Trading Post
I rode Buster down to the Northwest Trading Post on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Glendale Springs this morning. The store is run by the parkway service as an outlet for local arts and crafts and they have some very nice stuff for folks to purchase.
My primary purpose in going, however, was to meet the local dulcimer maker, John Maddocks.
He makes some beautiful instruments, all out of wood indigenous to the area. They sell for $600 in the trading post.
Now, I've always wanted to build dulcimers and so I asked him many questions. He answered them all and even proffered some information on things I didn't know to ask. He suggest that I start building five instruments because "you'll throw four of them in the trash before you're finished." I didn't think it was necessarily going to be easy.
The event today was to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of the Trading Post in 1958. They had some pretty good barbecue available for lunch and I had the plate which came with chopped Lexington-style barbecue, bun, slaw, chips, Moon Pie and RC Cola. Local bands played bluegrass and traditional mountain music on the porch. All of 'em were good!
The only downside was the place was swarming with politicians. Virginia Foxx, the US Representative from our district was there along with her Democratic opponent in the upcoming elections. Also seen were various NC State Senators and representatives and their wannabees. Needless to say, there was quite a bit of glad-handing going on. As the Republican candidates came to the microphone for short speeches, they were welcomed as long-lost buddies. When the Democratic opponent came up, the introduction usually began "In fairness to (insert name of Democratic candidate here), we have invited him/her to say a few words as well." Politics, mountain style.
My primary purpose in going, however, was to meet the local dulcimer maker, John Maddocks.
He makes some beautiful instruments, all out of wood indigenous to the area. They sell for $600 in the trading post.
Now, I've always wanted to build dulcimers and so I asked him many questions. He answered them all and even proffered some information on things I didn't know to ask. He suggest that I start building five instruments because "you'll throw four of them in the trash before you're finished." I didn't think it was necessarily going to be easy.
The event today was to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of the Trading Post in 1958. They had some pretty good barbecue available for lunch and I had the plate which came with chopped Lexington-style barbecue, bun, slaw, chips, Moon Pie and RC Cola. Local bands played bluegrass and traditional mountain music on the porch. All of 'em were good!
The only downside was the place was swarming with politicians. Virginia Foxx, the US Representative from our district was there along with her Democratic opponent in the upcoming elections. Also seen were various NC State Senators and representatives and their wannabees. Needless to say, there was quite a bit of glad-handing going on. As the Republican candidates came to the microphone for short speeches, they were welcomed as long-lost buddies. When the Democratic opponent came up, the introduction usually began "In fairness to (insert name of Democratic candidate here), we have invited him/her to say a few words as well." Politics, mountain style.
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