Hello and welcome to part 3 of our journey to North Carolina.
With all the plans in place and chores done, it was time to pack Daisy and head down the road. We are finally getting the hang of what to and what not to pack. We look back on earlier road trips and are amazed at the needless stuff we brought under the pretense that we might need it, like a whole set of dishes and cookware. Before you know it, everything was neatly packed into Daisy and the three of us belted in and were driving down the road. We laughed because we wanted to leave the area to get away from the cold and wet weather but this day was sunny and temps rising to the 70’s. Oh well, they always say if you don’t like the weather around Rochester just wait a minute and it changes. Little did we know we would be heading into interesting weather in NC but more about that later.
We made several stops along the way to enjoy the scenery. On one stop we had fun watching a gentleman fly fishing in the town of Hornell, NY. It was fascinating watching him cast out the line as it rippled through the air and gently laying on the surface of the water with the fly at the end touching down and then snap it back to repeat all over again. We couldn’t help wondering how much practice had gone into mastering this skill. We mused over the fact if we had been the ones doing it they would have to call the rescue squad to untangle the mess of fish line from around our bodies and the hook from one of our ears.
From here it was back on the road seeing many other sites and traveling almost 14 hours covering 531 miles before settling in for the night at Raphine, Virginia. We always cover long distances our first day in effort to position ourselves in a location where the real journey begins. All along the way there was a sea of mountains around us and the scent of honeysuckle filled the air.
Well this is it for today. We hope you come back tomorrow when our journey really begins and as we share more of the USA Through Our Eyes. Until then be safe.
Okay!
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Thank you. We’ll keep you posted.
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You’re welcome. Do have a nice time!
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Thank you Peter for your encouraging words.
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Well done sir and ma! Great work done!
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As we feel the leading to go we go with no real time frame in mind and then come home to rest. Much of what we place on this site is written on the road and then some is done when we get home. So, I guess you could say we are full time in that sense which is the results having worked 40 years to reach this point, lol.
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Already, I’m going through the link, but are you doing full time?
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We didn’t ask him but he sure was enjoying himself. As we watched we were intrigued with his passion for it.
It was funny but our journey began back in Sept of 2016 when a friend noted he went out west and his eyes were opened about the beauty he discovered. After we talked about it we decided to do it and since then have made many journeys to see this land and gather stories of everyday folks living live and overcoming the challenges it throws at us. It is great having you with us Peter. Here is a link to one of our earlier post on how we got started.
https://usathroughoureyes.com/2016/08/23/love-excitement-happiness-god/
https://usathroughoureyes.com/2016/08/24/camping-decision-gives-excitement/
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Did you ask the man why he was doing the fishing locally? Do you foot the whole journey yourself or you are been sponsored? What’s the purpose of the journey? Best wishes!
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Oh, yea!!! Thank you!!!!
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We gotta say it is so nice having you along with us too and hearing your thoughts. Like with your site and all the wonderful stories and photographs you bring to the blogging world its all about fun and then to be able and share them makes it all even more fun. Here are a couple links from back in the day when we had 2 followers about our Emma girl Chocolate Lab. We think you will chuckle…
* https://usathroughoureyes.com/2016/08/29/rescu-dog-chocolate-lab-story/
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https://usathroughoureyes.com/2016/08/30/chocolate-lab-unites-family/
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https://usathroughoureyes.com/2016/08/31/rescu-dog-chocolate-lab-family/
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I’m glad I’m along for the ride with y’all! Such a fun excursion with ya!! So how did Emma arrive in your lives?
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Thank you again for your kind words and encouragement. It was neat seaming together the still images of the fly fisherman into a video and yes, our Emma girl is a sweetie. Glad having you along with us.
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Aw, I love your pup!!! How sweet!! Seems like y’all have a great van setup! Liked seeing the fly video too! I’ve been out of town a few days so really enjoying catching up now!!
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We thank you for these kind words of support Steve.
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Thank you for the wonderful compliment! And thank you even more so for your commentary as I feel I’m right there with you on the journey! I appreciate your blog very much…
Steve
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It was such a beautiful scent. Winter still had its grip on our home area so when we got further south these scents filled our senses. Glad you are with us Robbie.
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I missed this post introducing your trip. Traveling through the mountains with the scent of honeysuckle in the air sounds really delightful.
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Yes it was a long haul Steve. It seems we are always so excited on our first day and as the post notes try and get close to that point where the realness of our journey becomes reality. We too like to keep our drive times much shorter and leave precious time to see the wonders of God through the scenery and people. So nice having you along with us and your comments are always filled with grace.
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Wow, 14 hours and 531 miles is a good long haul! We tried to keep ours to no more than 6 hours max at one time…just as long as we make it to the planned motel we booked for the night. Sounds like you are having some great fun however! May the Lord bless and keep you along the way!
Steve
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Yes we thought you disappeared then we saw your art work and knew it was you.
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Ah, man, I haven’t ‘real life’ blogged since Sableyes.co.uk took a hammering and I had to rename a loada files heh. Should go back to it some time. 🙂
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LOL, yes! For sure!
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Not lost – guided – lol.
xx, mgh
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Amen to this. So much to see. This is why we get lost so much because we aren’t looking at the map, lol.
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PLUS you miss the entire reason you travel if your eyes are transfixed on a screen as you roll along – i.e., to experience the wonders outside.
xx,
mgh
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lol. We did.
