golddog goes for a ride
Inspired by chopstick's excellent thread, I'm going to try to keep one running as well.
Fair warning, though: I am neither as interesting nor as good a writer as chopstick.
Suggestions for a better title, are welcome. I was trying to think of a play on 'chasing the ball', which would be both golddog-ish and the ball representing the world, but I failed. Running around is something golddogs like to do too though.
I'll start a little bit with last week's trip to Costa Rica. I've traveled a fair amount over the past several years; if this becomes something people are interested in, I can try to recount some of these as well.
In $200, out $218 in about 15 minutes. Just played a few laps 5 handed.
One pot against table aggressor. Flopped up & down, bet it. Other than that, just a new chip for my display.
Oh yeah, I guess there was no bonus. When I got back from putting the rack away, some reds were not in a stack.
Thought the dealer tossed them over, but I must've knocked them off when unracking.
Going through the E Tenn mountains. Radio guy is extolling the virtues of deck building company.
First says, " Your wife can have a place to sit with her glass of wine and glamor magazines. " Wow.
Then, he says, " it's like having a Waffle House in your back yard."
I did not detect a hint of irony or sarcasm in his voice.
That last one's for you, Tom.
At Harrah's, may jump in for a while if seat available. Didn't plan to come here, but going to the grocery store put me about a mile away.
Thanks! However, things have been turning decidedly unAmerican
When the mayor says it isn't about crime, it's about crime. Very sad. One of the most memorable late night/early morning meals of my life was at one of those WHs right down the street from a casino where some friends and I had a big night. What better place to celebrate than a WH?
Rusty Grills looks exactly like you think he would look.
And none of those will buff out.
The best part of the last pic is that the detached wheel is still available for the family photo.
Nice work, Nit!
When last we left off, I was in central Tennessee. Kind of went across the southern part. Picked up a lot of MS & AL radio. (ipod broke this spring, 'm at the mercy of the locals for radio).
A lot of farms, often with woodsy hills in the background.
Wasn't planning to go, but had time on my hands, so went up the Lynchburg. I'd done the tour ~30 years ago, it sure has changed.
What I remember is pulling up in a gravel lot. They wanted $25 (dry) or $75 (? tasting) and an hour wait for the tour to start. Not that interested.
However, the old thing about Jack being in a dry county isn't true. When leaving, I saw a convenience store with beer (well, Bud Light) signs in the window. Went in and found some local stuff. Seller said "last one," to which I replied that I didn't notice.
When I got the to the campground that night, I saw stamped onthe can that it was bottled 9/23. Flat. So convenience store guy was knowingly selling old beer. $13+/6. Sigh.
Trundled along, more farms.
Saw this tractor near someone's drive.
A couple of golden mixes laying in the shade. They came over and took a scratch, but when I went to leave, the one growled and they both chased me for a few hundred feet. The Subie won.
Sequathcie Valley in TN.
Hiawassee River flowing pst that night's campground.
Got in just after the office closed. Tried to call the #, but no answer. The rules said to find a site which wasn't marked reserved, then pay on your way out.
After a while, a guy pulls up and says he reserved the site I'm in. I explained what I did, and said I could move. It would take me about 10 minutes to break down and drag stuff to another site--I'd appreciate any help he'd give.
In a real nice gesture, he said, no, he'd just jump into another site. After a while a pickup with what I assume to have been a parks logo on the door pulled up and talked to him. Couldn't hear exactly, but I think must've called at first, and just told them he switched sites.
Decent sleep. Up early, out the door (so to speak).
Today, went up the highway into NC. Some real nice scenery along the way.
Well, that's 50.
As noted, the route the tourist board lady gave me to the grocery put me within a mile or so of the casion, so played a couple rounds. Missed my big change when I folded QJo to an OMC's aggression.
Spoiler
Of course I would've went runner-runner for the stone nuts while he's betting TPTK. 😉
But, trip's not about poker, it's about seeing the scenery, Eventually went to the "Cradle of Forestry" for the US (first forestry school was here).
My neighbor was a forester for the state of Colorado for his career, so figured Ralph might like a hat.
Then to the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Just after getting on, saw a black bear on my side of the road, but wasn't fast enough on the draw to get the camera out before he crossed in front of me and scampered into the underbrush. Had the windows open since it was so nice, could hear him crashing along.
There's tons of pullouts with great views.
and it was a super-nice day. If anyone's ever going, I only saw one spot with facilities/food, and no gas, to fill up before going.
Once I came down, ran down into SC, where I'm at a campground tonight.
Talked with my nephew, he's working at Pinehurst tomorrow, but we're planning to get together after. I've got all day to get there.
There was traffic, so I couldn't get a picture myself, but saw this sign along the way.
I think Alfred sold out.
Nice pics even sans bear.
You grabbed the last beer out of the tourist cooler. The fresh stuff is behind the wall!
