Frozen!

As some of you may know, the east coast has been a bit chilly recently. The news runs frequent stories on how to avoid frost bite which, they helpfully tell me, can occur within 5 mins at times. And when it gets above 30F (~-1C), I am starting to think that is a warm day!
Here's some proof of how cold Blacksburg has been.

First serious snowfall

Proof I live in a student area

More snow.

Freezing the cars to the pavement.

Multiple icicles on the mailboxes. 

This is the first time I have ever said this (and never thought I would). I am looking forward to going home to be warm! :-)

Bryson City and Mingo Falls.

On Sunday, Cissi and I went down to Bryson City, NC, to meet Caroline for a few days. I had a Groupon voucher for a cabin. We didn't end up with the cabin we booked (they are all different and I had booked the one on the hilltop with the view and a pool table) but the road up to that cabin was impassable due to the snow and ice so there was a last minute change and we ended up at Alarka cabin 1, which was still very nice. It was right next to the creek and had it's own security gate. There were 2 bedrooms and a sofa bed in the main room which Caroline stayed on. (We drew straws.)

Kitchen

Living room

One of the bedrooms

Rocker on our back porch

Gate to out cabin

We didn't do much on Sunday night. Caroline couldn't get there until late and Cissi and I were just happy when she got there alive! The road was not the best and with the ice in the dark, it was a little scary. So we just cooked pizza and watched a movie.

Cissi and the enormous pizza!

On Monday morning, we all intended to be up early but that didn't happen; we all pretty tired. I got up at about 8 but even when I went in to the main rom to make a cup of tea, Caroline didn't wake up so I got a few hours to myself, reading, which was nice. 

Once everyone was up and dressed, we had a wander around the cabin and up to the main road. (Where a nice woman stopped us and asked if we were ok. She obviously wasn't expecting to see 3 girls randomly wandering around in pretty much the middle of no where!) And Caroline and I saw a wood pecker which was cool (but he was too quick for me to get a photo).

Our cabin, Alarka 1 

We were glad we didn't have to get to cabin 2! 

Our frozen little creek

Shot gun damage. Welcome to North Carolina!

 After our walk we went into Bryson City (which is more of a little town) for lunch. We found a little hippie cafe which had wifi (so Cissi and Carline were happy) and gluten-free food food (so I was happy). We had a walk around the town which was very small town America!

Train through Train

Lots of carved black bears everywhere

Then we headed over to Mingo falls. We had wanted to go here last time we were in the area, but we didn't have time. Mingo Falls is the tallest waterfalls in the  south Appalachians and only a 0.2 miles walk from the car park. Which was very important to us at this point as though not as cold as expected and certainly not as cold as Blacksburg, it was still pretty cold. We made it after a few GPS issues (and u-turns) and were very glad we did.

There were steps heading up which were fine until we got to the top 4-5 which were covered in 2-3 inches of thick ice!

Cissi and the ice stairs

After carefully climbing, we finished the trail. We were amazed when we got near the top and saw the sheet of ice which looked really thick.

Navigating the ice.

Cissi proving the ice is thick (and scaring us!)

The river is just ice.

But then we got onto the bridge (after more icy steps) and saw the waterfall and the sheet of ice was forgotten! It was amazing!!!!

Frozen Mingo falls

Icicles

Caroline, Cissi and me at Mingo falls

We braved it down onto the ice for some photos. Cissi went further out than Caroline and I, and scared us. We decided we were not going in after her if she fell in! 

Braving the ice

Caroline looking worried at the falls

Cissi looking very NOT worried.

We didn't really want to leave but the sun was going behind the mountain and it was getting colder. And I had sat on a log to take a photo and got a wet bum so I was happy to get back to the car! :-) On the way back to Bryson city to get food for that night, we passed a few frozen lakes on the way back which were cool.

Frozen pond

Cissi scaring us again!

One of the best things about the cabin was the hot tube on the back deck. (Which I have now decided, along with a porch swing and rocker, is on the top of my list of things to have in my house when I get one.) We ended up in the hot tub, drinking wine and chatting for a few hours which is not a bad way to spend a Monday evening. Though I was a little wrinkly when we got out. 

