Remember how I was on vacation last week? It was a fabulous break from the routine. My husband, however, is convinced that I was trying to kill him. Now where would he ever get that idea?
Meeting Kevin:
Yes, the Fictional One, the threatener of my life, serial collaborator, and Waco, his girlfriend met us on Sunday at The Smoky Mountain Brewery for lunch and a couple of beers. It’s true, Waco is real! I even have photographic evidence which you will have to take my word for, as I’m sworn to keep their identities a secret. I know, I know… Take it up with, Kevin!
Not only did we survive the encounter, meeting them was a blast. It was like hanging out with friends we’ve known all our lives. We spent about two hours together before they had to head back home. Next time, they get to come to Philadelphia!
Hiking the Smokies:
Besides meeting up with the man who regularly promised to bury us in an anonymous grave over the past two months, we spent a good amount of time in the National Park. This is the other reason my husband thinks I’m trying to kill him. Sigh. My man is not the athlete he used to be, bless his heart. Day one we hiked the Gabes Mountain Trail to Henwallow Falls, a round trip of just over four miles. It is categorized as moderate in difficulty. Granted, it does wind uphill nearly the whole time. With rocks and tree roots to pick your way around. I was in my glory until I saw how far behind Harry was falling…
Tuesday, it rained so Harry had the day to recover.
But then, Wednesday we hiked two more waterfall trails!
Meeting Elizabeth:
In the meantime, I posted a poem inspired by these beautiful mountains surrounding us. That’s when we discovered that Elizabeth, my amazing poet friend lives in nearby Asheville. We had plans to visit The Biltmore Estate one day anyway…
so we made plans to meet for a drink. Pretty cool, right? Here we are at The Wicked Weed Brewery. We had a lovely time with Elizabeth and enjoyed getting to know her better. (By the way, I would also be in my glory in Asheville — for a small city they have like 25 brew pubs! Ahem, I’ll be back!) And bear in mind that I’d been roaming around in the wind and mist for the entire day, so pardon my less than stellar appearance!
What a treat it was to meet my blogging friends in the real world! Don’t pass up the opportunity if it ever presents itself.
The nine-hour drive was well worth it. I even got the unexpected pleasure of visiting Woodrow Wilson’s Presidential Library and Museum in Virginia on the way home. For the writer with a World War One fascination, this was awesome, trust me! And Harry survived. For now…
Oh, my, gosh, great trip. Poor Harry! My hubby would be in the pub waiting for me to get back from the hike, even in his younger days! How cool that you got together with other bloggers — we need to arrange some sort of reunion thing somewhere for everyone!
LikeLiked by 5 people
That would be awesome! 😃
LikeLiked by 1 person
I totally agree. I hope that will happen one day in the near future and I’ll be somewhere in the US or Canada. Hopefully
LikeLiked by 3 people
Oh, if you are anywhere on the East Coast or Eastern Canada, make sure to let me know!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I definitely will 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Are you moving back???
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not yet. I hope to maybe another year or two who knows, but I think I’ll take a vacation in-between.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Fabulous, that would be so much fun to get together a group somewhere!
LikeLiked by 2 people
It would be a great time 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m pretty sure I could meet up somewhere for at least a long weekend!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Count me in too whenever this meeting is happening! I have been planning a trip to PA to meet Meg for a while now and haven’t got around to doing it!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh, wouldn’t it be fun?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes! We are doing this soon! 😃
LikeLiked by 1 person
Asheville is a righteously cool place, isn’t it? Actually, North Carolina is just awesome in general….except the stupid bathroom thing. Oh well, guess nothing is perfect. 😃
LikeLiked by 3 people
Definitely! From the little bit, we saw, it’s a very cool place. And NC overall, too. Theres the beaches of course! 😃
LikeLiked by 1 person
Damn skippy! Soon Doc! Sooooon! 😃
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not soon enough! October for us! When do you go?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll be in the mountains this weekend actually, but Ocracoke first two weeks of July. 41 days to be exact…not that I’m counting. 😃
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, wonderful! Right the rafting trip. Be careful and have a blast! 🚣🏻👍😃
LikeLiked by 1 person
Actually, whitewater but kayaking. I’ve kayaked since I was about 12, but in all my years on rivers and whitewater I’ve never rafted. Never wanted to leave my fate to seven people who’ve never been in whitewater. I’ll take my chances on me, not them. 😃
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, good point…. 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
I kill me by doing something stupid? That’s be a shame. Some clown I’ve never met kills me because of their ineptitude? I’d be pissed! Not that it’d matter, of course. I’d be dead. But you know what I mean. 😃
LikeLiked by 1 person
Right! 😃
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds a wonderful holiday, in all senses!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was great! And it went way too fast!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The best ones always do!
LikeLiked by 1 person
We decided not to kill you all because getting you to a secluded spot, disposing of the bodies would have taken so much time we would have missed Game of Thrones.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Pffft… A REAL serial killer would’ve set his DVR. Poser.
LikeLiked by 3 people
A real fan watches it live AND DVRs it for later reference…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fanboy. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
we’re a fan couple.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Fictional Kevin and commented:
So, met up with Dr. Meg this past weekend…
LikeLiked by 2 people
But…you were only doing it out of love! Certainly, he can’t hold that against you. 😉 Sounds like so much fun! And meeting Elizabeth was SUPER cool. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
I know I really need to kick his ass into shape! 😂 It was super cool meeting Elizabeth! And Kevin…. Do you know Kevin? We collaborated on a serial novella over the last couple months. It was huge fun!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Have not met Kevin yet. What’s his page?
