Saturday May 25, 2013
Fieldridge Acres
Charlotte, North Carolina
We’re on a roll of let downs since the COE parks of Alabama and Georgia but I think we just hit the nadir with Fieldridge Acres.
Can’t tell you our site number. They don’t have any. They are just all back in sites in a row on both sides of this short street. At the end, about 4 coaches up from us, is the busy Wilkinson Boulevard. Right there just beyond that last 5th wheel. Or what is that thing with the arms? Overhead we have the flight path to the Charlotte airport.
Here is a closer shot of cars going by on busy Wilkinson. This is pretty early in the morning so there are only two cars visible.
Our front yard is the road. Our back yard is single line of trees separating us from a construction site where they vrooom and beep beep all day. Our side yard is Ruby. Luckily, we won’t be here most of today and we leave in the morning. Two days here has been quite enough.
BUT in addition to all its many charms, there is actually one good thing about Fieldridge Acres.
There are no rules against washing your car or RV. SO FINALLY both Ruby and Winnona get a bath. That will take the top layers of grime off before we get back to Charlottesville to give them a wash and wax, an oil and filter change and a general spiff up.
About 1:15 we leave for Dave and Heather’s about 30 minutes away from us.
They have a beautiful home in a lovely golf community. Dave plays golf and Heather tells me she’s trying. I’m a miniature golf player and not much of a one of those.
Dave gives his uncle a tour of these mighty fancy digs. I get this picture of the two of them.
Dave’s the chef this evening and he’s doing his famous Carolina pulled BBQ’d pork for us tonight. I think he knows that pork was our favorite meat. We’re looking forward to this foodie time out.
It’s a beautiful day and we sit around in the driveway near the grille so the chef will be close. We chat most of the afternoon away. At one point the guys go off to 201 Central for a little craft brew and wine shopping. I warn Heather how long this might take.
Matthew comes to get me to see if I’d like to meet a puppy who lives next door.
Well you bet I would. Who wouldn’t. Seems the neighbors have a bulldog puppy and he’s about the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. His name is of course Winston. Aren’t they all named Winston??
Matthew is trying to help us get a good picture of Winston and forgets to look at the camera himself.
But here’s a great picture of Matthew and his Dad. Heather’s boys!!
What a great looking pair they are.
OK enough handsome men and cute puppies, let’s get back to that food.
Heather makes up some delicious home made slaw. She and Dave slice potatoes into french fries. These nearly disappear when Heather takes the first batch out of the fryer and invites everyone to help themselves. She makes a second batch too but we need to get that BBQ on the plates before those fries are all gone. I think you might need to fry up an entire bag of potatoes for this group.
Now seriously doesn’t that Pinky’s shirt look much better on Heather??
The two Davids test the BBQ just before serving it. What do you think? Are they in heaven? We actually do sit down and eat this great meal but I am too busy stuffing my face to even think about taking pictures. mmmmm good!
And now for a family gathering. Some folks show movies, Heather has pictures.
After dinner, Heather has a box of pictures she’d been given of Dave as a kid. She wants to show them to David and see if he can identify some of the people and times they didn’t recognize. Even Matthew has a great time seeing pictures of his dad as a little boy, at school, in Halloween costumes and of his “great uncle David”, as he calls him, on his Harley motorcycle. HA – how did you get to be so old - “great uncle”??
They discover that David Jeffrey was the cutest curly headed boy ever, that Matthew looks amazingly like his grandfather Jeff at his age, that I didn’t recognize one picture of Dave’s mom, David’s sister Gail and swore she was someone else. And I knew Gail well. Is it my eyes?
But all good things must come to an end even nostalgic picture looking.
They are all still going at it great guns when I look at my watch and it is nearly 11:00. How did nine hours disappear?? We have a half hour drive and need to get on the road tomorrow morning for Virginia. David probably would stay until the wee hours of the morning, that’s like him. Be forewarned, if you invite him over, you may have to throw him out. What is that thing about fish and house guests??
As usual, I get to be the party pooper. Not a favorite role of mine, but somebody’s got to do it.
We had a great time and wonderful food.
Heather and Dave are terrific hosts!
Thanks to you two and Matthew too!!
High 5 is exactly right!!
See ya next time.
