For my dad’s 90th birthday, we decided that what he needed wasn’t another gift—it was a little adventure.

So we planned a short family getaway to the North Carolina mountains, with the highlight being a ride aboard the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in Bryson City. My brother flew in from Dallas, and my sister picked him up at the Columbia, South Carolina, airport on Saturday. I drove down to Aiken on Sunday so we could all leave together the next morning.

It turned out to be three days filled with mountain scenery, good food, a memorable train ride, one truly awful rainstorm—and, most importantly, time together as a family.

Monday, September 21 — Aiken to Bryson City

We left Aiken Monday morning and headed north toward the mountains, stopping near Hendersonville for lunch at Kosta’s Fireside Restaurant, a recommendation from my sister’s friend Nan.

Nan steered us right.

Everyone ordered something different, while my sister and I decided to split two dishes so we could sample a little more of the menu. The food was excellent, and Kosta’s turned out to be one of those pleasant travel discoveries you remember afterward. I’d definitely recommend it if you’re looking for a casual meal around Hendersonville.

After lunch, we continued toward Bryson City—and then the weather decided to make things interesting.

We ran into a horrendous rainstorm on I-40. Visibility dropped dramatically, rain pounded the windshield, and my brother-in-law eventually pulled onto the shoulder to wait for the worst of it to pass. Between the storm, heavy traffic and several people offering slightly different navigational advice, the stress level in the car rose considerably.

Once the rain eased, getting back into traffic proved almost as challenging as the storm itself.

Travel lesson learned: If you get caught in heavy rain on I-40, avoid stopping on the shoulder if you can safely continue. Getting to the next exit may be the better option.

Thankfully, the rest of the drive was uneventful.

We couldn’t check into our Airbnb until after 3:00 p.m., and we arrived in Bryson City shortly after that. Our home for the next two nights was the Creekside 1920s Farmhouse.

And this place was a find!!!

The old farmhouse sits beside a creek only a few minutes from downtown Bryson City. With three bedrooms, a deck with rocking chairs, a hot tub, fire pit and plenty of outdoor space, it had exactly the relaxed mountain atmosphere we were hoping for.

The Airbnb description promises a tranquil Smoky Mountain setting that feels like stepping back into a simpler time. In this case, the description was pretty accurate.

The farmhouse was also part of a larger property with several cabins and other facilities. As we walked around exploring, we started imagining what a great location it would make for a family reunion or retreat. Everyone could have their own cabin while still gathering together around the property and spending the days exploring the mountains.

After the day’s drive—and our white-knuckle encounter with the weather—we were perfectly content to stay put. We made sandwiches for dinner, watched a little television and settled in for a quiet evening by the creek.

Tuesday, September 22 — Riding the Rails

Tuesday morning began with another round of rain, thunder and lightning.

Not exactly the weather we had ordered for our big train excursion.

Still, we weren’t going to let a little—or even a lot—of rain derail the day. We ate a light breakfast, grabbed our umbrellas and headed into Bryson City for our ride aboard the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad.

We had tickets for the Nantahala Gorge Excursion, a 44-mile, four-and-a-half-hour round trip from Bryson City through the mountains to the Nantahala Gorge.

Our instructions recommended arriving an hour before the 10:30 a.m. departure, which turned out to be good advice. The parking lot was already busier than we expected, although we found a space without much trouble.

The bigger challenge was staying dry.

Umbrellas were definitely required, and covered areas around the depot were limited. Fortunately, the shops surrounding the station were open and quite happy to welcome a captive audience of damp railroad passengers. We browsed our way through the rain until boarding time.

I had chosen an enclosed rail car with windows when making our reservations. Given the weather, that turned out to be a very good decision. The open-air cars looked like great fun on a sunny day. On this particular morning, not so much.

Our car was only about 80 percent full, giving everyone plenty of room to stretch out, move around and enjoy the scenery.

