Southern Blueridge Parkway

Though we didn't retrace the steep Blueridge Parkway back through the Smokies, our new brakes still got a workout (and are working out well!) taking what we thought would be the easy way (more on that later) back west and north to catch up with @livingistheadventure/@h_livingistheadventure and @rvlegend/@mrs_rvlegend near Grandfather Mountain. Our Airstream is the one middle left, the one middle right is not an Airstream at all but bathhouse and we've got this great grassy park between us all! #airstream #airstreamfriends #liveriveted #myrivetedlife #tristream #silvercommunity

Based on this sign at a junction this afternoon, I'm guessing we're not the first ones routed onto the old section of the Blueridge Parkway and forced to peek up at the smooth new viaduct bridges above while attempting to keep a 13,000 lb 46' long, 8' 6" vehicle between the lines of a road better suited to a mule. #effyougarmin #whiteknuckles #butagoodchuckle #gpsgonewild

Once again, the portable 120W panel comes in handy. With temps down into the mid-30's last night, we woke up to batteries down 60 amp hours from the furnace. Our site may get an hour or two with sun on the roof panels, but otherwise, we'll see what we can make up by moving the portable on our 15' extension cable around. We've even had to run the generator a couple times in last couple weeks in the Blueridge. By switching the fridge to gas and minimizing other draws, we can get 40 amps of charging off the Yamaha 1000W generator that fits in our rooftop box. #airstream #liveriveted #myrivetedlife #blueridgeparkway #rvsolar

After a dinner and tasters at Lost Province Brewing (including their delicious Orange Sunshine IPA) last night, we decided Boone, N.C. was definitely worth a closer look, so today we came in for storytime at the local library.

The subject for the day was dinosaurs and the first book was about stores giving out free dinosaurs with every purchase. When the storyteller asked the kids if they ever had to go along on errands with their parents, and one kid said "Sometimes my mom leaves me alone in the car," we were pretty embarrassed for the parents. That is, until she asked the kids if any of them had a backyard big enough to keep a dinosaur. One kid said "We do!" Another said, "Ours is toooooo small!" Wynne yelled out "We live in a trailer!" #publiclibrary #storytime #howembarassingforyou #travelwithkids #familytravel #roadschool #parentingontheroad

Yesterday afternoon, we made it up to the mile high "swinging bridge" - it doesn't swing anymore thanks to some structural improvements, but they were still on the cusp of closing it due to wind - on Grandfather Mountain with @advodna_ann , @livingistheadventure, @h_livingistheadventure, @mrs_rvlegend and @rvlegend. Super conveniently, @sethkhughes just happened to be there to snap this shot of us all. #airstreamfriends #airstreamwithkids #airstream #grandfathermountain #blueridgeparkway #northcarolina #travelingcommunity

Our tinyhouse tinyfamily grabbing a taster flight and dinner at the picnic table in front of the Blowing Rock Alehouse and Inn (why isn't this a more common combo?). Really good food and service, atmosphere should be pretty clear from the pic and solid beers (the High Country Ale was my favorite, the IPA's a little on the bitter side for my tastes). After spending the whole day in and out of the library in Boone, grabbing another good meal at Our Daily Bread, squeezing in a short nap for the baby in the car and making friends at the central playground in Blowing Rock, walking right up the street to this place for dinner made us feel like parenting/nomad all stars. #travelwithkids #family travel #beertourism #beertravel #blowingrock #blowingrockbrewingco #tiltshift

The big girls (and their moms, @h_livingistheadventure and @advodna_ann) built a fairy house out of sticks, bark and a snail shell in the trees between our sites. We went back this morning in the rain to see if any had moved in. You guys, you're never gonna believe this! The house was covered in glitter, and the fairies left each girl a little pipe cleaner sculpture of a fairy! Yeah, I know. #sisterhoodofthetravelingparents #littleairstreamfriends #airstreamwithkids #airstream #liveriveted #myrivetedlife #lyingtokids

