Rhythm&RaeRay Day 1: Hospitality in the Hills

Rhythm&RaeRay hit the road shortly after 9 a.m. in a car filled with baby food and a folding high chair, a bag stocked with pots and pans to go with a Coleman stove, sleeping bag and blankets, and two guitars. They chose the longest route to Topton, N.C., where they would spend the night at the Nantahala Hideaway Campgrounds & Cabins. They had rented Bunkhouse 1, a one-room cabin with three bunk beds, a two-outlet plug, an overhead light and four windows looking north. The interior walls were unfinished, cheap OSB boards and the floor was concrete. The room had a table with a lamp and four folding chairs. Rhythm& RaeRay figured that if it was unsuitable, they could drive on and forget the $35 it cost for the night. Check-in began at 3 p.m. and the office closed at 5 o’clock. They took the scenic route through Alabama’s DeKalb County – Henagar, Valley Head and Mentone – and northwest Georgia – Menlo, Summerville, Ellijay and Blue Ridge. They stopped for a pork sandwich at Bama Boys BBQ at Henagar Crossroads. As they continued, a downpour followed them to Ellijay, where they decided to take refuge at the Welcome Center and Gilmer Chamber. Chamber of Commerce executives passing through the building seemed a bit miffed at the sight of a 70-year-old man, 31-year-old woman and 9-month-old toddler having a picnic in a corner of the office. The receptionist had welcomed us, although she didn’t realize we would sit in the floor eating sandwiches. She was happy, though, to be photographed with little Rhythm. About 2 hours later, Rhythm&RaeRay arrived at their destination and met Marsha, the owner who was quick to fire out emails, but whose phone was always busy. She explained that the bunkhouse had lights, but no water and was a short walk from the bathhouse and a wi-fi room with comfortable chairs for relaxing and tables for working. A firepit was also just outside the bunkhouse, so Rhythm&RaeRay bought a $5.50 bundle of firewood. We drove up the hill to find our bunkhouse electricity was not working. Back at the office, Marsha agreed to follow to our rental to fix the situation. A few minutes later, her husband Jerry arrived to help. The two bought the campground about a year ago and have been sprucing things up ever since. The bunkhouse was clean, the bathhouse and showers were very presentable, and the brush was well tended. In spite of all that, two yellowjackets stung Ray and Marsha as they walked around the bathhouse. Finally, Jerry discovered that a CFI plug in the bunkhouse had tripped and cut off the power. Moments later, Rhythm&RaeRay were settling in. Dinner was a corn and poblano soup Rae had picked up at Trader Joe’s. It was delicious heated on the Coleman stove in a pot Ray had bought for $3 at a Salvation Army thrift store. They also toasted bread in a frying pan, also $3, with melted butter. They built a fire in the pit with the $5.50 worth of firewood, and played music and sang around it until rain began drizzling down. Oh, well, it was nearly 9 p.m. anyway. Rhythm&RaeRay settled into the bunkhouse listening to the raindrops until the sandman took them away.