Things Happen For A Reason

What is the saying " There is a reason for everything" ?  As you all know we were actually pretty excited about this past weekends camping trip to the New River in North Carolina. The boys had never gone canoeing before and were "over the moon" about it.
We drove 500 miles, to get to the campground " New River Campground" to meet up with my Brother in Law and his Girlfriend Moo-Moo and kids.
Well, "No Pets over 15 #s" was posted...and as you can guess, people were there with dogs over that weight.
"No Alcohol" signs also posted...and as you can guess, yes there was indeed alcohol being consumed.
"No Firearms" Sign posted as well...  and as you can guess... 
Basically none of the policies were enforced.
I don't mind alcohol as long as you can drink responsibly and have respect for other campers around you.

We set up camp, the extended family came in later, we cooked out hamburgs, hung around a campfire, and had a couple of drinks ourselves.
Senior, the kids and I retired all around 11pm.  That is when the campers on the other side of us, began their party. Until 345am !  Senior got up and did ask them to keep it down, they didn't.
We only got about an hours worth of sleep.
 It was then we realized, as nice as the river is, and the mountains are, this campground is nothing more then a place for the locals to hangout and party. Saturday morning I complained to management and they refunded us one nights stay.
 Senior was upset and tired, all he wanted to do was to pack up and leave, not so much because of us, but for the safety of the disruptive campers, another sleepless night and no telling what Senior would do. He knew that being in a small mountain town , and campground that caters to the local- If there was an incident, it would not bode well for him being from out of state.

That also meant no canoe trip for the boys, they were heartbroken. But, it was the fact of the matter that we did not drive 500 miles to put up with a bunch of drunks.  Then, as we are heading down the mountain, the rain started. I looked at the radar on my phone...
Dark, Dark greens and yellow blobs were moving in to the mountains.
I told Senior, "you know things happen for a reason, No way did I want to be out on that river, in a canoe, in a monsoon, with two small children".  He shook his head, weary from lack of sleep and agreed.

It was not until Yesterday, that Seniors brother called to check on us, that he told us "Be glad you left, the rain was horrible and we were miserable the rest of the day, and for those campers, they went on the 10 mile canoe trip, and was double miserable, because they were in that mess longer"  Karma!

See, if it hadn't of been for  those obnoxious drunk people, playing poker and partying until 345am, we probably would have stayed, and got soaked. And our boys could have gotten colds from canoeing out in the rain-- or worse!
 Instead, we left Saturday morning ahead of the weather. Went back to the Estate in South Carolina, and spent the night  in a nice warm dry house, and yes got a good nights sleep.

So here are some pictures I snapped :




Brother in Laws and Moo-Moos Campsite
It started raining on Friday night, so they tried to erect a tarp for cover
That is all the kids they brought.

At least we were surrounded by the Beautiful Mountains

 

The New River

 

How much is that ?

While on our weekend trip 2 weeks ago, We visited the Bass Pro up in Concord, NC. it is about an hour outside of Charlotte and sits on I-85, it is about 3-4 miles from Charlotte Motor speedway.

We like going to the Bass Pros, they are a neat tourist attraction. We have been to 5 different stores. The boys love the big fish tanks and this particular one, had a large catfish. Senior estimated it weighed about 60-70 pounds...  I kept trying to get a picture of him, but he was on the move, and there was a terrible glare on the glass from all the lights.

Senior went off on his way and I went off on mine, I was in the camping section..and oh cool! I found paracord bracelets. Now Stephen has made us some, and I have bought some from the gun shows. I have never paid more then $7.00 for one.  But I be danged if I pay this : 

Yes that is correct, 39.99 for a paracord survival bracelet. I just wonder how gullible people are and how many folks out there have paid that.  WOW!

Our Mini-Vacation..

It was kind of short notice, but senior and I took the kids out of school for two days and set off for the mountains, and we also wanted to visit his dad for his 81st Birthday. There is just something about being in the mountains and hill country that I love. Driving along twisty roads, you never know what will be around the next corner. As much as I love the ocean, I also love the country and the simpilicty of it all.
We stayed a night up in Hickory, NC then the next morning headed over to the town of Hiddenite and spent some time at the Emerald Mine, sluicing for treasures. And what treasures we found! Lots of minerals, semi-precious and precious stones as well.

 The boys loved it! they were shouting with excitement every time they found or thought they found something new. But when the buckets ran out, the boredom set in. And frankly, a person can only sit on those benches for so long.
So what happens with buckets of red clay, a water trough, and 2 boys...a Red Clay Mess! 

My dad has a rock tumbler he is going to lend me,(hopefully it works), But I hope to be able to clean up and polish the bags of stones we found.
Below is just a few of the nicer stones. I have four zip lock bags full.

Senior found a nice dark emerald and the sweet man let me give it to the lapidary and they are cutting me a Emerald solitare sterling silver ring.. It will be here in about 10 weeks. Just in time for our anniversary..what a nice Senior he is ! : )