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!