Wonderful week in North Carolina mountains

Some postcard postscripts after a wonderful week in the North Carolina mountains:

The view from Grandfather Mountain will take your breath away. So will crossing the bridge atop the mountain in a good breeze. Ask my wife, Sherri.

Every other license plate seemed to be from Florida, a good thing according to one shop owner on Beech Mountain.

Watched Appalachian State beat The Citadel in Boone at The Rock, App State's cool stadium and a worthy football destination for Manatee County prospects besides Gainesville, Miami, Tallahassee and Tampa.

Interesting to see real estate prices impacted like they have been here. You could actually fetch a nice mountain home with a heavenly view for $500,000 --- down from $899,000. 

Saw white-tailed deer prance across the property just about every day in the evening.

Spent a few hours window shopping in Blowing Rock, a charming little town to go with its legendary name.

There aren't enough barbecue joints. That's a joke. Pappy's in Banner Elk was finger-lickin' good.

If you visit Linville Falls, wear your hiking boots. It's a trek, but a worthwhile one.