I Made It to Tuckasegee & Link Up On the Edge #284

February 25, 2022 / 49 Comments

I completed my 900 mile drive to Becca’s house in Tuckasegee, North Carolina, where I will be spending the next few days. She recently purchased a homestead in the Bear Lake Reserve area of this tiny little Cherokee town, which she has craftily named The Bearfoot Hill Homestead. It’s basically a hippie haven situated off of a winding mountain road that would bring peace and serenity to any troubled soul.

The photo above was taken in Becca’s back yard. Behind me in all directions is about 3,600 acres of woodland with only one neighbor in eyesight. What a wonderfully rejuvenating retreat this will be. I am so grateful for all the people who have made this trip possible for me!

On Tuesday night after leaving my kids with my mother-in-law, I headed to my hometown of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and met up with my high school swim coaches, Reik and Claire, for dinner at P.J. Whelihan’s. Reik started coaching me when I was just 8 years old when he had just graduated from college and he continued to coach me straight through until I graduated from high school. We have known each other for just shy of 40 years and he has played an instrumental role in shaping me into the person I am today.

We have always kept in touch but this particular visit was extra special. Two weeks ago, Reik was honored for his 600th high school win. I don’t think he had 100 wins by the time I left for college. What an amazing achievement for a very deserving man!

I was only able to pop in virtually to share that special moment but when I told Reik and Claire that I would be in town two weeks later, we all jumped at the opportunity to get together.

I met Claire my freshmen year of high school and I believe she had just graduated from college. She was so young and we high school kids were so sassy, but she kept us in order and also played a very influential role in the lives of so many young athletes including me. While Claire and I don’t have 40 years of history, we still have a solid 34 years behind us!

We had a ton of laughs that night which made it difficult to unwind for sleep and I needed sleep before embarking on the final 650 miles of my drive. But I had good ole Betsey Johnson to keep me company. I listened to her memoirs, Betsey, a Memoir: by Betsey Johnson and Mark Vitulano, on Audible as recommended by Lucy. What a fabulous book! It was the perfect length to last the entire trip and it felt like I had Betsey in the seat next to me. I found myself having out loud conversations with her as she read on! Now I need an Audible book recommendation for the drive back home.

By the way, there is a winter storm moving in on Watertown tonight which is threatening yet another 8-12 inches of snow. Can I tell you how happy I am to be in North Carolina right now where the skies are sunny and the temperatures feel like spring! Becca and I are heading into Asheville on Saturday to meet up with lots of friends, blogging and otherwise. I just reserved a room for us at the Biltmore. I have heard such amazing things about this historic site, I can’t wait to experience it myself!

I begin my journey back north on Monday and will share more about my trip next week! Happy weekend, y’all! Thanks for following along!

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I am a midlife woman, wife, and stay-at-home mother of 2 boys and 2 cats. I have a passion for helping other women feel fabulous in the midst of this crazy, beautiful life.

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49 Comments

  • Kellyann Rohr

    February 25, 2022 at 9:45 am Reply

    How cool that you got to meet up with Reik and Claire! Such special people in your life and you in theirs – I bet that was a blast! Have a great time on your trip – it sounds like Becca’s place is exactly where you need to be. Enjoy, my friend!
    xo,
    Kellyann

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      February 25, 2022 at 1:12 pm Reply

      Aw, Kellyann, thanks so much for this lovely comment! They really are very special people and we have shared some really special moments over the years…there have been weddings and babies born and funerals and all sorts of life changing events shared in our lives and that sure makes a bond strong! We were reminiscing at dinner about the night Reik’s daughter was born. It was during one of our swim meets my freshmen year of high school…Freedom (my high school) vs. Easton at Easton’s pool. Claire was in charge because Reik was at the hospital with his wife. His daughter was born during the swim meet and they made an announcement and everyone cheered! It was such a memorable moment. And I was coaching high school with Reik at Liberty (Freedom’s rival) when Archie was born. He came into the world an honorary member of Liberty High School Swim Team and we even have the blanket to prove it! Oh such great memories!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Mica

    February 25, 2022 at 11:17 am Reply

    Glad your road trip is off to a good start and you are enjoying catching up with everyone! 🙂

    Thanks for the link up!

    Hope you continue to have a great week! 🙂 It’s a very stormy one here, so much rain!

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      February 25, 2022 at 1:06 pm Reply

      Mica, thank you so much, my friend! I am having a wonderful time. It is so good for the soul to get away for a few days. There are no kids asking me for food every 20 minutes! It’s amazing! Haha. I hope your stormy weather passes soon just as I hope the snow is done before I drive back into winterland! Have a relaxing weekend!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      February 25, 2022 at 1:04 pm Reply

      Kathrine, thank you so much! I have been relaxing in the mountains since I arrived and it has been so good for my soul. I am looking forward to the weekend in the city followed by a final day of mountain respite before driving back into the winter! I hope you have a lovely weekend!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      February 25, 2022 at 1:01 pm Reply

      Jill, thanks so much! Swimmers are such interesting and unique beings, aren’t they?! I love that your daughter was a swimmer and you can relate to the strangeness of that sport! Haha. We do form lifelong bonds with each other in a sport like that. I hope you have a wonderful weekend as well, my friend!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      February 25, 2022 at 12:59 pm Reply

      Nancy, thanks so much! I will admit that I get really anxious doing these long drives alone and I always stay on the main roads when I know the back roads would be so much prettier to drive. I wish I was a capable driver whiled stoned to ease my anxiety, but I am not so I must drive without my anxiety medication. But I made it and I am glad that I did! I hope you have a lovely weekend as well!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      February 25, 2022 at 12:56 pm Reply

      Thanks so much, Amy! This is my third trip to Asheville and it is absolutely my favorite city that I have ever visited. And I am really excited to check out the Biltmore! I surprised Becca with that one and she is equally excited. It is going to be so much fun! I hope you have a lovely weekend as well, my friend.

      xoxo
      Shelbee

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      February 25, 2022 at 12:55 pm Reply

      Thanks so much, Jennifer! I spent yesterday relaxing and recovering from an early bout of cramps that wasn’t supposed happen until I got home! But my plan was just to relax yesterday anyway so it’s all good. Today we are going for a mountain drive and the weather is going to be beautiful for it! Then Asheville for the weekend! I hope you have a fantastic weekend as well, my friend.

