Downtown Asheville

Urban camping is dirtier, harder, weirder but somehow more satisfying than camping in the woods.  This morning was cool and comfortable.  We woke atop a tiny, steep ridge with shops, busy streets and even a baseball stadium not more than a hundred feet away.  Olive watched the people on the street below yet all were oblivious to our presence for the thickly vined trees that surrounded our camp.  Here's a shot from a few days ago outside the bank in north Asheville; thanks Haley Rae.

o

Meadow has taken some time to adjust to downtown Asheville with all the bustling people and loud vehicles.  She's been reluctant to stand still which could be partly due to the treats she is constantly being given by strangers (bread, apples, carrots, yu name it).  Interest in the horse, as we expected, is much higher than the interest in the cute, off-leash, backpack-carrying puppy or the unique, string instruments that we play.  One time, a woman offered a large, juicy apple to Meadow (about the sixth apple in as many minutes) and Harvey, in good nature, reminded her that the girl eats apples too.

A new-found friend, Carolyn, took this candid shot of Hannah and Meadow as we walked through north Asheville.  There's the pony/gear/instrument rig we spent so much time on (kind of falling off here, woops).

Where did September go?  We prepared for months in up state New York and in Swannanoa and here we are finally on the road with the weather cooling.  We're headed south to Pete Ramey's farm about a hundred miles away.  South to beat the weather, then west towards New Orleans and Austin, TX ... that's the current tentative plan.

Here's a shot of us around the campfire at Tim's place the night before we left for downtown Asheville.  Tim, we can't thank you enough; you've always been there when we've needed you.

Harvey's moccasins are wearing out on the unforgiving pavement, so we bought him a nice pair of regular hiking shoes. We feel very blessed to have the things, the people and most of all the health that we do.  God is good.

People have been so giving.  Four days ago, we stayed at the house of a man named Ivo.  He and Heely gave us food and drink and a safe, quiet yard to camp in.  Good brew, good conversation and a good send-off.  We also dumped 12 pounds of things we thought we needed - but didn't.  Weight is a big, big issue so anything we're not actively using gets left behind.

Busking by the iron has been good again - we wish we could stay in town for weeks but the open road calls.  We are anxious to get to ground on which we've never trod.

We have a donate button now, per request of many folks who found us on the street and wanted to help.

Well, time to move again.  Adios.  We'll post more pictures soon.

- FCF

Olive carries all of her papers, collars, leashes and our water... she's such a good dog.
Meadow carries the instruments, Hannah's things as well as Hannah... she is an unbelieveably sturdy pony.