A day trip includes Funeral, visit and a beautiful mountain drive.

Pastor and missionary Charlie Hugh Matthew’s funeral was in Mountain Home, Alabama.  To get there we left NC, drove thru SC, GA, TN then down to Alabama. I did not realize we would travel 5 states to get there.

His wife was in good spirits along with the family. He had suffered a stroke and had been unable to speak  or take care of himself for quite awhile. Sherry got to speak to Eloise when I realized she was in very good spirits I told her I forgave her for the prank she pulled on me when Jack Jr. was born, we had a good laugh.

After the funeral we stopped by a vegetable market and bought some Molasses. That area makes some good molasses. (I knew Lucy would want some but I was afraid they would break in transit. .

(Fred and his LOVE, Frances.  Happier times for Frances)

Then to visit our precious friend Frances, the widow of Fred who used to comment on this blog. Fred fell in love with some of the bloggers here and like us wanted to someday visit them.

From the time Fred heard that Sherry and I were hiking the AT, he wanted to join us. A couple years ago he got the chance, but was not physically ready. But he had a chance to get a taste of it, and would brag (jokingly) that he went to Maine and hiked the entire WIDTH of the AT.

Friend Fred, second from right.

But I wanted to tell you  guys, especially the ones who knew Fred on his two blogs or personally. Fred had been a very successful missionary on the ground and in administration. Well known and liked, he had a very good sense of humor.

I can see Mel and Dar’s face,  when this is read. (Dar is Back!)

Frances said she was in the kitchen a couple days before Fred passed, and evidently had slammed or shut some doors too loudly. She said from his room she heard, “Hey, I’m trying to die here, I think I am supposed to have peace and quiet, of course I could be wrong since I have never done this before.”

Frances said she and one of her daughters went to Fred and they all had a great crying laugh. That was Fred.

We took Frances to lunch and departed. Driving back thru the mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina. The Road is US64/74 and goes thru the Nantahala Gorge . the road follows the river that is famous for White water rafters. Actually my friend Sonny and our sons (Steve and Mark) did this White Water thing a few years back.

Trailhead from the North

The girl out in the Kayak belongs to this dog. The Dog was anxious for her to come back or it go to her.

This is my girl at the Southern trail head, where we reentered the trail after taking a break and having a restaurant meal a few years ago while hiking the AT.

The AT happens to cross this road at the Nantahala Outfitters. We recalled some memories of backpacking  thru here.  this was a treat.

Thanks for coming this way.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Sherry had a conversation with a couple that had walked a little way in and back out on the AT.  When Sherry told them we had hiked over 1850 miles of the AT, they were shocked that OLD FOLK could do something like that.    ………….   

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1975 Caddy Convertible