The route follows the Nantahala River and passes Fontana Lake before reaching the Nantahala Gorge. Even with the clouds and rain, there was something especially beautiful about seeing the Smokies from the train. Mist hung over the mountains, the forest seemed impossibly green, and the river followed us through much of the journey.

Sometimes imperfect weather creates its own kind of scenery.

We had about an hour to get off the train and explore at Nantahala before climbing back aboard for the return trip.

By approximately 3:30 p.m., we were back at the depot in Bryson City. Since we’d mostly snacked during the train ride, everyone was ready for a real meal.

We chose Bryson City Brewing, where we enjoyed a filling—and very welcome—late lunch or early dinner before heading back to our farmhouse.

After a day on the rails, another quiet evening by the creek sounded just about perfect.

Wednesday, September 23 — The Scenic Route Home

Checkout time Wednesday morning was 10:00, so we got an early start packing, stripping the beds, washing dishes, gathering laundry and completing the usual Airbnb departure routine.

By about 9:30, the car was loaded and we were back on the road.

Rather than retracing our route along the interstate, we decided to take our time and make the trip home part of the experience.

Our first stop was downtown Waynesville, where we spent a little time exploring the town before continuing toward Flat Rock.

There, we met my sister’s friends Nan and John at Hubba Hubba Smokehouse for lunch.

Once again, Nan’s food recommendations proved reliable.

The barbecue was outstanding and made for a fitting final meal before we pointed the car south toward Aiken. We arrived back at my sister’s house later that afternoon, bringing our short mountain adventure to an end.

More Than a Birthday Trip

Looking back, the trip wasn’t really about the railroad, the farmhouse, the restaurants or even the Smoky Mountains.

Those were the setting.

The real reason for going was to celebrate Dad’s 90th birthday and give all of us something increasingly valuable: a few uninterrupted days together.

I think Dad genuinely enjoyed the trip. He seemed happy simply having everyone together, riding the train, sharing meals and watching the scenery pass by.

There was one moment, though, that I suspect I’ll remember longer than anything else from those three days.

Dad rarely talks about Mom anymore. But at one point during the trip, surrounded by his family and the mountains, he quietly said:

“Your mother would have really enjoyed this.”

And somehow, in that one sentence, she became part of the trip too.

Quick Link Extras: Bryson City NC Waynesville NC Flat Rock NC Bryson City Brewing Kosta’s Fireside Restaurant Hubba Hubba Smokehouse Great Smokey Mountain Railroad Airbnb Creekside 1920’s Farmhouse

A Killer Story left me undecided about the real truth. It’s hard to believe your own family members would feel so adamant that you actually committed a crime and not doubt that possibility. However, it seems blatantly obvious that the accused can not keep her story straight and is so egotistical that should could have actually done it.

Investigative journalist Joe Sexton looks into a 2002 double homicide case in Kansas after receiving thousands of emails from Eileen Umbehr, a homemaker turned citizen sleuth. Eileen and her husband Keen are convinced that Dana Chandler, the woman accused of killing her ex-husband and his girlfriend, did not commit the crime and devote their lives to fighting for Chandler’s innocence.

Whatever It Takes is a disturbing documentary on corporate corruption and greed. It’s disturbing that a major business could act this way. At what point do you challenge authority and say “This is not right”?

In the summer of 2019, a middle-aged couple are subjected to cyberstalking threats and bizarre deliveries including a bloody pig mask and funeral wreath. As the harassment intensifies, the police and FBI close in on a Silicon Valley giant and some very unlikely suspects. “Whatever It Takes” tells the extraordinary story of eBay, a Fortune 500 company founded on the principle that “people are basically good”, and how members of their security team ended up in federal prison after trying to protect the CEO from a corporate raider.

Also finished watching another season of Silo on AppleTV. Season 3 of Silo expands the mystery surrounding the underground world as Juliette’s discoveries expose deeper truths about the silos, their origins, and those controlling them. As tensions rise and long-held secrets unravel, characters face dangerous choices that could reshape their society—and challenge everything they believed about survival and the world outside.

