More from Chimney Rock Park.

Don't know about you, but I think waterfalls just look better in black and white.
 

Touristas at Chimney Rock Park

After Dog's Camp, we stayed a few days in Asheville to be tourists. Not wanting to be completely middle class, (and not wanting to spend $80!), we blew off Biltmore Estate, and went to Chimney Rock Park, (Near Bat Cave, NC). This is Chimney Rock. It's up there... about 2300 feet. Manmade Lake Lure can be seen in the background. The trails go even higher... probably around 3500 feet; maybe more.












But first we took the low trail, with Rally and Fanny, to the base of the 400' Hickory Nut Falls.






..and did the self-timer family portrait thing.



Interesting fact: Chimney Rock Park stood in for upstate New York in the, mostly unmemorable film, Last of the Mohicans.

Odd, with all this mountainous grandeur...

...this is my favorite shot of the day.

I'll post a link to the Picasa web album when I give it a try, so there will be many, many more Chimney Rock images.

The Dog's Camp..

So, you ask, what's the deal with this "dog camp" that you have to go to every year, and can't do our specialty?? Huh? Just what about it??!!?

Well.. those infernal "clickers" aside.. The Dog's Camp is mostly about fun..








and love,



of all kinds. And that's about it.


There are a few thousand more images at our web site, if you really want to get a feel about what it's like.

"Are You Still Alive!!??"

Watch this movie, and you'll know why I consider NASCAR to be completely lame. Rally:Real cars, on real roads, going real fast!

Foodies Rejoice!

I recently read a piece in our RV Club magazine about an internet discussion site called chowhound.com . It's a sort of craigslist for food-loving people who want to avoid the Olive Gardens and Appleby's out there.

I was searching for information on our favorite Asheville restaurant, Salsa's, (no web site, but here is the chowhound.com information on it.) It turns out my friend Steve, from Charlotte, didn't steer us wrong 3 years ago when he recommended it. It's the number one recommended Asheville restaurant on chowhound.

But, I digress. For people like us, (and other dog people that travel extensively), it's a great resource. Check it out.

They Really Aren't Just "Fur People".

From New Scientist:

"Last week, researchers gathered at a conference held at the Royal Society in London to hear the latest evidence on how animals interpret the world. One thing is clear: they do not see it the same way we do, and only by accepting that can we learn to care for them better. "The matter of central interest is the animals' own perspective on its quality of life," says James Kirkwood of the Universities Federation for animal Welfare, which co-sponsored the conference with the British Veterinary Association." (Emphasis mine.)

This tidbit is from a very interesting article on current research into the state of animal welfare. It's interesting to find out that what your vet doesn't know can make life miserable for your pet.

Read it all here. And a Hat Tip to Richard H. in Canada.

On the Road Again..

Back to our travels, as we're rushing headlong back to the present! After leaving Niagara, we spent Labor Day Weekend in Ontario, Canada, covering the Great Canadian Triathlon. Other than a disappointing outing at the oval racing, we had an enjoyable time. And so did this little one...



















After returning to Michigan we decided to stop for the night in Lapeer...

DINING TIP: The Blind Fish (no web site), in Lapeer has exceptional seafood and, so I'm told, steaks. Excellent Bloody Mary, (but not as good as mine.) Try the Southwest Grouper- a blend of flavors from chilis to cajun. Yum.

...so we could have dinner at one of our favorite restaurants.

Following a couple days in Jackson, we were motivated to get to one of our favorite stops of the year, the Wind Chasers Lure Coursing Club's annual Pig Roast. Oh yeah, there were trials, too.

Then it was time for our annual week vacation from sighthounds: The Dog's Camp. Held at the 4H Education Center in Swannanoa (near Asheville), it's worth an entire post in itself. So go get your clickers and treats, and get ready...

The Dog's Camp is fun!