Treated Like Kings & Queens...thanks Rick & Erin! (written by Dori's Dad, Rick)

Erin & I rented a really nice 3 BR cabin in Valle Crusis (http://www.andersonmtnrentals.com/Bluestone/Bluestone%20Cabin.html) complete with all the amenities including a great Jacuzzi hot tub. I met the Crew at a restaurant Topo had worked in prior to graduating which was just up the road a piece from the cabin. They had just finished a nice day after several horrible rainy days ascending Roan Mountain. Giggles was not with Topo & Outloud since she was helping her parents with an engagement party for her sister, but Indiana Jones was. He has been with our Crew for several weeks and has become a member of the family. They had a lot of stuff to unpack and reorganize, but they could only think of getting into that tub.

So in the tub they went….for about 30 min. Aaaah!
They each showered, unpacked, did laundry and kicked back for a long deserved R & R!

Erin & I, well Erin, prepared a beautiful Surf & Turf meal for our weary hikers. Sirloin roast with a reduction of Cabernet Sauvignon, 4 large fresh lobsters, Au Gratin potatoes, a beautiful Yorkshire pudding, and a great salad with prosciutto, sunflower seeds, dried cranberries, and herbed goat cheese.

As you can see, Whitney arrived in time for dinner. We knocked off a few bottles of some good wine and then relaxed for a while. The “kids” took another tub, redressed, and were ready for desert.

Hot brownies smothered with Vanilla Bean and Coffee Hagen Das and fresh strawberries, along with Champaign. Topo made a nice fire in the living room fireplace and we all sorta faded out.

I started the morning bacon early, so all awoke to that so familiar smell. We all pitched in to make cheesy scrambled eggs, tons of buttered pancakes and OJ.
We all took our time and packed. The Crew will take 2 zero days and hit the trail Thursday morning. And it’s a good thing too in that it snowed 4” in Boone last night and they were all real happy they were taking THIS day off!