Asheville research trip #2: Making important contacts

Sam "The Original Gentleman Hillbilly" and my wife Barb

Ah, July in the mountains.

The lush trees. The roaring rivers. The warm breeze blowing through your beard and across your mipples.

While it's easy to make fun of Sam and his man-boobs, he's actually a wonderful guy. His wife is wonderful too. (She digs me.)

This was my second trip to Asheville; Barb's first. We spent three days in nearby Black Mountain with her family, then headed into Asheville for a short 30 hours.

My Chere no more...

There, we hooked up with our friend Matt, who's lived in Asheville for more than a decade. As we walked around town listening to music during the now-defunct Bele Chere music festival, Matt realized he hadn't left Asheville in quite some time.

"Where would I travel?" he asked. "Within 15 minutes, I can hike in the mountains, swim in rivers with waterfalls, and bike all over the place."

Now all he needs is a bike.

But the point was well made. Asheville has everything people who enjoy the outdoors could possibly want. Plus a healthy dash of city life.

And, as Matt likes to say, winters go by "like that."

(Finger snap.)

So fast, you'll have your shirt off in no time.