North Carolina visit to see Deede

Thurs., Oct. 24 - Sat., Oct. 26, 2019 - Although I saw Deede on the highway in Wyoming in August, it has been a while since Wendy had a "Deede fix", so we're going down to Durham to see her (she just started the Masters program in Environmental Science):


Although we were an hour late Thursday evening, the Raleigh-Durham Airport is pretty cool:


Deede picked us up, and we had a nice dinner out and then headed back to her place. She shares a house with 4 other girls, and they were all out-of-town for the weekend - plus one of them let Wendy and me stay in her room!

A nice Friday morning breakfast out:

and then we went over to Duke for a mini-tour:

Duke Chapel is Very Impressive:



Deede had classes/meetings that day, so Wendy and I headed southeast to the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh. They have 2 buildings, only the second of which had "nice" art. I had previously been here in March 2015, and it was great seeing pieces I remembered, along with some new beauties - highlights include:

Francesco Guardi - Roman Ruins near the Lagoon, circa 1765-1775 oil:


a pair of monumental paintings by Bernardo Bellotto:


Claude Monet - Waves at the Manneporte, 1883 or 1885 oil:


Yes, it is pretty cool hanging out with Monet:


The Museum's "American" area included:

Andrew Wyeth - Winter, 1946, 1946 tempera:

the detail is exquisite:


Thomas Moran - "Fiercely the red sun descending / Burned his way along the heavens", 1875-1876 oil:


Sanford Robinson Gifford - A Sketch at Mount Desert, Maine, 1864 oil:


William Keith - Mono Pass, Sierra Nevada Mountains, California, 1877 oil:


After I finished the "American" area (blue circle), I did a quick walk through their "Modern and Contemporary" areas (red circle):

Imagine my surprise when I discovered a Wonderful Bierstadt!!!!

Albert Bierstadt - Bridal Veil Falls, Yosemite, circa 1871-1873 oil:


This area is where they also put Andrew Wyeth's "Weather Side". From 1965, I guess that is more understandable ["Modern and Contemporary"]. But that is why I try to see ALL the Areas in a Museum - you just never know what you might encounter.

Friday afternoon Wendy and I did the "Parents Come To Town" stuff - filled the gas tank, got a car wash, fixed/replaced a damaged tire - car stuff. Low-key afternoon. Picked up Deede and had a nice walk through Durham:

and a fun dinner out.

Saturday morning we had a late-breakfast, then drove east for a 5.5 mile hike along Falls Lake:


It was a lovely day for a hike-in-the-woods:





Lunch, headed back to pack up, and Deede drove us to the airport. Super time in the Admirals Club, perfect flight home, and the end to a great 3-day adventure - Thank You God!!