Day 8 In the Clouds...RAIN Clouds!

Day 8 In the Clouds, originally uploaded by Gail S.

This is the sight that greeted us this morning on our 8th day on the road. During breakfast at the Big Lynn Lodge in Little Switzerland. What you can't see is the steady rain predicted all day. During breakfast we decided to stay at the Big Lynn Lodge for another night. We just weren't up to donning our rain gear and jumping (okay, we don't jump) on the bike. Tomorrow, the forecast is for sunny skies. We hope those sunny skies are over the Blue Ridge Parkway.

We had a nice visit with the new owner of the lodge, Hoyt. He and his wife bought the place after finding it while traveling the Parkway. They just moved in about 6 weeks ago. They want to keep the traditions of the lodge, and do a bit of updating. When you stay here, you get a delicious dinner and scrumptious breakfast in the dining room overlooking the Catawba River Valley. The former owner, Carol, is still here doing the cooking through the rest of the season. I pray the new owners are able to keep this unique lodge running prosperously. Their granddaughter, Bailey (age 4), and Sid have been playing the piano and the banjo together. She is a remarkable little girl.

Our new friend, Hoyt, drove us to downtown Little Switzerland to the Switzerland Cafe where we tasted traditional North Carolina BBQ. It's different than Memphis BBQ, but delicious. We also visited the Little Switzerland Book Exchange. I could have spent all day in there, but it was time for Sid's nap, so we called Hoyt to come get us.

Unfortunately, I am coming down with a bit of bronchitis. It is miserable to be on the back of the bike feeling under the weather!