It's a little place where we can get together

We rose pretty early to the news that Tooli had managed to catch her flight and had arrived safely in Geneva... Which was very, very pretty.

We made use of Uber once more, and got a lift into 'downtown' Asheville. Asheville was built in the early 20's around a magnificent estate built as a country retreat for the Vanderbilt family. It still retains its art deco style, and despite the rest of America falling under the spell of franchise city, Asheville maintains a fiercely independent free spirit reflected in all the small traders, art galleries and microbreweries which exist on every street and corner.

We explored small shop after shop, laughing at unusual gifts and ideas, marvelling at the creativity and rudeness. Lol

Lunch brought us to the Magic Mushroom where we sat outside in the shade of the Bird Cage..and enjoyed cold beers (the boys) and cocktails (me). Our waiter was an Irvine Welsh aficionado and was delighted to hear our accents and we educated him in 'goan yersel' and 'pure deid brilliant'

The skies opened while we sat; and we extended our visit for a little longer until the deluge passed - and delighted in watching the beer bike cycle through six inches of water up a hill... (Eight people pedalling furiously to pump the beer from the tap in front of them whilst enjoying a little sightseeing!)

After lunch, more shops and then an attempt to get into Boy's favourite microbrewery! We couldn't get in last night ; it was full to capacity; and at 5pm. It was full to capacity again! So we went to another and watched Frank Lampard getting his arse kicked in NYC soccer...

Finally we managed to get in to One World Brewery...and this is the lads on their 'flight'. Six tasters of their own brews!

We sat for ages, enjoying both beer and atmosphere and then as we decided to
Leave, discovered the joy of the shuffle board (it wasn't really shuffle board but that was as close as we could muster)

Another Uber home - this one didn't get lost... And then we sat on the porch, like all
Good Southerners, enjoying another beer, and watching the fire flies

(It took us a while to figure out that it was fireflies... I thought i was seeing some mass meteor shower... Himself thought i was seeing aircraft .. Until he saw them too ... Boy declared us both mad; until we forced him to sit still and watch..)

I retired into the house when something started snuffling round the undergrowth... The Boys were very excited and were trying to figure out what it was... I did not want to know!