Fairway Forest at Sapphire Valley, North Carolina 11/04/2013

NOVEMBER 4, 2013 (Monday)

Cold, cold, cold last night but woke to sunshine.

Michael and I got up early in order to go to the meet and greet at the Community Center (10:00 AM). Lexi opted to sleep in and try to get warm. She only has one blanket and she didn’t want to get colder to get up and turn up the thermostat. Plus her Dad complained that when she runs the heat he wakes up sweating.

Anyway, went to the Community Center. They had coffee, hot water for tea, and donuts available. There were lots of people in attendance. We sat with a nice couple from Pensacola, Florida. They spend quite a bit of time up here and really enjoy it. A little after 10:00 AM, a woman named Wendy came out to talk to us about what was happening, things to do, where to go, activities, etc. She also warned us about bears and was just a really good and fun “talker.” Really enjoyed her. She was born and raised in North Carolina and a real joy to hear talk.

Community Center where we had our meet and greet.

A really pretty and perplexed woman trying to figure out how to get Tea out of coffee pots.

Our vivacious presenter Wendy. She did a very entertaining job of informing us of all the good things to see.

Bear information poster. Bottom line, don't feed and if attacked get big and fight back. — Bear information poster. Bottom line, don’t feed and if attacked get big and fight back.

We left the meet and greet around 11:30 AM, after having looked at the gift shops and looked around the lobby of the Community Center a bit. They had a really cute t-shirt there that said, “Paddle faster, I hear banjos.” Oh, and Wendy said some of the Hunger Games movie was filmed in this area. Fun fact.

Deliverance was released 41 years ago and Wendy says they are still struggling to over come the stereotypes. — Deliverance was released 41 years ago and Wendy says they are still struggling to overcome the stereotypes.

Back “home,” Lexi got ready so we could go visit a lake Wendy had said was a fun place to see. We loaded up and went. It was quite lovely. They have boat/canoe rentals and things like that. There were also two ducks that were quite friendly and swam all the way across the lake to see if we had something for them to eat.

Beautiful Lake Fairfield. Too cold for boating fun today. Tree colors still wonderful and a neat rock face across the way.

Pretty colors even on a slightly overcast day.

Full magnification on our little camera. We thought there were two swans.

Swans turned out to be ducks and they were headed straight for us.

They were very insistent and we resolved to carry dry dog food in the future.

After the lake we went across the street to a place called “The Gamekeepers Tavern.” It’s not because of fun and games, but because of wild game – elk, deer, bison, kangaroo, etc. Was fun talking to the owner (?). He even took us into the closed (until around 5:00 PM) dining room area, which is lovely.

We bought Lex a bottle of, "Bitch Bubbly." — We bought Lex a bottle of “Bitch Bubbly.”

She insisted I pose with a bottle of, "Arrogant Bastard Ale." — She insisted I pose with a bottle of “Arrogant Bastard Ale.”

Next was the Rec Center where we all did a HIT – high intensity training workout. I doubt if it does anything but it makes us feel like we’re doing something so….whatever works. After that we went across the parking lot to the Community Center again. I wanted to show Lexi the t-shirt and to sign up for an excursion to Pisgah Forest on Wednesday. We’re heading to Asheville tomorrow and you have to sign up by Tuesday. It’s an all day excursion by bus and it sounds lovely.

After that we headed to Mica’s Restaurant. It sounds like a lot of the locals prefer Mica’s because it’s more reasonable. We had a one trip salad bar for $5.95 each, and it was a decent salad bar. I also ordered an apple cinnamon martini ($8.00) – just had to try it as it sounded so good and I had worked out today.

Today's lunch. And everywhere we go there is a sparkly mineral all over the ground, mica. — Today’s lunch. And everywhere we go there is a sparkly mineral all over the ground, mica.

Pretty woman and pretty daughter hittin' the bar. — Pretty woman and pretty daughter hittin’ the bar.

Edie's salad and water. — Edie’s salad and water.

Lex's salad, (Ice tea not in photo). — Lex’s salad (ice tea not in photo).

Edie and Lex split a apple cinnamon martini.

We drove across the street and asked for another blanket for Lexi at the check-in place near the Police Station. By the time we got home the blanket was on the porch waiting for us.

We are now home, full as tick bugs. Michael has a roast cooking for much, much later. I am searching for places in New York City in February. That was our day. Hope yours was great!