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Di

    February 25, 2022 at 3:12 pm Reply

    It sounds like you are having a wonderful time on your road trip! It’s so special that you had the opportunity to meet up with important people from your past that were such positive influences. And the upcoming retreat into the woods sounds devine! Thanks so much for the feature, and for sharing your trip experiences!

  • Anita Ojeda

    February 25, 2022 at 4:58 pm Reply

    I just finished What is a Girl Worth by Rachel Denhollender. It’s gripping, but made me so angry at society and how little they value women. Now I’m splitting my listening time to Fast Girls and The Body Keeps the Score. I’ve only seen the outside of Biltmore–one of these days, I’ll make it inside ;). I spent about three years in nearby Fletcher, NC and have many fond memories.

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      February 26, 2022 at 1:26 pm Reply

      Anita, thanks so much for sharing these book recommendations. What is a Girl Worth sounds absolutely fascinating but I don’t know if I want to get angry at society while driving! Haha But I am going to add that to my reading list for when I am not driving!

      I have only seen pictures of the Biltmore and heard marvelous things about it. I am super excited to check it out and get some photos and such. Have a lovely weekend!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Joanne

    February 25, 2022 at 8:33 pm Reply

    How fun to meet up with your old coaches! So glad you made it safely. We’re getting snow/ice/rain all day today and I am dreaming of a warm spring/ summer vacation.

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      February 26, 2022 at 1:21 pm Reply

      Thanks, Joanne! It was a super fun night! I just checked the weather for Asheville today and it is currently snowing! And here I thought I had escaped it. But it is supposed to be in the 50’s this afternoon so I am hoping to be able to some walking around Asheville today. Have a great weekend, my friend. Stay warm!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Laura Bambrick

    February 26, 2022 at 3:59 am Reply

    That is really neat you were able to meet up, especially after they have been in your life so long! One part of being an army brat and moving around is that it was hard to develop a history like that. I’m excited my girls will be forming life long relationships (hopefully anyway)!

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      February 26, 2022 at 1:14 pm Reply

      Laura, thanks so much! You know, in all the years of Army life, my kids have only had to move twice and the second time was in the same town. So they really have only known Watertown, New York, as home. We moved here when Archie was 2 years old and Ralph was just 3 months old. I feel blessed that we have been able to develop roots for them in one place. But many of their friends have come and gone due to the military. They have weathered it like pros but often ask why we don’t ever move! Um…because moving is horrible, kids! Haha. I love that you are doing the same for the girls! But the other way, traveling all around the country growing up, that has some really cool benefits, too.

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Marsha Banks

    February 26, 2022 at 4:05 am Reply

    Oh, Shelbee, your meet up with old friends makes me so happy! I love seeing my former students or hearing from them on Facebook or Instagram. We even traveled to New Hampshire a few years ago for a wedding! Those kinds of relationships are so very important and special. We never ever know what we meant to someone in the past.

    Your friend’s home looks like she needs someone to come live in her backyard (that would be me…unless there are snakes)! What a haven for her and anyone who visits her. I love the name, too! I’m so glad you’re having this adventure. Have a fabulous time!

    https://marshainthemiddle.com

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      February 26, 2022 at 1:08 pm Reply

      Aw, Marsha, thank you so much! I only coached for one year and I always love reconnecting with the kids on social media and such. Being on both sides of it, I know how important these relationships are in both directions. I have met some pretty amazing humans when they were kids who grew into even more amazing adult humans. And thinking that I played just a tiny role in helping them to become even more amazing is the most validating thing ever!

      Becca’s back yard does need an occupant! Haha. We have been talking all week how cool it would be if Jeff and I ended living right next door…which is like 2 miles away…but how freaking fun would that be if we could create our little mountain community of like minded hippies?!

      We are heading into Asheville today for some city fun next. Have a great weekend, my friend!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Midlife and Beyond

    February 26, 2022 at 7:58 pm Reply

    I loved reading about your road trip, Shelbee. The old friends you are catching up with and the places you are visiting. I like the look of the “Biltmore”, that looks like a great place to stay. Have a safe journey home my friend – what a long drive! I can’t think of anything to suggest you listen to/read…..but, I have just finished Greg Allmans autobiography which I loved. I know a little bit of their music, though my hubby is more of a fan of the Allman Brothers. I loved his story.
    Take care and can’t wait for the next instalment!
    Alison xx

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      March 2, 2022 at 2:41 pm Reply

      Thanks so much, Alison! I had a wonderful journey with wide open roads and beautiful weather on all of my driving days! I ended up listening to a Stevie Nicks biography, a James Taylor autobiography, and part of a huge work on Egyptian queens called “When Women Ruled the World”. I am going to check out that Greg Allman autobiography for my next audio book though. I am a big fan of the Allman Brothers.

      xoxo
      Shelbee

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