The three day visit in Asheville, NC got off to a rough start. After setting up the camper and heading into town for some Ingressing and dinner we went back to the truck and it wouldn’t start! There had been a few time over the previous few days where the key was kind of “tricky” to turn in the ignition, but now it would not turn no matter what. After an hour of jiggling, pushing, pulling, and wiggling we decided to call AAA and get the stupid truck towed to a Dodge dealer (or to a nearby cliff). The AAA operator, we are almost on a first name basis now, suggested we “try wiggling the steering wheel back and forth”. Of course, I explained that we had been doing that for an hour, but Linda tried it again and the truck started right up. In our best Gilda Radnor voice we told the operator “Neevvveerrr Mind”, and we drove home, shut the truck off and went to bed. In the morning I got the thing started and drove to the Dodge dealer. They said it would only take “a few hours to rebuild the tumblers. We’ll call you.” We know it never works like that! When they called they said it couldn’t be rebuilt. They needed to replace it and the new part was on order. “It will be in tomorrow”. Despite my doubts, the truck part did arrive and was installed on schedule.
While the Dodge dealer dealt with the truck. We took the opportunity to take the rental car for a visit to the Biltmore Estates. What an amazing place! I had heard that it was a large property, but I didn’t expect to drive for two miles from the gate to the main house. The property has acres of gardens, winery, a small village and, of course, the main house. The house is open for tours, which took about an hour and only included 2 of the 4 floors and the basement. It just made me shake my head and think these people had way too much money. We were luck to get there at this time of year as they were decorating for Christmas. There were decorated trees in the larger rooms all over the house. A favorite place to visit this time of the year for locals as well as visitors.
After Asheville we packed up and headed for Raleigh, North Carolina where we are tonight. Tomorrow morning we will see our Grand Daughter Katie play in a national soccer tournament. She rode up from Orlando with her coach and his wife and plays in the U-11 bracket (under 11-year-old). We visited the soccer fields today and found them in great shape. Should be a fun day tomorrow. Pictures to follow.