Day 2: Rolling Like a River

Rhythm&RaeRay’s bunkhouse was perfect for little Rhythm’s first camping excursion. Rhythm&Rae slept in one bed and used the one above it for storage of baby wipes, diapers and other essentials. Ray was across the room with his top bunk covered with cords and computer supplies for the 20-year-old Dell laptop running a 2003 version of Microsoft Word. He also had a USB accessory to plug in and enable the old Dell to access the internet. After Rhythm&Rae went to sleep, Ray worked until nearly midnight recording the day’s experiences. He finally closed his eyes, and daylight awakened him about 5:30 a.m. Day 2 was one for sightseeing. Ray showered in the bathhouse and followed his morning rituals while Rhythm&Rae slept. After they awoke, Rhythm&RaeRay hiked up a steep trail along a meandering stream to see a waterfall that flowed through a thicket of downed pine trees. It was a soothing show of nature and physical exercise that readied them for the rest of the day. Back at the bunkhouse, they cooked a half-dozen eggs on the Coleman cooktop and toasted three slices of bread. Ray had already used their $2 kettle to heat water for Folger crystals. The coffee was hot, but without much flavor. After breakfast, they packed the car and headed down the winding 10-mile route to the base of Nantahala gorge, where coffee shops, restaurants, outfitter stores and a general store surround a busy beach nestled on either side of the whitewater. There, Rhythm&RaeRay enjoyed latte and homemade doughnuts while watching kayakers and rafts filled with thrill seekers land on the beaches. They enjoyed that atmosphere for about an hour before driving on. Asheville was about an hour and a half away, and they planned to stop there for lunch. It was an uneventful trip, and they landed in the River Arts District shortly before 2 p.m. They found the White Duck Taco Shop and decided to join the long line outside the front door. Rhythm made friends with our fellow diners and entertained them with his various antics. One of them was to crawl into a large planter outside the restaurant. Lunch was very good—a gyro for Ray, mole duck and Tai peanut tacos for Rae. They sat beneath the clouds at a picnic table on the edge of the grounds. Rhythm played in the grass as they waited for the food. Back on the road, Hickory was only 90 minutes over the mountains. They zipped up Black Mountain and down through Old Fort, Marion, Morganton and Valdese before arriving at their destination. Family was waiting to welcome them. They were staying in Hickory with Ray’s sister Jane.