Friends in High (Altitude) Places

Chapter 9: Fiddles, Footwork, and the First Campfire

We had a lazy breakfast—eggs sunny side up, smoked salmon, strawberries—before heading to the Blue Ridge Music Center. The Buck Mountaineers were playing, and the energy was infectious: jig-dancing, singing, and quirky little puppets “dancing” across the banjo and guitar strings. I learned that the banjo came from West Africa, inspired by the Akonting. Who knew?


The day got even better when Lilian and Cindy arrived from New York. Seeing them set up tent and self-inflated mats felt like welcoming old friends into a little mountain home. At Stony Fork Creek campground, Nelson built his first campfire using dead wood, while Lilian displayed serious bare-handed log-breaking skills. Dinner was steak, baguette, salad, and wine from Round Peak, and Cindy and I finished the night with marshmallows over the fire—pure joy.



Chapter 10: Seven Sisters Under a Summer Sun
Hiking day! Breakfast was chicken sausages, scrambled eggs, and toast, with Nelson brewing fresh coffee for everyone. The Seven Sisters Trail promised a challenge, but the elevation was gradual—though the heat was relentless. Nelson and I kept teasing each other about surviving the climb while Lilian and Cindy powered through, laughing at our huffing and puffing.



Back at the campground, a charcuterie board awaited, and the girls napped while Nelson sawed a dead log for the fire (we even kept a piece as a pot mat—souvenir vibes). Dinner was curry beef and chicken with naan and rice. Cindy’s birthday called for a mini celebration with sparklers—the last two we had—and singing happy birthday over the fire. That night, the mountains felt alive with laughter, smoke, and the comfort of good friends.

Chapter 11: Blackberries in the Rain
Pancakes with berries started our day. Packing up, we drove along the Blue Ridge Parkway, but the rain had its own plans. We ducked into Linville Falls Winery, where 3D flights of tiny wine glasses made sipping a full-on experience. I made a charcuterie board with blackberries the girls had snagged from a farmers market—it felt cozy, almost like a picnic inside a cloud of rain.


That night, Bear Den campground welcomed us with space and quiet. With rain still threatening, we pitched the moonshade and set up the girls’ tent underneath. We played Spot It in the van, laughing so hard the sound must have echoed through the woods. Even the bad weather couldn’t touch the warmth of the day.



Chapter 12: The Morning They Drove Away
Lilian and Cindy left before sunrise for their 12-hour drive back to New York. Nelson made Lilian coffee as we said goodbye—it felt strangely like sending off houseguests after a lively weekend. Our mountain home shrank back to just the two of us, but the energy lingered.


We spent the rest of the day slowly: laundry (with pine needles), van cleaning, a little self-care, and prepping meals. Dinner was stir-fried veggies with shrimp and a green onion omelette—simple, comforting, and familiar. It was a quiet contrast to the whirlwind of the past few days, but the memory of laughter, hiking, and marshmallows stayed with us, like the mountains themselves humming softly in the background.





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