It was the last day at the B&B. We have done all we could do in Asheville. Today was the turnaround point to head back south where we would pick up Alexa and head to the Atlanta airport. The goal was to only have the bags that would carry us through the British Virgin Islands part of our odyssey. Karen was to head back to Portland and resume her life as if nothing had ever happened, and rain was in the forecast.
One thing that was missing in my itinerary was an assortment of stops along the way in which we could watch waterfalls. But it was in Sandra and Karen’s. Waterfalls. Why? Now I like to think I've seen my fill of water dropping off a misplaced rock or two. But again, the vote was taken, and I seem to be a part of a political party that has no sway. Thus, off we go into the North Carolina water feature extravaganza!
We drove through a lot of low hanging clouds along windy roads. we came across our first waterfall stop. Not much, it looked more like a water park. It was developed somewhat for the folks to slide down some rocks and use a rail to go up and do it again. Everyone took pictures. Back in the car. Still heading south. Guess what? Another one. Although, this one they left in their nature state. I had to nod my head slightly and give a little kudos for a good water like thing. The third one was, well far away. It also involved 10 flights of Douglas fir stairs down an embankment to get a good view--and that was it for North Carolina's rural getaway.
Along the way we needed to stop and get a bite to eat. We pulled over to a town called Brevard. A small yet sufficiently provisioned town. It had both Baptist Church, artisan stores and a old general mercantile with an ancient Phone Booth displayed on the corner. We parked on the corner of Main Street and Highway 135, so we should've been close to the action. Hmm, where's the food? There were plenty of thrift shoppes and barber joints, where where's a fella and a couple of girls to get a little on-the-road sustenance?
Across the street a gentle old lady approached us and obviously saw a trio of Noobs looking at three different locations and rubbing their bellies. It was obvious. She said right down there a half a block away is Mayberry. She regaled the entire menu to us to the point I already knew what I was having once we retained the coordinates.
We walked past a sign that said "O.P. Taylor". Say, it was "The Andy Griffith Show" playing out in front of us. I had to look around to see if there were any cop cars named "Fife" patrolling the street. No such luck--Don Knots was one of my favorites.
We got our lunch. I had the meatloaf sandwich and I'm guessing Sandra and Karen had soup or lettuce. I couldn't see as I was extremely focused on the sandwich, I had waited 3 waterfalls for. Back on the road.
We snaked our way again through the various side roads and highways from North Carolina, South Carolina and finally back into Georgia. Finally, I-85 appeared, and we were cruising toward Atlanta at speed. Next stop was to pick up Alexa at Dillions house and reorganize our backpacks before getting to the hotel where we would stay the night before parting ways (Karen goes to Portland, Sandra, Alexa and I to the BVI's).
We checked into the hotel about 5 minutes away from the airport, and it feeling like an end-of-the-ride. We had stopped at a Publix along the way to pick up some groceries to eat in the hotel room(s). I parked the car and went up to the second floor and Sandra was there in the hallway indicating our room keys didn't work. The rooms were adjoining 205 and 207. Karen and Alexa had already procured their 205. Which left Sandra and I in the hallway going "What? Hey?". Sandra went down and retrieved the new keys, but again; they did not work. Then, by miracles, Alexa says "You're in room 209". Oh. well then. We tripped down to the desk, got our two room keys and the luggage was again in the right place. And yes, refreshments were served.