Kristen’s Nirthday Hike and Cake

The colorful sunrise started off Kristen’s special day.

Kristen wanted to go for a hike at Bald Eagle State Park. Red and Oakli were ready.

A great walk and ice cream cake afterward. Happy Birthday, Kris. Love you.

Kristen’s 50th Birthday Train Ride

For Kristen’s 50th birthday, she wanted to take the train ride to the Curtin Apple Festival. Here we go.

The Ernest Warther Museum & Gardens

Tonight’s stay was at the Ernest Warther Museum and Gardens. This museum was the works of a master artist. Ernest, who was nicknamed Mooney which translates to Bull of the Herd in Swiss, found a pocketknife at a very early age. He picked it up and began to whittle and didn’t stop for 82 years.

His first carving was a pair of plyers from one block of wood.

He hand sculpted over 60 works that focused on the steam engine. This earned him the Master Carver. Most of these sculptures were made out of walnut wood with moving parts. Quit amazing to see.

This is one of our most interesting Harvest Host spots.

Falls Campground in Fallsburg, KY

We got a late start today, so didn’t get too far … Fallsburg Kentucky. We were lucky to find a campground. Not many in this area. We are in the hills of eastern Kentucky.

The campground is quiet and right on the Falls Creek. Our view is

The host is definitely ready for Halloween

Tomorrow we will make it to New Philadelphia, Ohio. Was hoping to bike a little bit there’s a 70% chance of rain.

Storytelling Festival

What a wonderful week it’s been. Jonesborough came alive with so many visitors from all over. The weather was perfect. The stories were funny, enlightening, some unbelievable (those were the Bill Lepp ones) and some were emotional.

We laughed till we cried at Bill Lepp’s stories. Shiela Arnold told us stories about the underground happenings… not the ones that were able to escape slavery but the ones that didn’t. Siloam is a Russian immigrant who told us stories about his culture. Then John Borling, a POW prisoner for 6.6 years told us about a few of his experiences, how the prisoners created a code to tap messages and poems to each other after the guards were asleep.

Donald Davis who is an internationally acclaimed storyteller had his 3 sons interview him about his (and their) lives. Bothe the John Borling and Donald Davis stories were told in the newly renovated Jackson Theater.

I could go on and on because we heard so many. There wasn’t one story this year that didn’t resonate with me.

Sunday night, Sandy always has clean out the fridge night. As always, there was a lot of delicious food and people catching the last bit of conversation with friends until the next time we see each other.

When we were getting ready to leave, Abby and Sadie said goodbye through their doggie door! Parting is such sweet sorrow.

Jonesborough’s Storytelling Festival

Arrived in Jonesborourgh Tuesday, a day earlier than planned but Sandy and Terry were ready for us. Parked Belle in their yard.

The town of Jonesborough is almost ready for the influx of people that come from all over.

I helped Sandy and the rest of the Old Towne Quilt Guild set up their booth of quilts and crafts. All the money goes to the local food bank.

Terry and Sandy had a special visitor on Thursday. One of my favorite storyteller/musicians, Josh Goforth, brought Terry’s fiddle back to him after being repaired. This fiddle was built in 1892 and one of Terry’s relatives played it and will be passed on to Molly to learn.

Josh explained what was repaired and how to care for it. Terry and Sandy’s daughter, Molly is going to learn to play it.

I walked around town to check out all the stores.

Cute idea for old doilies.

When I got back to Terry and Sandy’s, Terry was showing us his new instrument… an upgraded washboard.

Friday night the Novelty Band played for Storytelling Kickoff at the Beer Garden.

People sang along because we all knew the words. Fun time.