Friday, April 14, 2006

Country road, take me home

We decided to take a last minute, but much needed, three day holiday for Easter. We decided to head for the mountains of North Carolina. It was Monday night when we started looking for a place, assuming we would board our dog. When we found that some places allowed pets, we redirected our search in that direction. I found a bed & breakfast called the Dog House Inn that caters to dog owners, with free pet sitting and a small private dog park.
The Morrigan liked the link I emailed her, so she called on Tuesday - we were in Thursday night. I got out of class at 3:15, drove home like a madman, grabbed the wonder dog to get her to the vet for a two month overdue shot and a bath. The plan was to be on the road by 6:30, but it was 8:00 before we finally got underway.
For a couple of city dwelling devils, the road was a bit harrowing. When the pavement ended and the dirt road ran for half a mile beside a river, I was wishing we had driven the 4WD and/or arrived before dark. But we arrived with no mishaps, and the place is pretty nice, emphasis on pretty, but in a deliberately rustic sort of way. It was far too dark to see the view, but I could hear the river from our private terrace. Nice.
We slept with our balcony door open (the heat had been left on and the room was stifling, but the cool air balanced it perfectly) and the morning was beautiful.The sky was overcast (just the way I like it) and morning came slow, not in a blaze of glory but instead slowly brightening until you could see all the neighboring mountaintops. I can see one other house, three hills away, and on a smooth patch of ground in the distance two black dots move slowly. They are either horses or cows, but it is too far away to tell. As dawn broke, I thought there was a vineyard a couple of hills away, but more light revealed that it is a Christmas tree farm. The river is still flowing, as I can hear it below, but can't see it, only the gap in the trees that defines its path.
We may stay here all day, we may go for a hike (yea right!!). But we will soak up all of this that we can store, and take it back with us.

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