It's fall break at Winthrop and time once again for the Wooly Worm Festival in Banner Elk (Avery County), N.C.--just a few miles out of Boone and near the Tennessee state line.
Spent a few hours at the festival couple days ago, and it was plenty COLD.
Should I return to the scene of this crime--where thousands of folks come from all over to watch wooly caterpillars race for cash prizes--I'll wear thick socks and insulated boots.
Still, Saturday was great fun and a chance to soak up mountain culture--music, crafts, games and food with family and good friends.
Just so you know, wooly worms are reputed to be good predictors of how harsh or cold the upcoming winter will be. (Something about the depth or richness or darkness of their colors correlates with snow and freezing temperatures.)
Sideline note: You never know whom you might encounter at the Wooly Worm Festival. Saturday, right there in the thick of one round of wooly worm races, and helping referee the races, was Tommy Burleson.
Old-timers might remember that Tommy, from Newland, N.C., starred on the N.C. State University Wolfpack basketball team that won the national championship a few decades ago.
You couldn't miss Burleson--even among the throngs of people at the Wooly Worm Festival. He's 7 ft. 4 inches tall (or thereabouts.)
Did Burleson star on the same teams at N.C. State with David Thompson? Maybe someone out there in the blogosphere can enlighten us about that by posting a comment.
2 comments:
Dr. Timbs,
My wife and I were there at the Wooly Worm Festival with our kids that next day, Sunday. It was cold and messy but my son liked seeing a little snow. His worm,"Fuzzy Wuzzy" wasn't a good racer. I told my wife I never thought I'd be blowing up a worm's butt with a straw trying to make it climb a string while people watched.
Steven Bowers
P.S. Also, I heard that Burleson had been there and yes he did play with Thompson. He was a senior and Thompson a junior in 74.
Good you and your family got to go to that festival, Stephen.
Maybe see you there next year!
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