A good start

The leaves were near peak colors!

So, this trip was November 13-14, 2010. The bus left Raleigh at 9am from a parking lot just off Trinity and Edwards Mills Roads. We toasted with mimosas and Bob also offered hot coffee before the bus pulled out. Nice touches!

We had 22 people onboard for the trip, mostly couples, but a single man and some single women. Bob Garner is the communications director for AARP in NC and he had given speeches at a number of homes and housing developments for retirees. That was the bulk of the population for our trip. We also had Bob's wife, Ruthie. He is partnering with Our State Magazine and the Raleigh newspaper, The News & Observer, on his trips. So, we also had a couple onboard representing Our State. We had a food columnist/blogger from the News & Observer, Andrea Weigl, and a photographer, Corey Lowenstein. Also, it turned out that Bob was filming for North Carolina Weekend, a PBS show locally. His videographer was also with us. (Sorry, I've forgotten his name!)
http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/12/12/855129/going-whole-hog-and-back.html
http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/12/10/855688/bob-garner-restaurant-road-trips.html
http://www.ourstate.com/
http://flash.unctv.org/ncweekend/12232010highlandlakein.html
(You can find a glimpse of me, but only Clay's shirt, at about the 5 minute mark. I am chowing down next to Carl Curry with my chipmunk cheeks and double chin! Very flattering!)