All in the hot tub

Fun with wine!

Lots of wine!

And one of the main reason for getting out was my hair had gotten wet and frozen!

We spent the rest of the night finishing more wine and watching superman. Caroline unfortunately had to be up and back in Alabama early on Tuesday so she was up super early. Cissi and I stayed in bed a little longer but we had to be out of the cabin by 10am anyway. After a stop at the same cafe in Bryson City for breakfast (we had great plans to make breakfast each morning but that didn't happen), we went to Toys'R'Us in Johnson city for Cissi to get more lego before heading back to Blacksburg. Unfortunately the trip back was not fun as it started snowing and the roads were awful. It was very pretty (though terrifying and dangerous!).

Frozen cascades by the road

It was a great few days and I really wish we could have stayed longer. Next time. But now I am looking forward to flying home in a few days. :-)

Poplar Forest

On Saturday, Cissi and I were supposed to be going for a flying lesson. We were really excited but when we got there, they said it was way too windy! :-( So we are going to have to wait until March. But as we were in Lynchburg anyway, we ended up at Poplar Forest, which is Thomas Jefferson's private home. In September I went with mom and dad to see Monticello which is his main house. I have been wanting to see Poplar Forest since then. Some things were the same (like the alcove beds which are cool) but there were as many gadgets as in Monticello as he built it late in life and probably didn't even see it finished.

Front entrance to Poplar Forest

Jefferson's holiday home

Layout of the main floor

We got a tour inside the house but you can't take any photos. When it was sold after Jefferson, the new owners altered it to update it and make it more user friendly for their needs. The preservation society are trying to put it back to the original, using the same methods used 200 years ago. They are still renovating the house so it is not as done up as Monticello but it means you can see all the building methods which was interesting.

Walkway over the wing 

Walkway to the house

Undercover walkway near the kitchens

We had a walk around outside but it was really cold! So we didn't stick around other than to take a few photos. The shop was great though. Jefferson liked wine, reading and science. So a lot of the things related to those 3 subjects. I like this guy! He was also obsessed with symmetry so every felt very elegant. It's thought he was going to put a second wing on the house because, just one wing would annoy even me! He also had what looked like a pizza oven in his kitchen which was used to baking.

kitchen

Pizza oven

Wine cellar covering ~1/4 of the lower floor

There is a sunken garden at the back of the house, which was dug out by one slave (paid to do it) and would have been lined with roses. The dirt removed to make the garden was put at the end of the wings  and used to hide the out door toilet. The toilets mirrored the same design as the main house (this guy was detail obsessed) and even had a little toddler's potty for his grandchildren!

Outdoor toilet

Toddler's potty!

After, we headed to Toys'R'Us for Cissi and then home, where we got stuck in traffic. :-( Which meant I was late meeting a friend for a very nice sushi dinner. But I am looking forward to going back to Lynchburg to do the flying lesson in March! :-)

National Harbor

On the Sunday I managed to have time to take a walk around National Harbor. It's fairly new and right on the Potomac. I had a walk along the harbor front. It was very cold!

View of the bridge to DC

Gaylord centre from the harbor front

Along the sea wall

They have quite a few statues dotted around. Some were very interesting.

Not a clue! 

On the first day, this was also in the lobby of the hotel. :-)

Balloon Darlek

 On the last day of the conference I found the tea shop. I have never seen teas that are priced $110 for 2oz! I didn't buy any of those! But I did sit and have a cup of tea and chat to the shop owner, an Air Force Vet who had lots of questions on astronomy! It was great fun. Plus I got a huge tube of green mint tea and some packets of Wine mixers. You add the tea to wine and cold brew. I am really curious. It combines two of my favorite things, wine and tea. So it could either be absolutely amazing or awful. I'll let you know!

Huge tube of green Menthos tea!

Tea wine mixers

And it has been freezing! The Potomac froze! Everyone has been dashing in and staying as close to the centre as possible. Luckily National Harbor is quite small so you can get to all the restaurants fairly quickly. (Seriously I have never felt cold quite like it. It was -15F / -26C with the wind chill one day!)

The frozen Potomac!