A Journey Through the Appalachians by J. Aubrey and S. Maturin

[nid_dabeille]

Jack and Stephen (and Sarah and I) just got back from a lovely trip.  The highlights were the big huge historic Biltmore House and estate, and hiking to lots of waterfalls (lots being 3 or 4 or 7 or something.)  The boys had never had a vacation before, and they were SO excited!  They got rather dirty and bruised, and Jack lost a little gold braid, but ehh, that's inevitable.  And it made me glad that I'd never gotten around to making Stephen a proper waistcoat.  Proper clothes just don't suit his naturalist habits.


So here they are, Jack and Stephen at Biltmore:


Stephen marvels at the grapevines in the garden.  Jack is bored.


The boys enjoy a refreshing pot of tea and some marvelous snapdragons (or slapdragons as I prefer to call them now.  Who is it whose son calls them that?  I forget.  And that's actually just the creamer.)


A sublime view of Hooker Falls:


Worrisome views of tadpoles at Triple Falls:








More worrisome still!!!  (But it's only a northern water snake, Nerodia sipedon)


Jack is unimpressed by Nerodia sipedon.


Catching a ride with their minders.  Sarah:


And me:


Farewell, beautiful falls!


The end.

Comments

[artyartie.livejournal.com]

What a wonderful travelogue! It looks like you all had such an incredible trip. :)

[grace-poppy.livejournal.com]

We did indeed. :D Thanks!

[grace-poppy.livejournal.com]

Oh, and THANK YOU for the fabulous postcard!!! It was waiting for me here when I got home, hooray! :D

[artyartie.livejournal.com]

Yay, I'm so glad you got the postcard! It's so fun to send them - especially when you go to such incredible places as the Surprise.

[esteven]

This is wonderful. The four of you certainly had a wonderful time. Poor Jack, being so unimpressed by the snake. ;D I'll be looking forward to more.
Continue to have a good time with your friend

[grace-poppy.livejournal.com]

Thanks! The boys were jealous of your own boys, I'm sure, and felt it was time they had their own adventures!

[esteven]

And a great adventure was had by all. My boys sen their regards.:D They battled their way through oilseed rape fields towards Ashgrove, they saw Othello at the Globe (from my backpack),Stephen visited the orlop of Victory again, Jack (nearly)raised a cutlass,and most importantly,they received their wonderful new cot.

I have nearly finished my travelogue,but I'm afraid you will not be able to read much of it because there are always excerpts from the books. Btw, how far in the series have you read?

[des-pudels-kern.livejournal.com]

Now I know why Jack was afraid Stephen would fall ito the water. I would ahve been afraid, too! But Nerodia sipedon would have saved him! The four of you seem to have a good time together. May the rest of Sarah's stay be just as enjoyable!

[grace-poppy.livejournal.com]

Aww!! you're right, the snake would have saved him! I'm sure that's why she was there in the first place!

[tootsiemuppet.livejournal.com]

I bet Jack actually just fainted at the sight of that snake.

"Stephen, that is never a snake."
"Hm? Oh, no, it is, my dear. A northern water snake, or Nerodia sipedon. They are often to be found in these parts I am told. Pray do not go near it, Jack. They are notoriously vicious."
"Vicious?"
"Prone to attack when they feel threatened, Jack, as any creature, yet if it is any consolation they could never kill a full-grown man, nor even wound him very severely."
"You are sure about this?"
"Oh quite. But then you are to consider that we are mere mannekins and not full-grown men at all and that if we take into consideration our stature at present, it sould surely only be a matter of minutes before -"
"... *thunk*"
"Jack?"
"...."
"Well, really now."

But I love the last picture best of all, and you both look very cute. I'm so glad you're having a good time! :D

[grace-poppy.livejournal.com]

Heehee! Mere mannekins, poor dears! But then, they are also solid wood. I daresay the venom flows more slowly through wood than through the human blood stream.

(Added a picture I forgot!)

[dreamybritactor.livejournal.com]

Oh, that looks like such fun! Even more fun with Stephen and Jack along for the fun! :D

[grace-poppy.livejournal.com]

It was!

[zed-pm.livejournal.com]

What wonderful pictures! Looks like Jack and Stephen had a wild ride! lol And, I really liked the view of Hooker Falls. ;D

[grace-poppy.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Hee, and Hooker Falls really was lovely, even though it's just a white blob in the background of their picture.

[ladyhamilton.livejournal.com]

Great pictures! Looks like you all had an awesome time. The Nerodia sipedon is very cool. Poor Jack really was quite unimpressed! *g* Considering their relative sizes, however, his reaction is somewhat more understandable. It's nice to see a picture of you, too- I'm not sure that I'd seen one before. =)

[grace-poppy.livejournal.com]

You'd never seen my picture before? Eeep - well that's why I'm blushing so much. (Actually, my face was a tiny bit sunburnt by that point but it was mostly flushed from being so HOT!!! I'll show you a more normal looking picture some time. :D)

[tselmende.livejournal.com]

That is the coolest travel log, ever. :D

[grace-poppy.livejournal.com]

Haha! Thanks!

[ozfille]

It looks like you, Sarah and the boys had a great time. Poor Jack traumatised at the sight of the snake. *g*

[grace-poppy.livejournal.com]

We are! Aww, poor Jack! He soon recovered though.

[luisadeza.livejournal.com]

Aw, they're so cute! :D
Good to hear you're having a great time!

[grace-poppy.livejournal.com]

Heehee, thanks! (And I've gotten Sarah into Paul McGann too! She likes Lt. Bush. I think she likes Hornblower the best though, which is understandable.)

[esteven]

Thank you for the lovely card. The house looks splendid. :D

[grace-poppy.livejournal.com]

You got it already! That was fast! And you're welcome. :D