Run, Run, Run as Fast as You Can!

*3rd annual Ridge to Bridge Marathon 2011*

Welp, most of you have seen, ran in, or heard of the R2BM that starts at Jonas Ridges runs through Edgemont and the gorge and ends right here at the resort, if you haven't you are missing out!  It is an awesome time and one of the most fun fall afternoons you will spend up here.  It is filled with breathtaking views, new and old friends from around the world, and activities through out the day.  The marathon is organized by Rhonda and David Lee (Lee Timing) who do a phemonenal job and volunteers who join in to help get everything set up including aid stations, start and finish lines and tons of wonderful food.  This year there were over 350 runners who participated in the marathon making it the 4th best qualifier in the nation for the Boston Marathon.  Check out the link!  http://www.marathonguide.com/races/BostonMarathonQualifyingRaces.cfm

Also, a good friend and a runner in the R2BM is a writer for the Charlotte Observer Theoden James.  Check out his write up of the race!  http://obsruntheoden.blogspot.com/2011/10/nope-im-not-disappointed-with-313.html 

Next up, Active.com lists the 50 best marathons in the US, one for each state. http://www.active.com/women/Articles/Top-50-Marathons-to-Do-Across-America.htm. Guess which marathon was chosen for the state of North Carolina?  WOO HOO!!!

The Davidson Area Running Club also wrote a blog on their experience of the R2BM.

http://davidsonarearunningteam.blogspot.com/2011/10/one-of-best-recap-of-2011-ridge-to.html

This race is an absolutely amazing and mind bogginly event.  You meet the most amazing people and learn so much through the entire experience.  I for one feel so blessed that I can be apart of such an amazing event.

If you would like to run or volunteer for the R2BM please visit http://www.leetiming.com/ or contact David Lee at David@leetiming.com.

Don't forget about the Scream Half Marathon that is in July!  It is almost the same course, all down here and all in the gorge!

Up the creek with no paddle!

October has got to be one of the prettiest times and postcard views around the gorge in the entire year.  As most of you know, Danny and I can't go a day without planning our day around finding a way to somehow get a couple hours of "gorge time" during the day.  So today was no different than any other.  We knew the river was up and is slowly going down which means trash will be floating down and needs to be picked up through the gorge.  Danny (being the creative worker that he is) has a great idea we will kayak down the gorge and pick up trash as we go down.  This way we kill two birds with one stone- enjoy the perfect fall skies and breeze and clean the gorge up.  So here we go- boats loaded- smiling faces- and we are off!  Trash was found in trees, along the banks and hung up on rocks, we gathered them in our boats and all we have left is the scenic route straight back to the resort.  One more small rapid and we are home free....!  Right then, I suppose I thought I was a little too talented, I somehow went down a rapid sideways and ended up getting my boat submerged in a hydrolic. (Keep in mind our paddles we are using are paddles we found from a trash clean up that have been broken in half and chopped in two- then floated down the river for days).  Slipping and falling everywhere, I get out of the boat flopping all over the rapid to save the trash from falling out of the boat.  My kayak is competely submerged and now stuck under rushing water.  Worst!  Trash is pouring out and I lost my paddle.  Luckily, Danny wiggled the boat out of the rapid.  But no paddle to be found and tons of trash to be picked up.  So, the only smart thing to do is steal Danny's paddle and start picking up trash.  Thankfully, Danny being the southern gentleman that he is, agreed, picked up a stick to use for a paddle, and we both paddled down the stream picking up more trash and learning a lesson that work comes first then play!
If anyone wants to join us on smaller unofficial gorge clean ups, let us know!  Just bring your own paddle!!

Snowflake Siting!

First snow in the mountains on October 1st!  AAAAHHHHHH!   It is unbelievable and absolutely gorgeous.  Luckily, the sun is out now and the leaves are just starting to change and it is perfect weather to go on a hike.  So, if you are looking for a short, but gorgeous hike to a waterfall I believe Phillips Branch is perfect.  It is about a 10-15 minute easy hike to a great waterfall.

Also, a huge thanks to Serv-Pro!  We had a blast hosting your company picnic.  It was a true joy getting to know you all.  Here are a few pictures from the picnic check all the rest out on our facebook page!

If you would like your company to come out and enjoy a day at the resort, let us know and we can make it happen!

Enjoy!

Back to school- Back to fishing!

Holy Moly!  Summer is gone....  School is slowly creeping back in to session and there is a hint of fall breezing through the gorge.  I can't help myself but to get lost in daydreams of fall trout fishing.  There is nothing better on this earth than a fall day and some large trout caught on Wilson Creek.  Oh man I can not wait!


Send us your favorite Wilson Creek fishing story and picture at bmbresort@gmail.com

Quotes

Throughout the week I will find myself not doing work but looking up good quotes- quotes from legends, people who inspire me, and people who I aspire to be like.  Finally, I looked up quotes about cabins and this quote reminded me of BMBR:

"The only place I've felt was really my home is my cabin. There's something in the water there that connects me to that place. There's also this sense of isolation and loneliness about it that I've never been able to shake." - Jessica Lange

If you have any quotes you know of or if you just have a great saying of your own- share them with us!  We are looking for great quotes to put up in the Rock Ravilion and Tea Room.

Loving Summer!

Check out this video of some guys kayaking!  Man I love summer in the gorge!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqbBTBZYkvM&feature=related

Also be sure to check out the article in the Lenoir News Topic about the fall at Harper Creek falls... Man what a drop... Thank the Lord she survived!

Season for Love

Since we all prayed that the weather would cool down, we finally got what we asked for.  50 degree weather and rain.  So it has finally gotten to an amazing temperature on the gorge, but none the less, the rain is holding everyone as a prisoner in doors.  But hey!  Im not complaining, it gives me plenty of time to catch up on paper work and (of course) procrasinate by looking at other different ways and ideas for our new and soon to be completed Rock Pavilion - a perfect venue for a true southern wedding!  Check out some of the flowers I have put together and tell me what you think!

Also check out this blog I absolutely fell in love with.  These ideas would be perfect for BMBR!

http://www.swsmag.net/blog/2008/6/23/what-junebug-loves.html

Escape the Heat!

Shew! It is hot outside.  With temperatures close to 100  degrees and in some places past 100 degrees no one can actually stand it (except for those who are at BMBR).  I thank the good Lord that we live on Wilson Creek and there is always a nice river breeze to feel and cold water to jump into.  Relaxation and peace is exactly what summers are for, the sound of the water crashing over the boulders and the sight of wildlife  at BMBR does the trick!  So come on up, relax and cool off with us in the creek!

4th of July!

Wow!  Summer time is here, the heat is on full blast and the river is the perfect temperature for swimming!  People have come from all over the US (Cali, Montana, New Hampshire, Texas etc...) to see the sites of the resort and the gorge.  We are so blessed!  The flowers are blooming and everything at the resort seems to have come to life!- Even the construction!  The new building of cabins and the rock pavilion is in full gear- whew! calls for long hot days with a hand saw-
Now here is the most important part.  As happy as we are to have all these wonderful visitors in the gorge during the 4th, some still leave behind reminence of their vacation.  We are planning to have a clean up July 23rd.  After the clean up (and as a reward to ourselves)  we will have some R&R at the resort with snacksswimming, fishing, and tubing.
We hope you can join and please spread the word!  We need as much help as we can get!

Thanks for reading and have a blessed day!