Dave n Lisa Honeymoon II Day 4

This morning’s mission:  Brunch on the veranda overlooking the valley (surprise!)  Being a latte kind of girl, I must say I was surprised to be captivated by cup after cup of their coffee with cream.  Perhaps it was because the nice young lady just kept quietly refilling it.  I hadn’t the heart to say no.  Exhale…breathe the sweet air.  Bacon, thick and intricate in its various levels of smoke in the sweet flavor.  The orange juice, also in continuous flow, was flown in INSIDE the oranges and juiced in house for us!  Just for us. 

The star of the culinary layer of this all-senses experience:  the blintzes with blueberry compote...and butter...always sweet creamery butter.  Hurrah.

A short swim, peaceful packing (we are now discussing the obvious and routinely overcommunicating on a regular basis…I love only being surprised by true surprises instead of hidden expectations suddenly unveiled by the stress of a moment).  We took leave of our Inn by packing the car and easing into the real world with a bit of quiet time under an obliging tree resting on the Biltmore hillside overlook. 

Bare feet and breezy grasses with no agenda. 

We decided to re-hike the path on foot that had masqueraded as a bike trail the day before, just to conquer it in our memories for future reference.  Good decision. 

The little stucco French countryside style brooder house abandoned up there on the hilltop was nestled in a tiny meadow.  Tucked  into the woods, it offered  in its shadows relief from the hot midday sun. 

We descended, having trekked the final terrain on our own terms. Goodbye Biltmore…hope to see you in your Christmas regalia.

Next stop:  Ridgecrest Retreat.  The Baptists received us once again at a crossroads in our life.  It was actually fun to go from royalty to kids in a dorm.  The whole setting in its austerity and vertical set up on the side of the mountain was strangely comforting.  Simple.  Go Baptists.

Knowing that we serve the God of second chances, we decided to give Asheville another go.  As three out of the four restaurants we had wanted to visit had been closed the day before, back we went, in broad daylight this time.  No bad clowns would be permitted in this redo.  Chocolate lounge and Jerusalem Garden baklava, here we come!

Asheville began its attempt at redemption with the two elegant turn of the century golden lady statues on the corner where just the night before there had been none.  Ah haa…lady buskers who moved like music box figures when we threw in money.  I had to squeal.  Ok Asheville, tell me more.  Alright, maybe we can find a bit of room just to try hors d’oeuvres at the Market.  Perhaps the white gazpacho and the edamame with soy chili sauce.  (Had to use restraint not to just drink the sauce and lick the bowl. )

One thing led to another.  Chocolate Lounge open…check.  Pot de crème, maple butter cake with smoked maple sugar topping, and jasmine, raspberry, and earl grey truffles to celebrate. 

Good jazz pianist, a practicing portrait student artist, lots of hand holding and strolling, and back to Ridgecrest.  Jerusalem Garden closed again... no worries.  Great day.