Well, it turns out the decision to park in the enclosed garage was not a good one. It was very noisy during the night and when we woke up we decided to move to another area at Harrahs. When leaving we ran across one of those hanging bars that tell the height restrictions and it went underneath our antenna and cracked it. Pretty loud bang also. Scary for a minute. But the antenna was the old analog that did not work anymore so it was no real loss, except for the loss of face.
Found another lot, actually that was much better. prettier, quieter and closer to the casino. Who knew? Spent most of the day gambling (Pat) and watching an Atlanta Braves spring training game (Don). Had lunch at Paula Dean's. Good atmosphere and I got to eat a buffet that had collard greens and fried chicken. Doesn't get much better than that.
Late afternoon we set out to look at Cherokee. Beautiful town and very nice people. Most attractions closed at 5 so we decided to go to a water fall. Absolutely beautiful. Went back to the casino where we gambled a little more (I won $71.50!!). I also got to eat at Paula Deans again while Pat gambled. Another buffet with fried chicken, collard greens and steak.
Stayed at the parking lot in Harrahs that we moved to.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Day 7 - 3/2/11
Day 7 already? Wow.
Early in the morning we looked at the maps and decided to head up to Hickory, NC to look at MORE furniture and then travel on to Cherokee, NC and stay at the Harrahs casino there. The decision to go to Hickory was due to recommendations from people and readings that Pat had done.This route would also enable us to go to the Smokey Mountains, Gatlinburgh and Pigeon Forge.
Hickory turned out to be a good move. It was not as depressing as High Point (there were so many people that had lost their jobs due to the recession and the fact that almost all the factories in the area had closed because the furniture is not being made in China and imported here. Hard to believe that you can cut the wood here, ship it to China, construct the furniture there and ship it back cheaper than you can make it here. But obviously that is the case.
We first went to the Visitors Center where this lovely lady directed us to 2 furniture malls and a stretch of road 12 miles long, (actually called 20 mile furniture row but since Thomasville and a few others had closed in this area it is now 12 miles long.), that had numerous "factory outlets. Although how they could be factory outlets when the furniture is made in China was beyond me.
We decided to skip the malls and head to furniture row. Pat had wanted to see one manufacturers line again, Kincaid, that we both liked. It is simple and is one of the VERY few that is made with solid wood.
Kincaid was one of the first places we saw and when we went in there we found a set that we liked and bought. Our contactors agreed to receve it so it looks like we will have furniture when we get back to NY. Yeah.
We the traveled on to Cherokee. We passed The Biltmore but decided not to stop. The road to Cherokee is very windy and narrow. It is easy to see why tractor trailers have been banned from using it. Made it to Harrahs and the security person recommended that we stay in the enclosed parking garage lower level.
Pat and I gambled for a few hours than went back. Pat won a small amount but I lost.
Early in the morning we looked at the maps and decided to head up to Hickory, NC to look at MORE furniture and then travel on to Cherokee, NC and stay at the Harrahs casino there. The decision to go to Hickory was due to recommendations from people and readings that Pat had done.This route would also enable us to go to the Smokey Mountains, Gatlinburgh and Pigeon Forge.
Hickory turned out to be a good move. It was not as depressing as High Point (there were so many people that had lost their jobs due to the recession and the fact that almost all the factories in the area had closed because the furniture is not being made in China and imported here. Hard to believe that you can cut the wood here, ship it to China, construct the furniture there and ship it back cheaper than you can make it here. But obviously that is the case.
We first went to the Visitors Center where this lovely lady directed us to 2 furniture malls and a stretch of road 12 miles long, (actually called 20 mile furniture row but since Thomasville and a few others had closed in this area it is now 12 miles long.), that had numerous "factory outlets. Although how they could be factory outlets when the furniture is made in China was beyond me.
We decided to skip the malls and head to furniture row. Pat had wanted to see one manufacturers line again, Kincaid, that we both liked. It is simple and is one of the VERY few that is made with solid wood.
Kincaid was one of the first places we saw and when we went in there we found a set that we liked and bought. Our contactors agreed to receve it so it looks like we will have furniture when we get back to NY. Yeah.
We the traveled on to Cherokee. We passed The Biltmore but decided not to stop. The road to Cherokee is very windy and narrow. It is easy to see why tractor trailers have been banned from using it. Made it to Harrahs and the security person recommended that we stay in the enclosed parking garage lower level.
Pat and I gambled for a few hours than went back. Pat won a small amount but I lost.
Day 6 - 3/1/11
So..... we started out on yet another day of furniture shopping. We left the campground intending to go to the big mall, Furnitureland South, again to continue our shopping there but on the way decided to swing by the ice cream factory where Gene Dumas worked as invited. The people there, and of course Gene, were extremely nice. We wound up going on a 2-3 hour tour that we both enjoyed immensely. We saw ice cream sandwiched being made, got to eat ice cream right off the production line, saw Dairy Queen Blizzard mixes, sour cream milk and more.
Excellent tour.
At the factory the receptionist there recommended that we look at a place that has dented and returned furniture. WE decided to go there instead on the big mall and were it was a good decision although we did not buy anything. By the end of or day there Pat was very confused as to what she wants. She started out wanting individual pieces and not a set. After looking at hundreds of pieces and sets she is no longer sure.
Good news is that I found an armoire that I like and we put a 24 hour hold on it. Very unusual piece that Pat is not too crazy about.
After looking at furniture at another location for the dented company we headed out on the road with no definitive itinerary other than leaving High Point. Tried to stop at a Travel Center in Charlotte but we did not like he feel of it so we traveled on. We finally found another Camp Walmart and decided to stay there. It was in a very large shopping center that had many stores and a good feel Pretty uneventful night.
Excellent tour.
At the factory the receptionist there recommended that we look at a place that has dented and returned furniture. WE decided to go there instead on the big mall and were it was a good decision although we did not buy anything. By the end of or day there Pat was very confused as to what she wants. She started out wanting individual pieces and not a set. After looking at hundreds of pieces and sets she is no longer sure.
Good news is that I found an armoire that I like and we put a 24 hour hold on it. Very unusual piece that Pat is not too crazy about.
After looking at furniture at another location for the dented company we headed out on the road with no definitive itinerary other than leaving High Point. Tried to stop at a Travel Center in Charlotte but we did not like he feel of it so we traveled on. We finally found another Camp Walmart and decided to stay there. It was in a very large shopping center that had many stores and a good feel Pretty uneventful night.
Day 5 - 2/28/11
Spent all day looking at furniture in High Point and Jamestown. Went to a local store, High Point Furniture Sales (?), and spent a few hours there. Good people and they offered to ship any furniture that we found to us if we call and give them the essentials. I found an armoire that I liked.
Then we went to the HUGE mall, Furnitureland South in late afterrnoon and got through a small portion of the mall before getting tired and overwhelmed. It all started to look the same. Pat wants to stay another day here so we decided to do that.
Stayed at the Oak Hollow Campground. Beautiful setting and nice people. No issues were encountered and we loved having unlimited hot water.
Then we went to the HUGE mall, Furnitureland South in late afterrnoon and got through a small portion of the mall before getting tired and overwhelmed. It all started to look the same. Pat wants to stay another day here so we decided to do that.
Stayed at the Oak Hollow Campground. Beautiful setting and nice people. No issues were encountered and we loved having unlimited hot water.
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