Road-tripping with Rhoda: Fleming Island, FL to Murphy, NC

 Yesterday we left Fleming Island for the long day's drive to Asheville. We wanted to have a day to shop local quilt/fabric shops. The drive was uneventful (YAY!) pleasant weather, good road conditions, nice company. The highlights of the day were two fold. First, our hotel was near Biltmore Village, so we took a drive through to enjoy the shops-that-used-to-be-houses and gape at some remarkable architecture. Second, we chose to eat at Ichiban where our chef spun flashing knives and made fire while preparing remarkable food (Ribeye and Scallops for me, Shrimp and salmon for Rhoda).  I ate too much (what a shock right?!), but it was delicious.

Back at the hotel, we kind of collapsed as the drive though not arduous was taxing. Rhoda even let me drive the last 50 miles! (Rhoda:  Because I was sleepy and kept running to the edge of the road!  Safety first!)

I was asleep by 9:30..dead to the world.

This morning we slept in until 8:30, enjoyed our free breakfast and left to arrive at our first shop 9 minutes after its 10:00 AM opening. Purl's Yarn Emporium is a small husband/wife endeavor that has survived CoVid and still prospering. Stocked with shelf after shelf of Noro and hand-dye wools, itt looked like a rainbow exploded within the shop walls. We found a few great gifts for friend and family (It's never too early to beat the Christmas rush!)  

Down the road 1.5 miles from Purl's is Asheville Cotton Company, a kind of Mecca for me and Rhoda. We wandered the shop for almost an hour. I chatted up a wonderful lady named Margie who "has never picked up a needle in my life, but I love visiting my friend so here I am!" No surprise, Rhoda and I left the shop with fabric for our map-quilting class. and a few non-essential but "they might come in handy" items.

Next shop was easy to get to on paper, but not so much when you must cope with much less than preferable signage. I don't believe the local DOT has any budget at all for shrubbery trimming. Then there was the "Stay in the right lane for I-26" sign but the lane ended at an overpass wall BEFORE the turn! I really shouldn't complain, it's so much better than driving through downtown Atlanta!

We arrived at Dreaming of the Sea in Woodfin, NC and spied about a dozen Dancing Birds decorating the property.  (I'm a believer in this shop immediately.) I bought a Sandhill Crane for patio collection. Inside the shop, we met Agador, who earns 5 stars as a welcomer. 

We snagged more fabric for the mapping class as well as for future projects. Tara (shop owner) used to live in the Tampa/St. Pete area but has moved to the mountains. Anything to avoid heat, I guess. Her shop is new but she's had a successful online business for many years selling fabric. Her shop is a fabric and home decor store, but not much about quilting. Nonetheless, whenever I'm in that area, I'll be by there and I'll be investigating her on-line store.

Our final stop was 5 Little Monkeys in Weaverville, NC. What a delightful town. Lots of small shops offering pottery, glassware, camping outfitters AND this marvelous fabric and quilt shop that is a full family affair. Angie is vivacious, knowledgeable and personable. Her husband is charming and persuasive. They make a dynamic sales force. The store is a treasure trove of patterns, varied fabrics, trinkets, quilt supplies and extras and lots of classes. (Check our their on-line presence.)

Lunch at Well-Bred Bakery & Cafe in Weaverville is wonderful. The BEST BLT I have ever eaten. And Brianna served me a fabulous, mouth-watering iced coffee. I was very, very good and walked right past the scrumptious desserts and pastries.

The drive to Murphy hit a snag when neither one of us could get the GPS to route us onto 64, so we "settled" for 74, despite the section running through the Gorge paralleling the Nantahala (not one of Rhoda's favorite "scenic drives"). Nonetheless, I snapped a neat shot of mist on the river when Rhoda gave me a gift by pulling into an outlook so I could take a good shot of a rafter.

These mountains are kind of magical.  Even when one is speeding down an interstate, they exert a kind of pull on the imagination and the psyche. 

We're in our hotel for the night. We check into John C. Campbell tomorrow and begin our week-long class.

BTW, we woke to 69 degrees this morning. Sigh!!!!!