Thursday

Bill and Sandra had a full day planned for us. It rained buckets last night and it was threatening this morning, so we pulled out the rain suits and headed for the Blue Ridge Parkway around 9:30. About 20 miles and we entered the parkway at Roanoke and traveled the 35 miles north to Peaks of Otter. The fog hung low and covered the mountain top. The bus to the top would not run until the fog lifted so we waited. Maybe half of the group decided to ride the bus to the top and then climb the 1500 feet to the summit. If you have never ridden this bus, be prepared for a small road barely wide enough for the bus tires and hairpin curves. It was impressive how the driver could handle the bus. The climb to the summit was rugged but well worth the effort! Even with the clouds the view was specatular. Glenn decided to walk the 1.5 miles down the mountain while the rest of us took the bus. He reached the bottom just minutes after we did, face red but all smiles. I give him credit - there is no way I would even think about making that walk. Leaving Peaks of Otter we headed back south on the parkway and then off towards Catawba to the Homeplace. This was the most wonderful restaurant. The setting was a large, old house on 64 acres of rolling hills with cattle grazing in the back field that had been restored. The meal was served home style and the food was excellent and the staff friendly. Bill and Sandra had eaten here last year and their raving comments were right on target. We all left full from the good food, tired from the day climbing mountains and ready to sit around the hotel and play games and socialize.