Grats on #50. I am lacking Hawaii, but I'm not particularly motivated to get it.
fun stuff goldie...continued safe travels.
Thanks guys!
Not much to write about today. Stayed in Table Rock Lake SP in SC. They have primitive tent sites, or full water/electric hookups. I like camping, but don't want to go that far.
Upon arriving, I see the site is a gravel pad (makes sense, they're thinking a camper will use it. Not much of a place for the tent. I'd already taken it down by this time, but imagine the tent being in the area to the right, crammed between that 4x4 and the fire ring (behind that first tree).
It was a nice campground, but didn't cool off for quite a while, so not great sleep. Hardly the end of the world. Up, shower, breakfast, pack up, down the road.
This is Grant Meadow and Table Rock.
Kind of cruised across the top of SC on (mostly) state highways. Nice scenery, but nothing jumped out.
Stopped in Rock Hill for lunch at the park, and came across Casey.
No explanation given why. There were ballfields at this park, but I don't know if there was some deeper connection.
Trundled along, up into NC. Got into a little rain. Came across Rockingham raceway. One of my friends from the midwest is a NASCAR fan, so sent him a pic
The point of this was to get to Pinehurst.
My nephew is in a golf course professional program at Florida Gulf Coast, and doing a summer internship at Pinehurst. Fortunately, it worked out that I arrived shortly after his workday ended, so we went for a couple beers.
Good to see him again. Sounds like things are going well, he should be done in May.
Then went up the road a bit. Since it's rainy, got a hotel for the night. Tomorrow's turn around day.
Oh yes, it was surprising to me to be asked, "smoking of non?" when getting a hotel room. I don't think I've heard that for 20 years or so.
Guess that's still a thing out here. Didn't notice if some food/beverage places still had smoking. I did notice a few specifically prohibited it, so I assume so.
North Carolina is the home of big tobacco.
I’m really intrigued by the idea of driving around and camping when I get a bit older. The thing that concerns me is the bed. I’m recovering from a slight back issue where I strained a muscle on my lower right side doing of all things preparing guacamole on a too low table. I’m afraid these type of issues might happen more as I get older.
Is it possible take a pic of your bed setup?
there are a wide variety of inflatable mattresses out there nit, most likely you could find one that worked for you.
How many more beers with your nephew would it have taken before you might have been tempted to try to set up your tent somewhere on Pinehurst property?
I’m really intrigued by the idea of driving around and camping when I get a bit older. The thing that concerns me is the bed. I’m recovering from a slight back issue where I strained a muscle on my lower right side doing of all things preparing guacamole on a too low table. I’m afraid these type of issues might happen more as I get older.
Is it possible take a pic of your bed setup?
pic of guac setup so i know what to avoid?
na_nit sleeps hot
Spoiler
How many more beers with your nephew would it have taken before you might have been tempted to try to set up your tent somewhere on Pinehurst property?
once dated a woman while her father was a greenskeeper at pebble beach.
at the time her mother's parents also lived along 17 mile drive, so we pretended we were visiting and didn't pay to get through the gate late that saturday night.
not sure which specific green it was but my bare ass has rubbed upon poa annua
once dated a woman while her father was a greenskeeper at pebble beach.
at the time her mother's parents also lived along 17 mile drive, so we pretended we were visiting and didn't pay to get through the gate late that saturday night.
not sure which specific green it was but my bare ass has rubbed upon poa annua
Fun story!
But autocorrect seems to have mangled "Po' Anna."
I’m really intrigued by the idea of driving around and camping when I get a bit older. The thing that concerns me is the bed. I’m recovering from a slight back issue where I strained a muscle on my lower right side doing of all things preparing guacamole on a too low table. I’m afraid these type of issues might happen more as I get older.
Is it possible take a pic of your bed setup?
I'll try to remember, but it isn't much. As Red said, an inflatable mattress which just fits in the tent.
On that, I throw a cheap mattress pad & sheet. A couple old pillows and a fleece blanket or sleeping bad, depending on temp.
I've considered bringing a cot, but so far this is working ok.
How many more beers with your nephew would it have taken before you might have been tempted to try to set up your tent somewhere on Pinehurst property?
It was raining, so wouldn't matter.
If not for that, I bet rhe 4th fairway is secluded and soft.
Turns out, they have a bunch of courses. He's working at the newest, which I believe he said was #10.
Oh yeah, I'm somewhere in BFE SW WV. Gilbert I think.
Didn't see things open along the way (Sunday afternoon). Figured I'd better grab something to eat when I saw a place, and it had wifi.
Strange to me, in Denver, wifi is ubiquitous. Out east, it's not rare, but also not common.
located in Mingo County, a european word for those who speak Iroquoian languages.
funny thing, maps i've seen suggest the Iroquois didn't make it quite that far into southwest wv, yet it became the coy name of a county
why is that?
Spoiler
