Onward to Eugene, NC

Charlotte was a great time and awesome to see some of our old friends, but a mantra of our trip is to not linger too long in one place. Therefore, we watched Phil Mickelson win The Open Championship with HJ and Sam and hit the road. Our next destination was Asheville, NC, which is about an hour and a half west of Charlotte. We took the long route there and encountered another intense monsoon, this time around Rutherfordton; a small town right on the border of North and South Carolina. It was a serious flood zone and we drove through road rivers ankle deep. We decided not to stop because we feared if we stayed put, we would get caught in the flash flood and be unable to leave the town. Wolf and Black Sally powered through the storm while Peter held his breath. Eventually we made it out and began to drive through beautiful mountainous forests, rivers and lakes. Here's what we found. 

The first city we arrived at after the storm was Lake Lure. It was a beautiful town with small stores, cabins, and a long stretch of beach. We craigslisted the prices of apartments and were baffled when they were renting two bedrooms for $500. Future retirement spot.

Chimney Rock outside of Lake Lure.

Entering the town of Bat Cave on Highway 74A.

Peter outside the Old Cider Mill in Bat Cave. A great shop with homemade apple cider, deep fried peanuts (you even eat the shell!), and local art and jewelry made by owner Joann D'Ambra. "Love, peace and battiness." 

Wolf from the other angle outside The Cider Mill.

Roaring rapids along Highway 74A.

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Asheville has the reputation of being a very progressive, liberal and up-and-coming town. Kind of the hippie hub of the Southeast. Having both grown up in two of the many hippie hubs of the northwest, Asheville felt familiar; we felt like we were back in Eugene. 

Here is the main strip of of downtown. Lots of coffee shops and wine bars. Unfortunately, all of the retail shops were closed because we arrived after 6pm, but the restaurants were open.

We stopped at this hippie gem. It was called Mellow Mushroom. Psychedelic art and Alice in Wonderland figurines lined the walls. 

We enjoyed a couple of enormous subs and a pitcher of Lagunitas IPA before making our way out on the town. Wolf's sub had beef marinated in Rogue Dead Guy Ale. They had more than twenty-five craft beers on tap from all over the country including Oregon. 

Wolf posing outside Mellow Mushroom with a psyched out Ronald McDonald whom we have unfortunately had the experience of meeting many times on this trip. He has a good $1 menu. 

Moonlight shining over the tallest building in Asheville. 

After the Mellow Mushroom, we were advised to go to Barcade. What can be better than beers and Mario. 

All the video games were $0.25. We exchanged an Abraham Lincoln for hours of fun. We spent plenty of quarters playing Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter II. 

After touring the hostels around Asheville, we determined that we should find an after hours campsite. This is code for a free plot of grass where we leave by 5am. After a phone call with Wolf's mom, she was nice enough to provide us with a hotel downtown. We checked in, and went out on the town again. The first spot we checked out had four guys from Donegal, Ireland visiting the states. Coincidentally, Peter has visited that county in western Ireland. Here is Peter shaking hands with Paddy. We had plenty of conversations with these guys including golf talk. One of them has the same coach as Major Champion Rory McIlroy. 

As the bar was closing, we headed outside. The first song we heard Eric play was "Old Man," by Neil Young. Great rendition which he has played for people for many years. 

Peter continued the conversation about music and our shared love of classic rock. 

Overlooking downtown Asheville from our hotel balcony. Thanks again mom. 

Ate one of our best continental breakfasts before hitting the road to Tennessee. 

Supertramp - "Take The Long Way Home"