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LOL. Yes we tried the blogging and driving but its not good, lol.
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Makes me want to run into the woods 🙂
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It’s a lot to carry, but much quicker to snap a picture or record a few sentences or ambient sounds as memory-jogs than to stop and write a few lines (especially if you first have to dig out a laptop – lol).
Plus, we LOVE to see the photos and the videos, and hear the sounds you heard (once you get to McDonalds, of course). 🙂
xx,
mgh
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Wow you will be doing some serious drive time also. We can’t wait to hear how the journey develops and all you do along the way. Please take lots of pics to share with us.
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Long days drive. We are setting off from London to Aberdeen soon for a house move. About 550 mile. 2 thirds of which is motorway heh.
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Yes, it is very difficult to blog from the trail. There were many a day or night, computer in hand, when we sat at a picnic table, in the tent, driving down the road, McDonalds parking lot or latter in our journeys the van putting together our blog and videos and photos. Finding the balance is hard especially when there is so much to see and people that are interesting. Its funny but we never go anywhere without one of us carrying a camera and the digital recorder around our neck.
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Yes it definitely was a haul but after that we did only short stints because of all the sights to see. The honeysuckle was so fragrant.
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Gosh yes we have are continuing to learn so much. This like everything else is a wonderful learning process. When we’re loading Emma is right there to supervise and make sure her Frisbee and bone are on board.
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Fourteen hours at a stretch! Sounds quite exacting upon the senses. But the scent of honeysuckle in the air, ah. Must have driven your cares away.
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Really lovely visuals, as usual! I love the observation that now you know what to pack and what to leave home. That’s the beauty of becoming experienced, finding out what you really need and letting go of what you don’t. I loved Emma’s enthusiastic romping into the vehicle, that was so fun. Also the “before” and “after” shots of the in-vehicle cabinets. Looking forward to reading more!
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LOL. Whew, 531 miles in 25 days hiking is 21 miles a day. Those are some long Gabe. We got it easy in the van with captains chairs, fridge, running water bed and air conditioner (purely platonic, LOL). That is so awesome that you have done the complete AT in one swoop. It was once a dream of mine. A buddy of mine did it and would share stories when we were on our long bicycle travels. I was in awe of the moments and scenes he described. It changed his life to newly appreciated levels as you note in your post. It is so good to challenge the body and mind.
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yes 531 miles in one day! That’s at least 25 hard hiking days 😉
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I could never do what Gabe does during his hikes (blogging his experiences from the trail), so I completely understand why you wait until you are home to catch us all up. I sure wish you had a reporter along, however – or somebody making a documentary
Not that it really matters to MY experience, but it would help me keep the timelines straight in my head.
I shall try to be patient (and remain extremely grateful that you share at any time at all) as I await each succeeding NC post.
xx,
mgh
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Oh that’s good! 😊
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Thanks Madelyn. Yup another journey and we discovered so much again… About self and others. It’s all good. Its great to have you along with us to share in the excitement.
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Woo hoo – a new journey – and to a state with SO much beauty. I loved catching a glimpse inside Daisy too, and how excited Emma was to begin the trip. Can’t wait for more!
Meanwhile I’m off to catch up with parts 1 and 2.
xx,
mgh
(Madelyn Griffith-Haynie – ADDandSoMuchMORE dot com)
ADD/EFD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching co-founder
“It takes a village to educate a world!”
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Hahaha
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Yes 14 hours is a long time but we make the time fun with different car games to keep us aware of the places we are seeing. The destination is always good but its the journey there that really is exciting for us.
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So true.
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Thank you Ann. Yes, it was a long drive the first day but that was just to get into that area.
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How fun! 14 Hours in the car, however, isn’t so fun. Hope you enjoyed when you got to your destination!
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Fly fishing is an acquired skill requiring great concentration.
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Again very nice to see the videos, Emma was looking of there was enough food for her, and it was 😉 Also the fisherman is great, On this first day it was a very long trip, but Always there is something to see.
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Thank you Heide. That is so funny… a cast iron skillet on a back packing adventure. They are great to cook on but lugging it over hill and dale… well that’s another story. Thank you for your encouragement of our adventures and photography.
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Figuring out what to pack (and what not to!) plays a *huge* role in happy travels, doesn’t it? My husband was telling me over the weekend about a mutual friend who brought a cast-iron pan on a backpacking trip, not fully realizing how heavy it would become after the third or fourth mile. 🙂 As for that fly-fisherman: Beautiful photos/video!
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Yes.
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She somehow knows its time to go. Each time she gets in she does the check of what’s where and if her bone is there. Then she jumps on the seat as if to say its okay to cast off. Thanks Anne for being with us.
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Probably every one we see that is doing it so gracefully. I’m sure it goes with the territory. lol
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Emma is so happy to get into your campervan! Love it!
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LOL. Yes it is poetry in motion watching them cast. Wonder how many folks do end up with a hook in the body.
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LOL at the fly fishing. I’m right there with you. I always think this will be the time it snags their ear because it would if it were me lol but they do it so perfectly.
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Thank you. It is exciting knowing you are along with us.
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This is good to hear you say this is how you started off your road trips too. I wonder how many other folks do this also. So happy knowing you are with us on this road trip.
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I am sure you are going to have a great time, and I cannot wait to come back and read what you are up to after this!
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Our road trips always started around 3am with the intent of putting lots of miles in the first day. I guess we weren’t the only ones. Looking forward to joining you for the rest.
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