Backcountry Notes

The town of Cedar Bluff, Virginia, has an annual street fair which draws a good selection of exhibitors, vendors, and fairgoers.  The 2009 version went off well, with very sunny weather instead of the scattered showers that had been forecast.

Note: Click on any image for a larger view.

Fairgoers and loiterers in front of the Cedar Bluff Elementary School, which serves as a hub for the festival.

Friendly guys for the yard.  There are numerous craft vendors at the event.

Then there are the food vendors, some featuring the usual fair fare (blooming onions and such) and others selling the good stuff.  On the right, home canned molasses and apple butter for sale -- good stuff.

Best barbecue in the Virginia highlands.  The place for lunch, and I recommend the sweet sauce. I don't kid about such things. Their wood mix includes applewood and a touch of oak -- no hickory. 

The machine illustrated above is a belt-powered gristmill which is used to produce cornmeal on the spot.

Corn meal on the right, grits on the left.  A bag of corn meal went home with me -- it doesn't get any fresher than this.

Bikes parked in front of a music performance tent. Live music is played here and also in the town square beside the school.

Inside the tent, performers and fans.

There's a variety of ways to keep the kids entertained.  On the right, a sample of the blow-up rides and amusements available. There are lots more of these, including dinosaurs and such.

And then there's the real thing -- dromedary rides.

But if a dromedary doesn't suit, there's a burro, or a choice of llamas.

"Seriously, pal, get the camera out of the face."

Portable barbecue setup, smoking away.

On the left, two ladies making apple butter in the traditional way.  A fire is contained in the pipe below the kettle, and the apple butter is stirred until done with a wooden paddle.  The long handle is a real help on hot days. Below: pumpkins and squash for sale . . . and in the background, a youngster takes advantage of the shade.