More bluegrass and BBQ and cool weather

Thursday, July 17 we had a short 100 mile drive from Bristol to Fries, VA.  You mean you've never heard of Fries (pronounced FREEZE).  Well, it is a very small village with no stop lights on the New River in the southwest corner of Virginia.  After making the treacherous last 5 miles of the trip to the Fries New River RV Park, we arrived at a little corner of paradise.  We unhook the tow car in the nearby city of Galax.  Linda drives the car with the 2 way radio piloting Tim driving the bus until we arrive at the RV park.  We have to use 2 way radios, because cell phone service is worse than spotty.

Muffin was not stressed by the trip from Bristol to Fries

We pulled into our campsite #14, which was a double site.  All the sites at this small RV park are along a stream with gorgeous landscaping and a nice patio area.

Big Red at campsite #14 Fries New River RV Park

That night we headed to the Fries city hall, where bluegrass and old time music pickers gather.

Pickers at Fries city hall

Flat footin' at Fries city hall

We enjoyed the music and dancing.  Near the end they have a "cake walk".  Numbers are placed on the floor around the pickers.  You start dancing/moving from number to number until the music stops.  A number is called out and turn the paper over with the number to see if you won.  Tim was the lucky winner the 3rd time around the cake walk.  He shares his winning cake with all who attended.

Starting the next day in nearby Galax was a regional BBQ competition.  Pro teams from 6 states arrived to compete for prizes.  I believe there were over 50 teams entered.  They filled the streets of Galax.  There cookers and smokers were in many different configurations.

Got to have fire with BBQ

Tim next to a BBQ smoker

 We enjoyed talking to the different teams and seeing their unique motifs. They had team colors and shirts.  Many different styles of cookers and smokers were seen.  Some were very unique.

BBQ outfit on deck of customized trailer

Smoker next to a portolet

Of course, BUBBA was there

BBQs for sale boxy or barrel shape

Pretty fancy BBQ rig

Huge barrel BBQ with dual smoke stacks on dual axle trailer

Piglet in shorts (stuffed)

No BBQ is complete without recognizing the pig.  Many tributes to the pig were seen.

Shiny and colorful BBQs

You could see your reflection in this BBQ

The competitors were vying for a trophy like this, a cash award, and possibly FOOD TV  exposure.

Fiddle trophy for BBQ champ based upon Galax's fiddler history

Unique BBQ built into a "woody" car

The Shed team with their unique "woody" car BBQ

Who's the dude in the white suit?

Wild looking BBQ with great graphics

This electric smoker was preferred by the top rib competitors

Gigantic BBQ

Besides BBQ, bluegrass bands played on the streets of Galax.  The band below was very good.

Bluegrass band on street of Galax, VA

Despite drizzle attendance was good for the activities.

Crowd in Galax for BBQ competition and other activities

There was also a "People's Choice" award for the best BBQ besides awards by the pro judges.  For a small donation you could get a sampler of contestants BBQ with a blind number system and vote.  This system probably works better than our political elections!

"People's Choice" sampler by number

More pictures from the BBQ are shown below.

Great looking ribs on the grill

Ribs ready to serve

Great color on these ribs

The above 5 pictures only represent a few of the teams.  Got to love the names.

Above picture shows the whole hog smoked by The Shed team with the "woody" car

Whole hog coming out of the woody car

The Victory Lane team thinks they're going to be winners

Removing the meat from the BBQ/smokers is done with utmost care.  Presentation for the judges is well thought out.  Each team only has about 10 minutes with the judges to make their verbal presentation and sampling of their entry.  This is SERIOUS business.

Carefully removing ribs from the smoker.  Don't drop it!

Presentation for the judges

We also had time while we were in the Galax to attend the bluegrass performance at the famous Rex Theater.  The local radio station broadcasts the performance every Friday night.

Stage of the Rex Theater getting ready for the live radio broadcast of bluegrass band

Our last day in the Fries/Galax area was spent on the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Blue Ridge Music Center located on the parkway.  Views from the parkway are beautiful.

Unusual building inside Stone Mt. State Park

Since the parkway runs through parts of North Carolina near the Galax area, we explored briefly this park.  We found this unusual building inside the park and couldn't figure out how it was used.

Our time in the Fries/Galax, VA area ended on July 20th.  The next day we headed for West Virginia.