NC Trip 9/4 - 9/10 2021

Bill & Erika again headed back to North Carolina in late summer first to Jim & Shelly's in Mooresville for a couple of days, beating the Labor Day traffic there. On Saturday, after Jim let Bill rinse off the travel dust from the trip down, the two couples headed off to Baker Buffalo Creek Winery. This was where Larry & Joy would meet up with them for the start of the week's Winery Tours. The winery itself was interesting and would be a great club meeting place as they have a loft in the barn. The red barn itself if famous as it is the one that is on the Hillshire Farm label, even though they have nothing to do that firm. After a nice afternoon there Jim & Shelley headed back home while the other two headed off to Lake Lure to get Bill & Erika checked in to their condo after a quick grocery stop. Once settled in Larry & Joy headed back to Black Mountain so all could rest up for the week of Winery Tours. 
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Sunday afternoon was another beautiful day, the two couples meeting in Black Mountain before heading off to a few winerys. The first stop was Stone Ashe to just see the view from there before heading on to Sawyer Springs where the wine was good and the conversation was even better. We were even treated to an education about the local wineries from the the Spring's vintner. Yes Corvettes can drive carefully on gravel driveways.

Monday, which was Labor Day, had the couples eating at a Pizza King as all of the other restaurants in Black Mountain were either full or closed. The afternoon was then spent at the Greenwalts beautiful house with it's great views!

Tuesday, again another beautiful day, had the couples meeting at the McDonalds in Old Fort before heading to the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Minerals Museum for a first break. From there they headed to lunch at Los Arcoiris, a great Mexican restaurant. Back to the Blue Ridge and a quick trip over the Linn Viaduct, the last section of the parkway and an engineering marvel to not disturb a sacred Indian mountain that could not be cut into. Then on to the day's winery, Grandfather Vineyard, with it's beautiful and relaxing seats by a stream. 

Wednesday started at the Lake Lure visitor center where boat tour tickets were purchased for a beautiful ride around the lake. The tour lasted an hour and was very informative. After the morning's ride lunch was at Legends at Rumbling Bald, also the property that the Foxrun cabin is on. From there the two couples headed to two wineries Silver Fork and then South Creek Winery after driving through a hard rain to get to them. But once there the weather forecast that Larry had predicted was correct and they were both dry and beautiful. 

Thursday the two couples again started at the Ingles in Black Mountain with Jim & Shelley coming up from Mooresville for the day. Once on the road they headed to the Blue Ridge Parkway going South towards the Pisgah Inn a favorite spot of the group for it's great views and fantastic lunch too. Afterwards they headed a bit further south on the BRP to Looking Glass lookout where Jim & Shelley headed back to Mooresville, while the others continued on South getting off at NC-215 for a great Corvette road down to 64 and back towards Hendersonville. Once there they split up and headed back to for a good nights rest before heading back out on Friday.

Friday was a bit shorter as both couples needed to pack up for a Saturday departure back home. They met at La Strada in Lake Lure for a great Italian lunch and then headed off to the last winery of the week. This was Burntshirt Vineyards an easy half hour drive. Once there not only was the wine good but also local singer was making the beautiful afternoon even more pleasant with his varied song selections. A great way to end the week.