Fries, VA August 28 - September 4, 2016

Day 19 – Monday August 29, 2016 This was a slow day. We did our normal morning routine then Lena did laundry and I did some housekeeping items around the motor home. At 7:30PM we walked up to the park office to listen and participate in singing some gospel songs. Tom's wife played the piano and Tom and another camper, that comes here often, sang several songs. Counting us there were 8 other campers that joined in helping to sing several songs from the Baptist Hymnal. Everyone seemed to enjoy the singing.

Day 20 – Tuesday August 30, 2016 After our morning walk and breakfast we loaded up the bicycles in the Jeep and we drove to the community of Ivanhoe to ride another section of the New River State Park Trail that runs along the New River. We had to pay $4 to park in the parking lot but I guess that is fair price to pay to have a place to park and access the trail. We rode a total of 8.3 miles round trip. The trail went across the New River on the old railroad trestle. There were railings and a wood bridge floor on top of the trestle. The river is rather wide, I'm guessing about 300', and Lena really did not like riding across the bridge as it was a long drop down to the water below. We also rode through a tunnel and we saw one deer and a lot of cows in the pastures along the trail. The state did a good thing when they converted the train track to a recreation trail. It is used by people walking, riding bicycles and people riding horses. It is almost totally flat and easy to ride. It is well maintained and there are a few benches and picnic tables and porta-johns along the way.

New River

Day 21 – Wednesday August 31, 2016 Today was another slow relaxing day. We stayed in the RV park most of the day waiting word if we were going to be able to extend our stay here. We are scheduled to leave for home tomorrow. For years we have been wanting to see Allison Krause and Jerry Douglas. They, The Whites, Ricky Skaggs and several other groups are going to be playing at the Blue Ridge Music Center Amphitheater just a few miles from here Friday. We have asked to extend our stay but Tom has lots of people coming here for the Labor Day weekend. Mid afternoon he came over and said he could extend us to Tuesday of next week as we have requested but we would have to move to site 3. Site 3 is sort of behind where we are in site 6 but up on a higher level. Since we are staying we needed a few more groceries so we went to Walmart in Galax. After we got back we moved up to site 3 and set up.

Day 22 – Thursday September 1, 2016 Lena wanted to go back to the old courthouse in Independence to get two more packets of music for her Lap Harp. After getting the music packets we drove around and checked out a local campground on the New River. We didn't like it. We came back through Independence and stopped at Rio Grande Mexican Grill for lunch before returning to the RV park.

After supper we walked down to the Fries Theater for their Thursday night jam session. Several people from the RV park were there including three of the musicians. After the jam session Tom and Delieta (the park owners) had cake and ice cream at the park office for one of the campers that just had a birthday. Several of us joined them for the celebration before calling it a day.

Day 23 – Friday September 2, 2016 The RV park is full for the Labor Day weekend. Lena prepared a dessert for the park picnic on Saturday afternoon. After lunch we drove to the Blue Ridge Music Center Amphitheater on the parkway for a bluegrass music event. The music started at 4PM and lasted until 9PM. All the musicians and singers were good but we really enjoyed the headliners – Jerry Douglas (probably the worlds best Dobro player), Allison Krause, The Whites and Ricky Skaggs. We sure were glad we took a jacket and two blankets because it was rather cool when the sun went down. Some of the locals were only wearing shorts, flip flops and tee shirts but we have had such a hot summer our bodies aren't accustomed to the cool temperatures yet.

The Amphitheater

Sharon (Ricky Skaggs' wife) and Cheryl White

Jerry Douglas

Ricky Skaggs

Allison Krause

Buck White (85 years old)

Day 24 – Saturday September 3, 2016 We prepared a big pot of Dean's Beans for the picnic this afternoon. At 2PM most of the people in the park gathered at the office for food and fellowship. Lots of good food and some yummy desserts.

Day 25 – Sunday September 4, 2016 Happy Birthday to Lena. At 10AM we walked to the office for some Bible teaching by Tom (park owner). Counting us there were 3 couples there. Tom is well versed on the Bible and his talk was very interesting. Then we drove to Galax for lunch to celebrate Lena's birthday. We had planned to eat at the Twisted Fork, an Italian Restaurant but they are not open on Sunday so we went to Porky's Buffet Restaurant. Then we rode around some of the local back roads to enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery.