BACK FROM THE SMOKY MOUNTAINS...2500 MILES LATER.

JUST BACK FORM A 2500 MILE BIKE TRIP TO THE GREAT SMOKY'S

Our trip 2500 miles include stops in:

Elkins, WVA

Maggie Valley, NC

Nashville, TN

Lynchburg, TN

Gatlinburg, TN

Hillville, VA

Onancock, VA

Back to NJ

Arriving at Jack Daniels Distillery in  Lynchburg, TN

A traditional still setup

Maturing the brew in wooden barrels

Filtration process through charcoal, the mellowing process

Jack was not a tall fellow

Lynchburg is not only a small town but a dry one as well. You cannot buy a drink anywhere in town.

Wood ricks used to make the charcoal for the mellowing process

Burning the charcoal

The end of the charcoal making process, charcoal

The original fire fighting truck at Jack Daniels, just in case

Looking into the underground spring that feeds pure water to the distillery

This spring has been providing water for over one hundred years

The Man, Jack Daniels

Pas and present Distillers

What you get if you buy a barrel of Single Barrel Jack, for a mere $9000.00

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$ 200.00 will buy this set of seven beers

Maggie Valley, NC

Our first stop, Maggie Valley

A stop at Clingman's Dome, Smoky National Park

On top of Old Smoky

Riding in the clouds most of the day.

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T one rest stop, a new friend paid a visit

The Cape May - Lewes Ferry, the last leg of our Journey

We did get some rain, not enough to put a damper on the trip

A dry bike is a happy bike

Pictures in the Nook.

After receiving a request to provide some information on the pictures in my Tiny House ,  here is some background information to explain.

My first "Puffin", a Marshall Sanderling, 1970. Leaving the Harbor.

While beach combing in the 70's, I came across this glove nestled in a bed of sea shells.

A Christmas card from one of my co-workers, he was an Art teacher and this was his way of sending Seasons Greetings. The subject was a beach scene from near his home along the Shore.

One of my Japanese, Artist friends did this ink drawing for me. The subject, a traditional Japanese fishing boat.

This is the house and property where I grew up, in a tiny seacoast town of Sea Girt, NJ. My father built this when he came back from a tour in the South Pacific, United States Navy Chief Petty Officer, Sea Bees.

A picture of another tiny house I found in a thrift store, it gave me some inspiration for my project.

The town of Sea Girt, one square mile, on the Atlantic, this was my favorite beach as a kid growing up.

My first attempt at a carving a half model.

Half model # 2

One of my better efforts, models usually face left to right, I did mine facing right to left.

Custom Built by Charles Best

To take the edge off a cool day or evening.

Our Futon, serves as a sofa during the day and a sleeping surface at night, very comfortable.

A clock given to me from my athletes during my coaching days.

Final look at Fran's "Nanny's Nook"

With the project finished, it's time to turn my attention to a trip to Maine, a motorcycle ride to the Smokey Mt's. and then my return to the Keys before the leaves drop and the snow flies. It will be good to get back on the water after such a dry spell here in NJ.

PROJECT ALMOST COMPLETE

FLOOR DONE TODAY

SOME MINOR WINDOW TRIM AND IT'S FINISHED

A neat chair and picture that  Fran picked up a local Habitat for Humanity Thrift Shop

An Amish cabinet and chair compliment the other side of the room.

A Pastel of Sea Girt Beach, commissioned  many years ago,  circa 1980's. Philadelphia Beach, our family beach.

HIGH AND DRY FOR THE SUMMER

Since coming back to New Jersey after a winter in the Florida Keys, sailing or fishing several days a week, I found myself  high and dry for the summer. The result, I had to find a project that would be challenging and keep me busy for a couple months. My choice was to build an extension on our existing Pergola Deck and create a quiet space for Fran, a Garden House.

The project was challenging, mostly because I have never tackled a job like this and I was faced with working solo to boot. I was able to muddle through the building part but working alone presented the greatest challenge for me. Purchasing the lumber, hauling it home, measuring the boards, cutting and then fitting everything together was exhausting and seemed that it would never end. Funny though, at the end of every day when I looked back to see what I had accomplished, it gave me a measure of satisfaction that inspired me to work another day and so on and so forth. The project is drawing near completion and only installing the floor remains.

Here are some pictures to help get the feel for the process.

The work begins

Setting the frame on piers

Ready for the deck

Decking going into place

Frame for the Garden House

Work progressing

End of the day refreshment

All decked out

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I thought that I could save the tree in the foreground, no luck.

View from below

A Cupola from our Sea Girt House, my dad and I built that many years ago. I plan to use it on this structure if possible.

Walls going up

This is the tough part, solo installation of the walls.

Fran enjoying the progress

To the right of the picture is the bench I built into the deck

Warm glow of the light invites one to enter, not yet,  interior walls have to go up.

Frans Basket seats that I incorporated  on the Pergola.

Landscape is changing

The sign over the door reads, Nanny's Nook. French Doors a steal from Craig's list, $20, including hardware.

I took one afternoon to make this coffee table 

Walls are 1x8 tongue and groove knotty pine boards.

With the completion of the walls the flooring is the next and final step.

The combination of cedar and pine gives off an amazing aroma.

A look around the outside, 

The windows are single slabs from a french door. The front French Door was purchased from Craig's list for 20 dollars.



Happy Birthday America

Remembering My Buddy and Constant Companion For Ten Years

Corky, ten years as a faithful companion. We sailed and fished together, walked the beach and even traveled back and forth to  the Keys each year. She loved boats and boat yards, my kind of girl, forgive the Dragon Fly, she was just groomed and the Groomer always had to make a statement.

Corky, because she was a corker



Landlocked

"On The Hard"

Back in New Jersey until Fall, time to dust off the lawn mower, garden tools and the Harley. For the last six months I woke up every morning to a grand view of the Florida Bay, rode my bike seven miles by eight am, then planned my day around some type of activity on the water. There is a bit of culture shock each time I return North, more cars, sirens and higher food prices, not to mention the neighbor's dog incessant barking.

I am very fortunate to have both sides of the coin in my life, it provides me with a much needed change which helps me appreciate both worlds and not take either one for granted.

This will replace the boats until next winter, my "land barge".



The Time Has Come

Packing Up

After one of the best fishing days of the winter, it is time to pack up and head back to NJ for the summer. Both boats, the Catboat and the Flats boat are out of the water and safely tucked away for the summer at a friends house. Today all my fishing gear and items that I don't truck home with me will also be stored at my friends house, he allots me one room in his house to store such items. It is a great convenience to have this privilege. Thank you Roland Barth.

I head out on Thursday and will remain in NJ for several months, then it will be the return to the Keys for what I hope is another winter. So, until I get back to NJ and start some much needed motorcycling, yard work and other projects, this will be my last post for a short time.

Ready to get back to The Beyond.

Until next October