Well, being a personal trainer and a yoga instructor, I give you props for all that physical activity! 🙂 Keep it up!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You can click through to his page from this post, I linked to it at “Fictional One” but his blog is called “Fictional Kevin” and thanks! I walk/jog 4-5 days a week! Could probably do better with strength training…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awesome! I see the linking now. Thanks! And that’s great. Yes, strength training is beneficial for so many reasons. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
How could Harry not like the adventures you take him on? Asheville is a great little town. We stopped by last fall, when driving from a short house sit assignment in Florida back to New England. Wish we had more time… and tried more pubs! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh he enjoys them! But the hiking is not his thing!
LikeLike
Thanks Meg! I’ll echo the sentiments above…poor Harry! Though of course you two could totally get used to it, I could tell he was thrilled with all the beautiful scenery. Brew pubs, AND too many breweries (I’ve lost count). I’d say it was getting out of hand, but it’s great having so many options. Such problems…
Thrilled you had a great trip – and whatEVER! You look beautiful. Happy looks very good on you, and you were positively beaming that night we met up!!! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh I know! The poor man, he just needs to practice. He really did love the trip… Every time we’re away we talk about how we can leave where we are… And thank you, lovely Elizabeth! I was very happy to meet you!
LikeLike
Ah, this is so cool! Love that you met your friends! You know, I think we live in the same neck of the woods…. Just sayin’ 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Really? Well, alright! Where about exactly?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll email you! 😃
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cool!
LikeLiked by 1 person
From reading this, I think it may not go well for me to meet up with anyone. I don’t drink… so one sip and I can’t drive. I’m also not much of a murder threat. I will be the most boring date on earth…
LikeLiked by 1 person
No, no, no…. Coffee dates are fine too! and murder/serial killing is not, I repeat not a requirement for getting together! 😀 Mutual love for tall, dark and handsome is quite enough!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I could get on board with killing some nachos. 😀 Won’t you be scared to see my bitter, sad, angry poetry come to life before your eyes? Good thing you get the sappy romantic, too. (And lustful where those tall, dark and handsome men are concerned…)
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh, nachos…… 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
There is a VERY famous donut shop… maybe after the nachos? Hell, they open at 3am… we can go REALLY early. Which is really late for me since 3am is around bedtime for me… 😛
LikeLike
What a grand time you had! Love the pics❤️
LikeLike
What an awesome trip! Tell Harry, what doesn’t kill him now, will give HIM really good stories to tell. Or can be the basis for your next book.
LikeLiked by 1 person
He won’t believe me! The part about trying to kill him.. that is! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I completely understand!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reading this was so lovely. I felt magically transported to all those places, without having to endure the physical torture of hiking. 😛 😀 I agree with you that meeting blogger friends in real life is cool. I’ve met a few earlier this year and loved it. The pics are beautiful and you look just great. I particularly love the waterfall pics and the one with your friend Elizabeth.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you sis! It was a great trip to a lovely part of the country. And meeting friends was certainly a highlight!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your husband is a sweetie. Mine will send me forth with his blessings 🙂 This is such a wonderful trip. You got to meet some blogger friends! I’m looking forward to such opportunities.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It really was great! He is a good sport!
LikeLiked by 1 person
He is and he looked really happy too 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! He was!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I sent you a mail 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, wonderful! I’ll get to it this evening! Thank you!
LikeLike
Great pics. Sounds like you had a great trip too. Loved the pics.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Drew, we really did! And it was fun to meet Kevin and Elizabeth! I’ll let you know when I’m coming to NYC next!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I will be ready.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha. Your title reminded me of an incident 😀 One of my friends(guy) saw the film Gone Girl and he almost vowed not to get married 😛 Cannot blame him anyways. The movie took things up way above the notch 😀
Love your waterfall trails. How was the cabin stay ? I suppose after the one day rainfall, the greenery would have looked all the more alluring 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
The cabin was great! All the amenities, deck with a great view, hot tub… And the hiking trails were stunning!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awesome . Sounds like the perfect vacay for some rejuvenation 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
How wonderful that you met up with fellow bloggers face-to-face:) Even the anonymous Kevin;) Found you via his blog, so very nice to “meet” you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice to meet you, too! Despite our childish bickering, we really are the greatest of friends! But don’t tell him I said something nice, he’ll just use it against me…. 😩
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your secret is safe with me;)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wait…you were in Virginia!?! Oh, why did I not know about that!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That was an unplanned stop on the way home! With my interest in WWI, having a peak at the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library was to good to pass up. It’s just a few miles off Route 81 on the way to West Virginia! Believe me if we were going to be near DC I’d have let you know!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, I’m sure…! 🙂
How was the museum? Have been there myself!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thought it was pretty cool. A nice little tour and the trench display in the basement was very well done. A very interesting man was President Wilson!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The waterfalls look beautiful! That must’ve been a great hiking trail. Tiring, but worth it 🙂 And very cool that you got to meet new friends!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! Yes – a great trip with a little of everything, nature, exercise, relaxation and socializing! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
25 brew pubs! Well, well, well. I could be persuaded…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Right? What’s not to love! 😃
LikeLiked by 1 person