We found this little orange guy trying to cross the trail back from Linville Falls this afternoon, and Wynne insisted on helping him to the other side. A little Wikipedia back home revealed that this was a "Red Eft," the juvenile land-dwelling stage of the Eastern Newt. He'll cover some distance in his two or three years in this phase which helps spread the species, protected by his threatening coloration and backed up by a venom in his skin. Then, he'll slip into a pond and transform into a dark green (with red dots) adult aquatic newt to live out his remaining 10-12 years or so. Thankfully, she didn't need to know any of that to earn her Blueridge Parkway Junior Ranger badge at the Linville Falls Visitor Center where (like most places!) she was told she's been to more National Parks than the ranger! #juniorranger #findyourpark #roadschool #childhoodunplugged #blueridgeparkway #linvillefalls #newts #redeft

Unfortunately, that's life as a kid on the road. You wake up one morning and your new best friend may have to hit the road. We take comfort in how well she makes a new friend at the next campground and talks about all her friends from the road and home regularly. Then, we start looking at the calendars and figuring out when we can see them all again! For @livingistheadventure and @h_livingistheadventure, it should be Boston in a couple weeks (or "14 sleeps"), just after we visit @followthesun.earth in CT and while moochdocking at her cousin's and seeing her Grammie everyday. Two weeks later, she'll see her Grandma, more cousins and all her friends in the Bay Area. #airstreamwithkids #fulltimefamilies #familytravel #travelwithkids #lifeontheroad

We did a little backtracking this morning to try to get some pictures of the Airstream on the Linn Cove Viaduct. You'll have to take our word for it; On a clear day, it's beautiful. Today however, the fog was so thick at times that we had about 20' visibility and had to slow to a crawl as we would down the twisty Blueridge Parkway. As we approached Doughton Park in the pea soup, we actually turned to Google images to get an idea of what was outside the windows! #airstream #airstreaminfog #foggymountainairstream #liveriveted #myrivetedlife #blueridgeparkway

We've been socked in by fog every since pulling into camp a little earlier than usual this afternoon, so we entertained ourselves in the kitchen. @advodna_ann and the girls made banana bread (with chocolate chips of course), and I found a super simple recipe for flour tortillas since we'd run out and needed something to put the veggie taco mix @h_livingistheadventure introduced us to on. 3 cups flour of any kind, 1/4 cup olive oil, 3/4 cups water and a little salt formed into balls and then rolled thin and cooked up quickly on the stovetop. They're almost like a flatbread, but I'm excited to get some finer corn meal to experiment with. Of course, we were out of salsa too so a can of diced tomatoes, one of green chiles, 1/4 onion and a clove of garlic with some salt, chili powder and cumin in the blender did the trick (and now we've got a couple jars worth in the fridge)! Love having a full kitchen and pantry (and an Internet connection to tell us what to do with them) on the road. #airstreamkitchen #cookingontheroad #roadcipies #homeiswhereyouparkit

Spooky evening in the Blueridge Mountains. #airstream #liveriveted #myrivetedlife #ihearbanjomusic

It's impressive that no matter the campground, no matter the weather (she's outside under the awning right now) and no matter the company, @advodna_ann tries to get her @momma_strong workout in. #mommastrong #gymiswhereyouparkit #fitmom #adventuremom

Foggy Mountain Airstream on the BRP. #airstream #airstreaminfog #liveriveted #myrivetedlife #blueridgeparkway

Looking at this picture you'd never know that I just decided to stop pressuring myself and Wynne surrounding school. I mean, come on, she's 4. But, the other day on a hike, she saved a newt from being stepped on in the middle of the trail. She loves to draw whatever we draw so Dave decided to do a little research into the newt with her this morning while I slept in. She was pretty excited to show me the eggs, the "kid newt" and the "dada newt". Turns out, the little bright orange newt she saved is probably older than Mae (Tiny mind blown. Wynne's, not mine😏. Ok, maybe a little) Road school for the win.🏆