10/05/13: Day 3: From Atlanta to Hendersonville, and a wedding
Again, most of the story is in the pictures. Karl made us whole grain vegan blueberry pancakes for breakfast, and we headed out before noon.
One always appreciates a home with books. This was our room at "Hotel Hagen."
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Note the gal in the center. I don't remember her original name here, but I do remember the story of another guest who, after spotting her in the dark on his way back from a bleary wee hours visit to the bog, named her Adrena-Lynn Rush.
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A pool and an overlook to the woods behind.
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Here is the bear about whom all prospective visitors are cryptically warned.
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One cannot leave in a bad mood, because the crab is to be left behind.
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Two stories:On our way up to the Hagens last night, the roads were loaded with slow walking dark figures. To my credit, the first thought that crossed my mind was "Orthodox" instead of "Zombies!"Note the speed bump. Back in the nineteen-aughts, Nobel winner A. H. Compton designed a speed bump that is low and long, to slow down those new-fangled automobiles. These work well at forcing all vehicles to slow down, unlike the short ones you see everywhere that shake up small cars, endanger bicycles, and SUV's and trucks cruise right over. This area uses the old and superior design.
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With traffic and stops it took us only 3.5 hours to get to the Days Inn in Hendersonville. We regrouped, dressed in country-western style (the wedding theme), and drove up a challenging road to the reception. A good meal, and some dancing, and our only true obligation for the trip is discharged.
A toll carpool lane, that tells you how much it charges, as you leave Atlanta.
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Entering South Carolina
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Brands we don't have at home. S.C. has a rep for low cost gasoline, and this is almost the lowest price we saw so far on the trip. We saw $3.97 a block after we filled up.
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Heading for the hills
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And on to Noth Cahlina.
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After driving up the winding rutted, potholed mountain road we get to the summit of the wedding. Does this say "Marlboro country" to you? I think that that is the photographer.
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Selfie with the Smokies
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Smart caterers: Two buffet lines with completely different assortments at two corners of the tent.
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There is a small but impressive flower garden on the grounds
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The tent, the running-water outhouse, and up on the hill, the barn.
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I have gotten into the habit of taking pix of people taking pix, and covering the subject as well. This is looking down from the barn and then turning right to look down the mountain.
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The sweet tea fountain had to be carried up to the barn. THe father of the groom on the left.
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Professional folklorists and musicians provide the music for the contradance
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By the bride's request, Karen calls the Virginia Reel.
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I took many pictures of the wedding, most only of interest to the parties involved. But this typical play has a slightly different twist. This is their second cake, featuring the Saint Louis Cardinals. And in this series you can see the groom's surprise, him deciding to retaliate, load up, and then have to chase the bride out of the building. It amused me.
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