Wow, so life sure can get busy! Since my last post (way back in MARCH..)
I have been to a show in Cary (next to Raliegh NC), another in Flat Rock, and I'm trying to get my application ready for (hopefully)membership at the Southern Highland Craft Guild. We are also new owners of a '76 Ford/Casual 18' RV rig! I think I could almost make a site for the repairs and renov's it will need! More on that project later. The Cary Spring Daze fest went well, though we sure had to pass some hurdles! The area is a four-hour drive from here. So, we decided to make it a family road trip, (as we haven't been able to do such things lately, and we used to go on road trips almost every weekend before). So I booked us a campsite for 2 nights (no rv yet) about 30 mins from the fest site, and condensed my art fest items to a bare minimum, and we crammed all of our camping gear, and my booth/art things into our '97 Honda Odyssey (225k miles so far, and hopefully lots more!), with the added weight of a borrowed 13cf car bag strapped to the top. Great ride out there, especially since it's hwy 40 almost all of the way. A little tricky finding the campground. Then we do find it, and it' like a military style camp-base! The lady at the guard house made a whole group of adults line up, and barked orders and rules at them military style! This was a bit unsettling, and cause for concern, but as we had already paid, we went on to our site to set up camp. We noticed some very irregular camp hours...gates open at 8am, and close at 8pm...CLOSE at 8?? Have you ever heard of a place closing at 8?? So, since we had to wake up at the glutues maximus crack of dawn (about 5am), and we had to leave no later than 6:30, I wondered at this gate thing. You know, they didn't give us the code. Campsites always give you a code, since we have free-will, and pay for our places. So, I go to the guardhouse where the scary lady is, bringing my festival papers for confirmation of my question (how do we get out in the morning). NO, they can't help me, NO ONE gets out before 8am, I may park my car in the ungaurded outside of the gate parking lot-with thousands of dollars of equipment and art...oh yeah, and at least a mile from our campsite....if I want to leave earlier. O.O Really??? (hut-two-three-four!) I ask politely about the code which is normally left for campers in (normal) campgrounds. NOPE! SO, I'm really trying to keep the temper in check now, and again, politely attract the attention of the park ranger, to which I succeed, and we walk aside, and I, using all of my powers of persuasion, (and a little pleading) state my case, about the time, the rules, my belongings,the fact that I have two children, one under five.....he thinks a bit, and then writes the code on my papers. Which, apparently, he has NEVER done in the whole time he has had this job. Reason he did it: little one under 5. I thanked him profusely (also, this tiny detail about the gates was NOT in my confirmation papers I recieved in the mail when I paid for my site), and told him I would certainly make other arrangements next time. (you bet I will!!!!) PHEW! That was hurdle one. Then there was finding this place in time in the morning, and my spot in the booth. The fest was actually trying to be really organized, but the whole car arrangement thing was really weird, and my family was afraid they would be stuck there all day. Which, actually, they ended up just staying. Next hurdle: can't pack up until 5pm, then we were supposed to wait in a car line when everyone was finished packing up.... (remember, we still have to find supper, and get beck to our (military ) camp before 8) Good grief, if we had to wait for everyone to get their stuff together, and then wait in line, we'd NEVER get back in time! So, instead, we learned of...the other way......and since I had packed so lightly, we just carried all my stuff to our car, and silently escaped (well before anyone else) via a 'secret path' to freedom!!! (thanks to a subtle hint from other artist too). We found a whole foods store (for dinner), and somehow, in an exhausted zombie-like manner, ate food, came back to our car, and RACED back to our 'military base'. We drove up at 7:56pm. We had four minutes to spare! PHEW!!! The rest of the weekend was nice, as the park was actually very beautiful and secluded, and our site was right on the lake. There was even a small sandy beach for the kids to play on. The next day, I just zombied.
3 Comments
Caroline Brock
5/15/2010 12:07:29 pm
I bought one of your small sheep felting designs and absolutely love it. Would definitely take one of your classes if I lived closer to Asheville (I live in the Cary area). You are very talented and hope to see you at either Cary Lazy Daze in August or next year's Cary Spring Daze in April. Best wishes.
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Hello Caroline,
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5/20/2010 01:28:02 am
Wow! I feel tired reading this - what an adventure.
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Christina Serra
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