Davidson River, Asheville, NC
Rain started falling about 8 AM and was forecast to continue throughout the day. Camped just off of Hwy. 276 which runs west up to the Blue Ridge Parkway, we decided to get out the rain gear and make the best of the day. Stopping first at the Ranger Station and Visitor’s Center to learn what we could. Then, it was on to Looking Glass Falls, a real sight to behold!
Beyond that was The Cradle of Forestry, a heritage site proclaimed by Congress as the place where science based forestry got its start in America in 1916. George Vanderbilt hoped to to repair the unsightly clear cutting that loggers had used to get lumber out of his forest. On the site is a large interpretive center and a film explaining the history of the school. Though it was raining, Penny and I took the walking tour to visit the old buildings that made up the compound 100 years ago.
The Blue Ridge Pkwy was socked in with clouds, so we changed our plans to lunch up there at the Pisgah Inn and ate instead at the HogWild BBQ. It was very good! I got to watch a little of the Washington Huskies vs UCLA game. No one else in the place was paying any attention. The Penny’s brother, Dan called to say he was on his way to Florida and could stop by tomorrow. We said, “by all means!”
Penny and I had a long heart to heart before bed to help each other understand the little bit of friction that we both noticed. It’s really important to communicate about hurt feelings and negative thoughts. Truly listening to the other person is important to understand their point of view and to assess one’s own culpabilities. We tend to point fingers before we want to admit any part in the dispute. Speak from the heart; listen with an open heart!