Finishe watching the latest season of Reacher. Season 4 of follows former military investigator Jack Reacher into another dangerous mystery, where his sharp instincts, imposing presence, and uncompromising sense of justice quickly put him at odds with powerful enemies. As Reacher uncovers layers of deception and violence, he must determine whom he can trust while staying one step ahead of those determined to stop him. Expect the series’ familiar mix of mystery, dry humor, brutal action, and Reacher-style problem solving. All in all, this series is pretty predictable but it’s nice to just dumb-down and watch something sometimes.

I’ve watched a few episodes of Deadly Influence: The Social Media Murders on HBO Max today. I can’t decide what is more disturbing - the stroies, or the fact that I’m watching them.

Completed watching Season 2 of The Gentleman toady. Season 2 of Netflix’s The Gentlemen finds Eddie Horniman fully embracing his role in the criminal underworld. Alongside Susie Glass, he sets out to expand their growing empire beyond England and into Italy, attracting dangerous new rivals and testing old alliances. As Eddie’s ambition grows, so do the stakes, forcing him to navigate ruthless gangsters, family complications, betrayal, and his increasingly complicated partnership with Susie. Stylish, darkly funny, violent, and fast-paced, the season delivers Guy Ritchie’s signature blend of aristocracy and organized crime.

Also finished watching watching Netflix docuseries The Worst Neighbor Ever.. Netflix’s Worst Neighbor Ever is a true-crime docuseries exploring disturbing disputes between neighbors that escalate far beyond everyday arguments. Through firsthand interviews, archival footage, and dramatic storytelling, the series examines cases involving harassment, intimidation, obsession, and violence. Each episode reveals how conflicts over property, noise, boundaries, or personal grudges can transform once-ordinary neighborhoods into places of fear and danger for residents.

It’s been 25 years since 9/11

25 years ago today I was sitting in a bar in Bilbao, Spain with my travel buddy and coworker Ryan Culby. After a long summer of work (camp) we traveled to Spain for an extended holiday visiting friends and former camp coworkers. We had arrived via bus in Bilbao and were waiting at the bar to meet with our friend Xabier Aranburu. He was coming from his home in Victoria to pick us up and take us back to his apartment where we were to spend the next couple of days.

Our Spanish was weak and our Basque was basically nonexistent. We sensed that the bar tenders were talking about us. We assumed that it was something negative about being Americans and/or not speaking the language. We brushed it off because either way they were probably right to one degree or another.

When Xabier arrived he excitedly tried to explain what was happening back in America but it really wasn’t making much sense. Once we got to his apartment we turned on the TV we could see the disaster unfolding. I was able to get a call through to home which would prove more difficult in the days ahead.

As I journey through Spain continued in the days ahead, we were constantly greeted with kindness, extended condolences and moral support. A few days later, once we were back in Madrid, we attended a rally in Puerta del Sol where the Spanish President expressed the condolences of the Spanish people and pledged Spain’s support to fight terrorism.

Where were you on 9/11?

Finished reading: Britt-Marie was here by Fredrik Backman 📚 Damn good read.

Good Reads summary:

Britt-Marie can’t stand mess. A disorganized cutlery drawer ranks high on her list of unforgivable sins. She is not one to judge others—no matter how ill-mannered, unkempt, or morally suspect they might be. It’s just that sometimes people interpret her helpful suggestions as criticisms, which is certainly not her intention. But hidden inside the socially awkward, fussy busybody is a woman who has more imagination, bigger dreams, and a warmer heart that anyone around her realizes.

When Britt-Marie walks out on her cheating husband and has to fend for herself in the miserable backwater town of Borg—of which the kindest thing one can say is that it has a road going through it—she finds work as the caretaker of a soon-to-be demolished recreation center. The fastidious Britt-Marie soon finds herself being drawn into the daily doings of her fellow citizens, an odd assortment of miscreants, drunkards, layabouts. Most alarming of all, she’s given the impossible task of leading the supremely untalented children’s soccer team to victory. In this small town of misfits, can Britt-Marie find a place where she truly belongs?