Miatas at the Gap XVIII

Miatas at the Gap

Our destination was the Great Smoky Mountains at Deals Gap.  Over the weekend, there would be over five hundred Miata's that would show up for the event.  The primary draw for the weekend would be to drive the 'Tail of the Dragon', an eleven mile stretch of state highway 129 that has 318 turns.  There were several other drives over the weekend that would test your driving skills.

Starting with three Miata's from our TMR Car Club, leaving Thursday morning, the last weekend in July.  We had a six hour drive to Fontana Village which was 'Ground Zero' for the event.  In Asheville, we met up with another member of our group for lunch at the Moose Cafe.
 

Moose Cafe is known for it's BBQ

It was raining in Asheville.  The four of us. (L to R) Paul & Tien, Jennifer & Kenny, Roy & Becky, & Bob (on Right) 

We were staying in a four bedroom house in Robbinsville, about a half hour drive from Fontana Village.  It was raining when we drove up on Thursday, but the rest of the weekend was sunny and dry.

Fontana Village was not too busy (yet) Thursday evening, but there was one organized  "sunset "drive to Cherohala Skyway Overlook. We drove with the group of about 40 Miatas.  After a while, it started raining very hard. We cut short our trip and drove back to Robbinsville. 

Lining up for the sunset drive to Cherohala Skyway Overlook

Getting ready for the sunset drive.

Friday we drove to Fontana Village to register.  There were cars from all over the Southeast as well as Canada.  

There was a car wash station set up for anyone to use. 

Washing Tien's car.
 

We drove to Deals Gap, the beginning of the 'Tail of the Dragon'.  It took us about an hour to drive over and then back.  

Start of the 'Tail of the Dragon'

That evening there was a long drive (49 winding miles) from Robbinsville to Fat Buddies barbecue in the town of Franklin, NC.  It was a two hour drive on narrow winding roads.     

Taking a break on our way to Fat Buddies.

It takes two pictures to get all the cars.

We split a rack of ribs.

Saturday started off with a Miata group photo at Fontana Dam.  There were almost 200 cars at the photo session.

Miatas lined up for the photo.

After the photo, we were treated to lunch and ice cream at Fontana Village which was sponsored by Graham County's Chamber of Commerce.  We couldn't help ourselves, so we drove the 'Tail of the Dragon' one more time that afternoon.

Dragon sculpture.

Tree of Shame

That evening, we had a cookout for our TMR (Triangle Miata Roadster) car club.  About twenty members showed up.

Our cookout.

We had a great time at the annual gathering of Miata enthusiast in Western North Carolina..

Our club president.

People like to customize their Miatas

Driving the Tail of the Dragon

Bath, North Carolina.

Since our beach condo was rented out over Memorial Day weekend, we decided that we needed a day trip in the Miata.  We wanted to go someplace where have not been before.  The weather was perfect, so the car's top was down.  We ended up in Bath.  Bath is North Carolina's first port and first town.  It was incorporated in 1705, located on Pamlico Sound on the Pamlico River.  We took a self guided walking tour through the historic distirct.

A view of the Pamlico River.  A perfect day for a wedding.  

Bonner House built in 1830.

Van Der Veer House built in 1790.

We took a ferry across the Pamlico River to Aurora, NC.  Aurora is known as the 'Sharks Tooth' capital of North Carolina.

Tien and her car on the ferry.  

Enjoying the ferry ride.

One of the exhibits in Aurora fossil museum.   

Michelle's Graduation from Framingham State University

We spent a long weekend in the Boston area to attend Michelle's Graduation ceremony. She received her "Masters" degree in "Science in Coordinated Program in Dietetics".  The commencement for the graduate students was on Sunday morning, May 18th.  The weather was perfect.  The ceremony was held in the Town Square of Framingham.  There were about 250 Master graduates in all, fourteen of them were in the same program with Michelle.  After the graduation, there was a reception in FSU campus . 

In  the evening, we had an excellent dinner at the Royal India Bistro in Lexington, MA with Bo (Michelle's friend from high school) joining us.  Congrats Michelle!. We are very proud of YOU!

 

Congratulations on your great accomplishment!.  

The graduate

The graduate and the proud parents.

On Friday before the graduation, we toured the area around Harvard  including the Harvard Museum of Natural History.  We also did a Ghost Tour' around Harvard Square in the evening. It was Mother's Day gift from Michelle which we enjoyed very much.  Thank you, Michelle!.

Harvard Museum of Natural History
.

Harvard Square

We always enjoy hiking up to Prospect Hill Park.  It's one of Michelle's and Seth's favorite running paths.  It has a great view of Boston from the top of the hill.  There are also lot of wild orchids in bloom this time of the year.  

Top of Prospect Hill Park

Lady Slipper

Plymouth (Plimoth) Plantation, Plymouth Rock, and a replica of the Mayflower were important pieces of US history that we're glad to see.   

Plymouth Rock

Replica of the Mayflower.

The morning before we left, we visited Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House in Concord.  She is the author of 'Little Women'.

Orchard House.

We had a wonderful weekend in Boston and hope to return soon.

Alaska Cruise

On September 1st, we started our Alaska Cruise out of Seattle on the Norwegian Cruise Line ship, the Pearl .  It was a seven day cruise that would take us to Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay (Inside Passage), Ketchikan, Victoria, and back to Seattle.

We were expecting cool, maybe rainy weather in Seattle and on the cruise.  But to our pleasant surprise, the weather was sunny and reasonably warm the entire time.

The Pearl 

Enjoying the jacuzzi.

First Semi-Formal Dinner

As we approached the port of Juneau, we were able to spot whales and dolphins from our breakfast table.
In Juneau, we took the bus to Mendenhall Glacier, one of a few glaciers that visitors can walk up to.  Mendenhall Waterfall is another beautiful site to visit.  The area has an abundance of Bald Eagles.  We spotted some near the glacier.

Mendenhall Glacier

Mendenhall Waterfall

Bald Eagle

Our next stop was Skagway.  Skagway in the native language means 'Windy Place', and the name was appropriate.  We took a walking tour through downtown Skagway with a park ranger. 

Arctic Brotherhood Hall from 1899 on Broadway in Skagway.

Broadway with our ship in the background. 

Historic Mascot Saloon

Glacier Bay and the Inside Passage was the highlight of the trip.  The day was bright and sunny but it was cold and windy at times.  We had to bundle up since we spent most of the day outside on the open deck. 

When we entered Glacier Bay, the ship picked up three Park Rangers. They narrated and pointed out the various tidewater glaciers as the ship smoothy sailed through the Inside Passage . This day brought back fond memories of our Antarctica cruise in 2008.

Reid Glacier

Margerie Glacier

Johns Hopkins Glacier

Chilly on deck.

Dinner while leaving the Inside Passage

Last stop in Alaska was Ketchikan.  Ketchikan is suppose to be one of the rainiest places in Alaska.  But not the day we were there.  It was bright and sunny and fairly warm.  We took the free city bus to The Totem Heritage Center.

Totem Heritage Center.

We did a lot of last minute shopping and enjoyed the area around Creek Street.

Creek Street

Shops on Creek Street

Ketchikan Harbor

The last afternoon and evening of the cruise was spent in Victoria, British Columbia.  The last time we were here was thirty years ago.  We recognized the Empress Hotel and the Parliament Building.  We did a lot of walking, all the way to Chinatown.

 

Empress Hotel

Parliament Building 

China Town

We had a great time on the cruise and we ate way too much.  We need to go on a diet.

Lobster and Crab Cake

Steak and Shrimp

Beef Stroganoff

Almond Crusted Salmon