another organic restaurant, this one serving southern cuisine.Seeing Asheville again after being in Boone was illuminating and put both places in a gentle perspective -- Boone much smaller and less self-aware, Asheville livlier and more citylike.
We had no time to lose, however, as we continued over the Smokeys into Tennessee.
Cicada Season
We made it before dark to a State Park just north of Knoxville. First order of business -- a renewed calisthenics program,
and the collection of dead cicadas.
Though we haven't mentioned before, this year in Asheville and the rest of the Smokeys marked the return of the Seventeen-Year Cicadas, who buzzed extensively, flew into our faces, and scattered their bodies on the streets during our time in Asheville. A review of our campsite in Tennessee revealed many tiny holes in the ground, which we hypothesized to be cicada holes.
and the collection of dead cicadas.Though we haven't mentioned before, this year in Asheville and the rest of the Smokeys marked the return of the Seventeen-Year Cicadas, who buzzed extensively, flew into our faces, and scattered their bodies on the streets during our time in Asheville. A review of our campsite in Tennessee revealed many tiny holes in the ground, which we hypothesized to be cicada holes.
The collection of cicadas being complete, we set up camp while enjoying the fading light and cool breeze through the woods,
and set about collecting varying sizes and thicknesses of twigs, sticks and logs, creating a firewood collage. Heather built tents out of wood and spires of flames, which we looked at
and toasted our bread on.
and set about collecting varying sizes and thicknesses of twigs, sticks and logs, creating a firewood collage. Heather built tents out of wood and spires of flames, which we looked at
and toasted our bread on.
The toasts were the base of one of several Road Ghost Road Staple Snacks. This one is suitable for breakfast, lunch & dinner:
Peanut Butter Banana Breads
1/2 to 1 whole over-ripe banana
Several knife-fulls warm & chunky peanut butter
Balance a slice of Ezekiel on your lap. Take your already peanut-butter encrusted pocket knife and spread the peanut butter on the bread. Then, with the same knife, cut thin to thick chunks of banana, and place lavishly on the peanut-buttered bread. Eat!
Balance a slice of Ezekiel on your lap. Take your already peanut-butter encrusted pocket knife and spread the peanut butter on the bread. Then, with the same knife, cut thin to thick chunks of banana, and place lavishly on the peanut-buttered bread. Eat!
"Better than an RC and a Moon Pie"
In the morning we met with Charlotte Branson, a real estate agent in Kingston, TN ("State Capital for a Day -- September 21, 1807"), who wasted no time in printing out more property descriptions than our little hearts could have hoped for. She asked us about our plans for the property, but then stopped abruptly and asked if we were "intending to start a com-MUNE". We told her "sort of" and she said she used to be a hippy herself.
There was only enough time to see a couple of properties, so we checked out one about 15 minutes west of Kingston -- 81 acres for $195,000.
Driving to the property, Charlotte regaled us with the kinds of festivals they have in Tennessee -- Corn Bread, Moonshine, Catfish, and RC & Moon Pies. Moon Pies are made in Chattanooga, and in Tennessee few things are "better than an RC and a Moon Pie." She also filled our heads with useful rural knowledge culled from her upbringing on a 600-Acre farm in just that neck of the woods. She told us to put clear nail polish on chiggers and never plant during a month with an "R" in it. She told us that raccoons will wash anything, even sugar cubes, and that ticks with white spots on their backs carry lyme disease. She told us tales of the area's coal plant, nuclear plant, and weapons plant,
and her houseboat journey down the Tennessee river to the Gulf of Mexico.
Arriving at the property, we discovered it to be lush and tick-rich,
complete with pond and woods.
Part of it was located under power lines,
but not too far from Kingston.
We were mis-directed to the next property and couldn't find it. We didn't mind riding around with Charlotte for a little while longer, as she was a gem of a guardian angel. Upon returning to her office (and allowing her to finally take her husband out for a birthday lunch of hamburgers), she offered us use of the shower to wash off our ticks, then filled our arms with bottled water, peanut butter crackers, cinnamon buns and a hug for each of us. What a woman.
The day was nearly done, but we had yet to see the city of Knoxville. So with the intent of finding the evening's meal, we headed into town. We were greeted by the Knoxville World's Fair Ball, which towered over the entrance to the city. Word is still out on whether or not it is filled with wigs.
Knoxville's old city provided us with not many food options,
including some New Jersey Style Pizza.
A disinterested waitress in a coffee house told us about an organic/vegetarian/vegan-friendly spot in the heart of downtown. We whisked ourselves away to dine.
Our dinner bliss was short-lived, however, when we got back in the car to leave town and discovered Melanie's Big Tissy -- a Peanut Butter Disaster of greasy & sad proportions. An only partially-closed jar of peanut butter tumbled and spilled all over many of Keith's possessions, including but not limited to Computer, Backpack & Pillow.
Clandestine trips to an Arby's across the street provided us with the napkins necessary to de-pb,
and the ants began work cleaning up the street.
We had done as much as we could, and the day was getting old, so out of Knoxville we drove and onward to Kentucky.
Driving to the property, Charlotte regaled us with the kinds of festivals they have in Tennessee -- Corn Bread, Moonshine, Catfish, and RC & Moon Pies. Moon Pies are made in Chattanooga, and in Tennessee few things are "better than an RC and a Moon Pie." She also filled our heads with useful rural knowledge culled from her upbringing on a 600-Acre farm in just that neck of the woods. She told us to put clear nail polish on chiggers and never plant during a month with an "R" in it. She told us that raccoons will wash anything, even sugar cubes, and that ticks with white spots on their backs carry lyme disease. She told us tales of the area's coal plant, nuclear plant, and weapons plant,
and her houseboat journey down the Tennessee river to the Gulf of Mexico.Arriving at the property, we discovered it to be lush and tick-rich,
complete with pond and woods.Part of it was located under power lines,but not too far from Kingston.We were mis-directed to the next property and couldn't find it. We didn't mind riding around with Charlotte for a little while longer, as she was a gem of a guardian angel. Upon returning to her office (and allowing her to finally take her husband out for a birthday lunch of hamburgers), she offered us use of the shower to wash off our ticks, then filled our arms with bottled water, peanut butter crackers, cinnamon buns and a hug for each of us. What a woman.
The day was nearly done, but we had yet to see the city of Knoxville. So with the intent of finding the evening's meal, we headed into town. We were greeted by the Knoxville World's Fair Ball, which towered over the entrance to the city. Word is still out on whether or not it is filled with wigs.
Knoxville's old city provided us with not many food options,
including some New Jersey Style Pizza.A disinterested waitress in a coffee house told us about an organic/vegetarian/vegan-friendly spot in the heart of downtown. We whisked ourselves away to dine.
Our dinner bliss was short-lived, however, when we got back in the car to leave town and discovered Melanie's Big Tissy -- a Peanut Butter Disaster of greasy & sad proportions. An only partially-closed jar of peanut butter tumbled and spilled all over many of Keith's possessions, including but not limited to Computer, Backpack & Pillow.
Clandestine trips to an Arby's across the street provided us with the napkins necessary to de-pb,and the ants began work cleaning up the street.
We had done as much as we could, and the day was getting old, so out of Knoxville we drove and onward to Kentucky.
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