Linville Falls

Yep.


Nature my friends.

Credit goes to my boys for hiking up this beast of a trail.

You guys rock.

But that piggy back the last half mile was unnecessary dontcha think?

Why Is It?

That people have the urge to say "moo" when they see cows? It's like - and you parents out there can vouch for me - how people feel compelled to speak baby talk to your child.

"Oh Bobby is sooooo cute-da beebee baahh baahh goo goo," they'll say.

I've admit it - I've done both myself (although I can say that alcohol was a factor in the cow conversation).

Just sayin'.

So here I find myself in the passenger seat as my wife took this picture "mooing" to the cow, kids in the back providing their own moo soundtrack.

Finally I barked out, "Can we go now?"

This wasn't well received.

"Can't we moo at the cows," my wife said with a cheerful giggle. "Oh my gosh."

I shook my head.

We drove off.

The cow mooed as we left.

I wondered what he said.

Priceless

Okay, so we didn't have much luck in the river that ran through it.

And maybe that's because I'm not some diehard fisherman.

I like to fish. Don't get me wrong.

But I'm more of a surf or lake fisherman.

We were smack dab in the heart of fly fishing country.

I lost a lot of hooks is what I'm saying... so we broke down and took the boys to a trout farm by Garndfather Mountain so they could catch some fish. It was sort of ridiculous: they supplied the rod & reel, bait, bucket and net. Yeah and even a pond full of trophy trout just for your pickin'! But we caught some fish, had them cleaned and took them home an ate 'em. Yum.

Plus, I got this picture out of it.

Rainbow Trout

With toasted pecans in butter, topped with parsley and served with the beverage of your choice and a few wedges of lemon.

And brown rice.

Can't you just about smell it?