The Far West
When people talk about the breadth of North Carolina, they often say, "from Murphy to Manteo." Today, I went to Murphy. It is just about as far west as you can go without crossing the border into Tennessee. It is a beautiful drive on Highway 19 through the Nantahala National Forest and alongside the Nantahala River.
It was well worth the trip as I encountered Katrina Miller and Linda Kressal at the Tri-County Community College just outside Murphy. Tri-County Community College serves the counties of: Cherokee, Clay and Graham counties and is a part of the outstanding Community College system in North Carolina.
I backtracked to Bryson City to visit the Fontana Regional Library Office located on the backside of the Bryson City Public Library. The Fontana Regional Library (FRL) system connects the six public libraries in Jackson, Macon, and Swain Counties into a system of libraries and provides administrative services for all of them. Parked beside the building was a "bookmobile." It is a converted delivery truck used to take books to places where getting to a library would be difficult. Diann Ball is a wonderful advocate for books and libraries.
I enjoyed lunch at a place I'd been before--Jimmy Mac's. The last time I ate there I was in my pajamas! Let me explain. Bryson City is home to the Great Smokey Mountain Railroad. It's a year-round tourist attraction but at Christmas GSMR transforms into the Polar Express! Last Christmas, my wife and I took our granddaughter to ride on the Polar Express and they encourage everyone to do so in their pajamas (like they did in the book.). It was great fun and after wards, we had dinner at Jimmy Mac's. Interestingly, the original "Polar Express" (PM 1225) has been restored and is in Owosso, Michigan, the headquarters for the company for whom I work. One of the principals helped with the restoration of the engine. Chris Van Allsburg, who wrote the book, "The Polar Express" grew up in the area near Owosso.
My final stop was in the town of Flat Rock at the Blue Ridge Community College. The Library was closed until August 12th but Susan Williams saw me and allowed me to visit for a few minutes. The campus is not only a place students come to take classes but it is also a hub of community and regional activity for many.
When people talk about the breadth of North Carolina, they often say, "from Murphy to Manteo." Today, I went to Murphy. It is just about as far west as you can go without crossing the border into Tennessee. It is a beautiful drive on Highway 19 through the Nantahala National Forest and alongside the Nantahala River.
It was well worth the trip as I encountered Katrina Miller and Linda Kressal at the Tri-County Community College just outside Murphy. Tri-County Community College serves the counties of: Cherokee, Clay and Graham counties and is a part of the outstanding Community College system in North Carolina.
I backtracked to Bryson City to visit the Fontana Regional Library Office located on the backside of the Bryson City Public Library. The Fontana Regional Library (FRL) system connects the six public libraries in Jackson, Macon, and Swain Counties into a system of libraries and provides administrative services for all of them. Parked beside the building was a "bookmobile." It is a converted delivery truck used to take books to places where getting to a library would be difficult. Diann Ball is a wonderful advocate for books and libraries.
I enjoyed lunch at a place I'd been before--Jimmy Mac's. The last time I ate there I was in my pajamas! Let me explain. Bryson City is home to the Great Smokey Mountain Railroad. It's a year-round tourist attraction but at Christmas GSMR transforms into the Polar Express! Last Christmas, my wife and I took our granddaughter to ride on the Polar Express and they encourage everyone to do so in their pajamas (like they did in the book.). It was great fun and after wards, we had dinner at Jimmy Mac's. Interestingly, the original "Polar Express" (PM 1225) has been restored and is in Owosso, Michigan, the headquarters for the company for whom I work. One of the principals helped with the restoration of the engine. Chris Van Allsburg, who wrote the book, "The Polar Express" grew up in the area near Owosso.
My final stop was in the town of Flat Rock at the Blue Ridge Community College. The Library was closed until August 12th but Susan Williams saw me and allowed me to visit for a few minutes. The campus is not only a place students come to take classes but it is also a hub of community and regional activity for many.
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