My wife and I live in the Charlotte Region and often travel up to the Yadkin Valley - where she tastes wine and I mostly drive and take pictures. Do any of you do likewise? I'd be interested in comparing notes and maybe even working out a meetup if folks were interested. Timing may have to be a while off with Christmas just around the corner but I thought I'd ask.

Here's my most recent trip:
Yadkin Valley October 2017 | Flickr

I'd be interested in meeting up sometime next year.

Hello,
We're up above Surry County in Alleghany County about 25 miles up from Elkin. Lots of great hiking, old buildings and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Leaves are down and most of tourists have gone. New River State Park Trail is just a half hour away. Short and long hikes available as are extensive views on the Parkway around Doughton Park.

Hello to the Biggs folks when you're in town............

That sounds nice - I think a trip up your way would be fun. Perhaps in January... just no time this month it seems.

I'd be up for something...just not sure when. I'm giving a paper in Alabama in early February and another in Rochester NY in mid April, so I'm doing a lot of researching and writing these days.

What's the topic or area of interest?

February's talk is about the 5x7 photographic negatives made by NC photographer Bayard Wootten in April 1934 in the vicinity of Norris Dam in Tennessee and Shelby County, Alabama for the Tennessee Valley Authority. The April talk in Rochester will be during the PhotoHistory/PhotoFuture conference and is titled, "The Photographic Archivist is Dead! Long Live the Photographic Archivist." That talk will be about photographic archivists and photographic archives as the medium has transitioned from traditional photographic formats to born-digital photography.

That's awesome - where will these talks be given? @EssJayEff

February 9th at Auburn University at Montgomery, Alabama; April will be at DoubleTree hotel near RIT in Rochester, NY. I'm pretty excited about both talks!

Sounds like great location!

We are actually going out early tomorrow to scout Bullhead Mountain for a connecting segment in a long term project to connect Sparta with Stone Mountain State Park via parts of the Mountains to Sea Trail and Blue Ridge Parkway. Film at eleven. Mid 20 degrees should be fun.

My cousin's daughter is a woman's softball player for Auburn. Cousin played football for them. Long history in that state with that branch of the family tree...

Anything ever come of this? I'm headed to Grandfather Mountain on June 14 and 15, and could be up for something that Friday or Saturday (15th or 16th.) On the way home I'd be driving past Yadkinville.

Nothing yet. What's got you going to Grandfather? I used to go there a lot.

I'm giving a talk/presentation on Hugh Morton's photography for a private event.