BACK IN THE USA: GEORGIA AND NORTH CAROLINA

31 May 2012: We traveled back to Atlanta, Georgia, where we met up again with our hosts Larry and Beverly Baker. The Bakers were off to Budapest the next day, so we appreciate the sacrifice of their time.

Larry and Beverly Baker, Sheila and Thom; Woodstock, Georgia

1 June 2012: Thom and Sheila ventured into Atlanta to visit the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site. It included a Visitors Center with displays and films, the house where Martin Luther King was born, the church where Dr. King was co-pastor with his father, a center for promoting non-violent change, a Freedom Walk, and the tomb of Dr. and Mrs. King.

The home where Michael Luther King was born - his parents later had his
 name changed to Martin Luther King.

Ebenezer Baptist Church, where Dr. King was co-pastor with his father.

The wagon that carried the coffin of Dr. King

The Freedom Walk in the background of Dr. and Mrs. King's tomb.

We found it to be a thought provoking trip, and hope that if you get the chance to go you will take the chance. There is no fee for the parking lot adjacent to the historic site, and no National Park fee, and we hope this encourages as many people to visit as possible.

Our next stop was Stone Mountain Park, just east of Atlanta. There is a beautiful carving of three Civil War generals in the stone face of the mountain, but we were not interested in the  recreational "park" offerings otherwise. So we unhitched the bikes off the back of our car and rode the five-mile road around the mountain. 

We're taking our bikes with us around the country!

Thom needed to change out an inner tube.

Stone Mountain's carving of famous Confederate generals:
Stonewall Jackson, Robert E. Lee, and Jefferson Davis.

From Stone Mountain we headed north to Asheville, North Carolina, to the home of George and Lynn Statler. We met the Statlers when we were stationed at Spangdahlem Air Force Base, Germany (1987-1991).

2 June 2012: We visited the Blue Ridge Parkway craft center and watched craftsmen making pottery and glassware. There were also displays of handcrafted items of all kinds, many of which were for sale. Thom would be a happy man if he could sell his wood items at those prices...! No photos allowed inside, but here is one of the crafters at work.

A glass blower showed us how to add colored glass as he made this Christmas tree ornament. The colored lenses in his work glasses filter out the yellow flame, so he can better see what he is doing.

After a picnic lunch, we drove to the North Carolina Arboretum. A great weather day to wonder through acres of manicured flower beds, more natural surroundings, a bonsai tree collection, and a forest of azaleas.

The quilt garden

Thom enjoys the view of the mountains

Lynn and George Statler give the artwork a helping hand!

Believe it or not, this "forest" is a bonsai no taller than two feet.

3 June 2012: Today we head to the hills. Not just any hill. We are going to  the very top of Mount Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi.

Here we are at 10:30 am:

Thankfully, the sign tells us we're there.

Is that Thom, Sheila, Lynn and George pictured there?

We returned at 2:30 pm:

"I can see clearly now..." Thom, Sheila, George and Lynn atop Mount Mitchell,
named after the man who surveyed its height.

Sheila and Thom, on top of the highest peak east of the Mississippi, 3 June 2012.

Meanwhile, we had driven further north along the Blue Ridge Parkway, had a picnic, and hiked to Crabtree Falls:

Sheila and Thom and the beautiful vistas from the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Here we are at Crabtree Falls

Sheila and Thom with our wonderful hosts, George and Lynn Statler.