Boone, NC

We've had a lovely day today being in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, where the air is so fresh, pure and clean.

We headed for Boone in North Carolina, and as is our want, found the first McDonalds we could.  We get wifi on the go there, and sort out a campsite for the night.  In line with my usual tradition I made sure I had a McFlurry.  An Oreo one today, instead of a Smartie one (M&M to the yanks).

A bit later we were all done, and on our way to the next place, - Walmart.

Ruth by now is getting a bit above her station, and won't let go of me in a Walmart store.
I feel like an inmate from an asylum being carefully watched so that I don't get into trouble.  At one point I managed to break loose, and hide in the peanut butter aisle.  But she soon found me, and chained me to the shopping trolley.  I was allowed a brief moment of parole later, - to go and fetch some goodies while she queued at the till.  But on the whole, I am not my own man when it comes to supermarkets.

All I really want to do is have a wander round the guns, bullets (stacked like tins of beans), crossbows, knives, axes, drills, chainsaws, wiper-blades, and car accessories while Ruth does the food shopping.

But I'm not allowed.

Anyway, we found ourselves a campsite for the night.  I recall saying to Ruth, that I had good feeling about this campsite.  I felt that it was going to be good.  She did too.
We prepared ourselves to spend maybe three nights at it.

However, the impression obtained from the website was somewhat removed from reality! First impressions were not promising.

We walked in, and had a quick squint at the pitches.  Not too bad.

We looked for the washblock, (restrooms out here for the yanks).  Not visible at first sight.

Just then an old creature hobbled out from a door which had "Office" written on it.  She had only half a set of her top teeth.  The other half were missing.
She invited us in to her "office".   We looked at each other, wide-eyed.  She was the owner.

On entering the "office" the smell nearly knocked me over!
DOG, my nose said!
OLD DOG!
I wasn't sure though.  It could have been "her".
Piles of newspapers, magazines, boxes, an old armchair, two dinner plates with half eaten food, and more.
You think I'm joking?
Ruth discretely captured the room on her phone from the relative safety of the exit.

Checking in at the "office"

The dog, equally old, hobbled out to see me.  It was about the size of an overgrown St Bernard, and twice as smelly as a wet Labrador.  I had to step over it to get to her office desk where a laptop the same age as the old girl performed the booking process.

The "shop" where you might find anything?! (Or not).

Every question she asked me, I had to have the answer relayed to me by Ruth as the old girl just muttered away.  Even though I was right next to her, even my razor sharp hearing couldn't detect what question she was asking me.

By now we had decided that we would do just one night at this place, and push on tomorrow.

She asked us if we wanted anything out of her "shop"?  We politely declined.  Signs declared that there was to be no smoking, no alcohol, and no noise.  Those fine things

Pitch number 14 was ours for the night, and despite the sordid state of the "office", we found the campsite pitch number 14 to be quite fine.  Full hook up of wifi, water (clean I hope), sewer,
and electricity.

A whole new meaning for "electrical hook-up!

We could have had cable tv too if we had wanted it.  There was even a fire pit for our use.

Feeling like travellers.

The washblock was a bit dated, but perfectly clean.  And the laundry room was fully equipped with washing machines, tumble dryers and the usual stuff.  And the old lady was quite pleasant, and humorous.  So we stayed.

We made ourselves some supper and got some washing done.