Head for the mountains...

It was about April 12th when I found a bike race in the mountains and asked the lovely woman to whom I'm married if she'd like to take the kiddos up for a bike race/mountain trip that weekend.  I must have caught her at a optimum moment b/c she was quickly looking for a last minute cabin deal. Plans were made to get out of work early on Friday to make a proper Mountain Weekend.

First the race.  It was my first road race (I did a few cyclocross races last fall), and all in all I was very happy.  It was on paved and gravel forest roads and I got a flat early so I wasn't contending for a high placing (not that I was going to win), but I wasn't passed after I got going again and passed riders steadily through the finish.  So good marks there.

My cheering section came through in spades and braved the very chilly weather (30-40s most of the ride).  They were the only fans/cheerleaders on the route!  Ms. Schwangston always comes through with cowbells and activities to keep the kiddos entertained, and she delivered yet again.

Before the Mrs, and boys found me on the ride they took in some of the outdoors with the first of several spins on the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP).  It was the first time for all of them and if you haven't been on the BRP and specifically the Linn Cove Viaduct it is a "gots to see in NC".  Probably the coolest stretch of road I've seen, and in my peddling lifestyle I've seen more than the average.  The boys discovered some semi legit waterfalls (another first), and did some brief excursions of the BRP.

We refuged in a very interesting "Octagon" mountain cabin on top of Seven Devils (a peak outside of Boone) which had some impressive views of Grandfather Mtn (which had snow on the peak!) and the valley below.  The boys got to hang out in bunk beds next to Carter's favorite of the trip -- an air hockey table.  Ms. Schwangston was an air hockey all-star in her youth and young Carter James definitely is showing some love for the game.

On Sunday we took the BRP back to Marion, NC before hooking up with trusty ole' I-40 for our ride home but before I joined the exploring Schwangstons for some waterfall hunting.  This was our first serious (1.5mi-3mi) hikes with the boys and it was a success.  Carter found a walking stick and instantly became Sir Edmund Hillary of the Linville Falls hiking trails.  Owen despite having a 9" inseam was a serious hiker/jumping/move maker, and after he got his own walking stick (sharing is not for walking sticks) his hiking game stepped up immensely.

Finally I managed to coerce the trail weary Schwangstons to check out Mount Mitchell (highest peak east of Mississippi River).  The ride or drive in this case from the BRP up to the peak is awesome.  You start around 3000' and travel on the ridge line up to 6200'.  I pointed to the peak halfway through and told Schwie that we would be there in 15min and she couldn't believe it.  It was amazingly clear (we could see Grandfather Mtn (about 75mi) and several other peaks as well.  The boys enjoyed kicking the icicles that were formed on some of the rocks, and running and jumping like, well boys do.

Hopefully the success of this adventure will bring on many more.

Thanks for reading...