really much nicer than fast food which costs money and isn't good for us anyway. Right across the street I saw a nice covered drive thru bay of a dry cleaning store and it turns out they closed for the day at Noon and since it was 12:15pm the place was empty, so we moved over there and ate lunch in the shade on the back of the tailgate. Kids loved it and so did we. It gives them a chance to stretch their legs as well.
We arrived at the Super 8 motel in Boone around 2pm. Very very nice hotel. Clean and pretty. Lots of brick and rock used in it. They let us check in early (check in was at 3pm) and we got our room on the 2nd floor, which was actually ground level in back since it was built on a small hill. Our window faced the lobby which I wasn't crazy about but we decided not to move. Of course the kids wanted to go swimming right away in the indoor pool so we did. We swam for about 1 1/2 hours and it was a nice way to unwind from the three hour truck ride there. We cleaned up then and headed over to Tweetsie Railroad in Blowing Rock (the next town over) around 4pm. This was the purpose of our trip this weekend. Tweetsie is only open until 6pm, but if you come in between 3pm and 6pm they let you come back for free the next day. So we figured we'd stop over for a couple of hours and scope the place out so we knew better the next day what to do. It worked out great. Most of the rides were empty by 4:30pm and we got on several. It's a neat place for sure. So glad we could take the kids their. I know Keegan and Carson will remember some of it, but Ian is probably too small. We had heard and read that this was the last year Tweetsie was going to remain open after being a NC landmark for 50+ years. It seems that they rent the land up there and the area has grown a lot and the land has become expensive and the current owner has thought about selling the land which is too expensive for Tweetsie to purchase so we wanted to make sure to get the kids out there at least once in case that scenario happens.
Stopped at Chik-Fil-A on the drive back to the hotel. Kids ate great and then played for awhile in the play area.
We couldn't believe that when we got back to the hotel that they weren't all asleep yet. It was just too exciting I guess and it makes me smile when I see how much fun they are having.
I can't remember if we got in a quick swim or not, but eventually we all fell asleep, anxious for our 'Big' day at Tweetsie tomorrow.
-- 1 September 2006 [Friday]
Got to leave work early today at 3:30pm. It was our last day of testing the RMS 4.5.0 release and we are done, so that was the reward. Worked out nice because tomorrow morning we leave for Boone, NC and our three day vacation. I am so looking forward to that.
Filled up the truck tires and noticed that the left rear was very low! Yikes, that has never happened. It must have a leak. Sure enough checked around and find a nail in the tire. What luck. BUT it was in fact luck, as I couldn't feel any air leaking. So I filled the tire up to 43 PSI and decided to check it in the morning. I'll see how much it leaks in that 15 hour period and decide if we should put the spare on now. Then I packed up the suitcases with the clothes Amanda had laid out and we got the kids in bed.
-- 31 August 2006 [Thursday]
We'll it's now Sept. 5th when I'm writing this, so unfortunately I can't recall anything about this day. I know I worked and went home as usual though. :)
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