We stayed up late again last night, even though we wanted to get up by 9:00am. Didn’t work out that way! Eric finally got up around 10:00am and looked out the window. He thought it had rained the night before, so he said we should just go back to bed. I got out of bed, looked out the window and saw the tiniest puddle in the world, and the cars looked dry, so I knew it hadn’t rained much, if at all. I decided to call the U.S. NATIONAL WHITEWATER CENTER, where Eric was going to ride today. They confirmed that the trails were open, so we got up, took showers, got dressed and left the hotel around 11:00am.
The center is less than a half hour away. They provide rafting on the world’s largest man-made whitewater river, along with kayaking the only class III-IV rapids in a metropolitan area. You can also do flatwater kayaking along the banks of the scenic Catawba River. You can mountain bike, trail run, hike or climb on one of the largest outdoor climbing structures in the U.S. They are an official Olympic Training Site and host to many National and International Competitions. All this just 15 minutes from Uptown Charlotte!
We parked the car, Eric rented a front suspension bike and was off on the trails by noon. I went into the restaurant, explained that my husband was mountain biking and it was too cold for me to hang outside. They were so friendly and helpful. I plugged in my laptop at a table right by a window, and made a few calls. As I spoke to our friends, Geri and Larry for about an hour, I got to watch people rushing by in whitewater rafts or kayaks.
I also spoke to my sister-in-law, Ellen and answered some emails. By the time I hung up with Ellen, Eric was back. It had started to rain, but he had ridden for an hour and a half and said it was enough for him. He said it was a great, well-maintained trail, but it didn’t provide the technical tricks he so enjoys, but he did say it was a great workout and that if he did that ride every day he’d be back in shape in no time!
We stayed for lunch in the restaurant. They had the nicest menu. I had a veggie burger. It wasn’t HOUSTON’S, but it was good. We both had roasted red pepper soup, which was delicious. Eric had a salad with chicken and apples in it. He said it was really good.
After lunch we drove back toward the hotel, but we drove around MATTHEWS a little more, before going back to our room. It really is a nice town, in a great city, but we decided we really have a LOT of thinking to do and we need to take our time. Eric and I talked a lot after we got back to the room and then we took a nap before meeting Steffie and Dave for Sushi. We had a delicious dinner with edamame, seaweed salad, and 4 different rolls. Eric and Dave could talk forever – they have so much in common and are very much alike.
Steffie and I also talked nonstop. She is a lovely, sweet, gorgeous girl with a wonderful outlook on life and a very positive approach. Her lifestyle is very natural, down-to-earth and well-balanced, especially since she teaches yoga for a living!
Eric and I were both very impressed with them and think they’d be great friends to have here, if we ever moved to Charlotte.
When we got back to the hotel Eric watched TV while I worked on the computer. Tomorrow morning we will check out at 11:00am and drive around Charlotte some more, stopping by BICYCLES EAST, which is the local bike shop that Dave and Steffie use for all their bicycling needs.
We will drive back to Asheville in the afternoon, but will probably just stay in a cheap motel near the airport overnight, so that we don’t have far to go in the morning. We’ll return the car, get on our flight to Atlanta, and be home in San Diego for dinner!