Preamble - Debby and Dave live in Floyd, VA.  Debby is a veterinarian and Dave is the owner, manager of a transmssion repair shop.  They live on the beautiful "Silver Creek Farm." We've traveled to visit them every year for the last 3 or 4 years. It has become an annual event.  It is also a trip for Duncan.  Because it's a road trip, he gets to travel with us. When he is with us, we stay at LaQuinta's.  They are pet friendly.

Saturday, September 27, 2008, Traveling

I was up at 4 AM.  Puttered with the computer until Duncan and Linda woke.  We shut the house down, packed the van and were on the road at 8 AM.  We decided to stay off the highways this trip. So, we used the secondary roads. Route 301, to 25, to the Augusta Georgia La Quinta on Washington Road.  It was a long day, but nice.  Duncan traveled great.  Checked in and R&R’d.  Denny’s for dinner.  Love bugs are a pain – cleaned the windshield twice.

TV and to bed.

Sunday, September 28, 2008 – My 67^th birthday, more traveling.

Up and at’em about 5 – Duncan with me.  I went off looking for gas only to find every station near by was out of gas.  Seems there is a shortage in some southeast states – Georgia is one of them.  Linda got up soon after we got back and we were ready to go about 7:30.

We started off on Route I-20 to Columbia where we got on 312 north.  We did stop at a "truck stop" along the way and they had gas – no problem.  This was a nice drive, but after about 4 hours we decided we wanted to get to Radford using the quickest route. We took a right and worked our way over to route I-77 northbound.  Stopped along the way at a Subway and had some lunch.  Got to the Radford LaQuinta at about 2:30.  Phew!

Called Debby and made a date to meet them here at 4:30.  A little R&R and they were here.  Great to see them again. We went to The Olive Garden for dinner.  Wonderful birthday dinner.  Back here to room 113 about 7:15.

TV and to bed.

Monday, September 29, 2008 -

Woke early but dozed until 6 AM.  Duncan got up with me.  Linda soon after.  We woke up, had a continental breakfast and then headed to Debby’s house.  We made a plan for the day and it consisted of Debby and Linda going shopping and Duncan and me hanging around with Dave at the transmission shop.

I headed for Southwest Transmissions and visited with Dave most of the day.  I went back to room 113 and had a little R&R – soon Linda and Debby were knocking at the door.  We visited for a bit and then headed back the Silver Creek Farm.  They now have 8 horses and we were introduced to all of them. 

Dave showed us some tricks he has taught Wendy

Debby showed us some riding skills on Harry and Bandit

and then Linda rode Bandit around the ring for a bit.

Duncan thought these animals are too big, so he found a safe place and watched

 We finished our day with them with pizza and conversation.  Back to room 113.

R&R, TV and to bed.

Tuesday, September 30, 2008 - Visiting

Up and at’em early.  Duncan and I listened to the radio – all about the financial crisis we are in.  Linda woke about 7 and we decided to go to The Cracker Barrel for breakfast.  Then – headed for Debby’s.  We soon were off – headed south.  1^st to The Schoolhouse Fabrics in Floyd then to The Floyd General Store.  Next, we checked out an Amish store "The Bread Basket. Lots of nice stuff and good window shopping.  South a bit more and we stopped for lunch at the very unique Tuggles Gap Restaurant.  Then we got on The Blue Ridge Parkway and drove west to the Mabry Mill.  This is a reconstructed, water powered multi use mill. Excellent attraction. Back to Deb’s, dropped her off and retired to room 113 for a bit.

Next – we all met at Dave’s Garage and off to dinner.  We went to Kabuki’s Japanese Restaurant. Had a great cook, great meal and a great time.  Next to a place I'd never heard of - Cold Stones.  It is an ice cream shop extraordinaire.  They do wonders with all kinds of ice cream.  Finally, we said good-bye and headed back to LaQuinta.  Some TV and to bed.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008 - Traveling

Up early and went out to fill up the van.  Waited for a bit and then checked on Linda – found her up and awake.  Got our act together and packed, loaded the van and headed out.  Some fog but it went away as we headed down I-77.  We got down to about mile 75 and the traffic came to a stop.  Decided to follow the lead of others and crossed the median and went back north to the next exit.  Got directions and headed south on route 20. Got back on the highway, I-77, at mile 62.  Cost us about an hour.  We arrived at the Savannah LaQuinta about 3.  Unpacked and settled in.  Time for a little nap.

Didn’t do much.  Went over to Applebee’s for dinner. Linda went over to the Outlet Mall and then got us an ice cream. R&R and to bed.

Thursday, October 2, 2008 – Home Again

Everyone up early this morning.  I woke about 4:30 and woke Duncan and Linda as I woke up.  We had some coffee in the room and then went down to the Lobby for a Continental Breakfast.  Hit the road and we were home about 2 PM.

Debby’s notes about our visit from her blog.

Dad and Linda took the scenic route up to Virginia last week. They arrived last Sunday and we met for dinner at the Olive Garden and celebrated Dad's birthday.

Monday, they came out to check out the farm, and the changes since their last visit. Linda and I had lunch at Sonic, and then hit the mall to shop, while Dad hung out at the garage with Dave and Duncan. Then we all met back at the farm for horse-play and pizza. That's when Linda took a cruise around the round-pen a few times on Bandit.

Tuesday, Dad, Linda, Duncan, and myself checked out the Amish store "The Bread Basket" here in Floyd. Then we headed to the famous "School House Fabrics" so Linda could get lost in the bliss of three endless floors of fabrics, etc... etc... From there we checked out the famous "Floyd Country Store" where there is a regular Friday night Jamboree (fiddles etc...). Dave and I have never been, but hear it's good times and good music. Then off to lunch at the Tuggles Gap Restaurant just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. After lunch we hopped onto the Parkway for about 10 miles and visited the historic "Mabry Mill."

After our full morning, they dropped me off at the farm for a nap, and they went back to the hotel to do the same - all the while Dave was at work - no nap for him :)

After nap-time, we all met at the garage, and headed to Kabuki's for some Japanese cuisine.

Our chef was very good, with a great sense of humor. Ask Dad about "the knife!!" After stuffing our faces with too much good food, we found room to indulge in some ice cream at Cold Stones.

I made a "pig" of myself with a lot of ice cream in a chocolate and nut dipped waffle bowl - and ate it all too! Although, I did have a little help with some of the waffle bowl - I won't mention any names! :)

As all good things must come to an end - it was time to say goodnight and goodbye. Back to the hotel they went and us to our farm. Until our next visit.