Our weekend began a day early, when CJ from Dalworth Cleaning Services told us we wouldn’t be able to walk on our newly cleaned and waxed hardwood floors for 24 hours, so as to allow the wax the time it needed to “cure.” The campsite we had reserved for the weekend wasn’t available on Thursday, so we returned to the site we were in the previous weekend to include our unexpected extra day.

Thursday and Friday were windy, with gusts of up to 35 mph ushering in a cold front. Once the winds had subsided and temperatures had dropped, we were able to enjoy an ideal fall weekend.

We were pleased to meet another Airstream couple who were in the area from New Hampshire for the English Springer Spaniel Dog Show. They’ve just ordered a 23-foot unit, an upgrade from their current 19-foot Flying Cloud, and they’re awaiting delivery. Due to supply chain issues and high demand, it could be another six months before they get their new rig. When we ordered Cloud 9 in October 2014, the wait was half that time.

The highlight of our weekend was watching the 5,000th broadcast of the Grand Ole Opry, which we enjoyed while sitting by a crackling campfire under starlit skies. The two-hour show featured an array of performances that displayed the shifts and strides in country music that have played out over the 96 years since the Opry began on December 26, 1925. We both recalled watching the Opry with our parents and grandparents, so continuing the tradition is somewhat nostalgic for us. But today’s shows have plenty of contemporary artists performing “the song that got them there,” which often introduce us to new talent. The Opry’s 5,000-show milestone — an unparalleled achievement in broadcasting — is a testament to the Opry’s relevance as it has survived the Depression and various recessions, numerous wars and conflicts, cultural upheaval and, most recently, a pandemic. In addition to some old-timers like Bill Anderson, Connie Smith and Jeannie Seely, the show included Vince Gill, Darius Rucker, Chris Janson, and a medley of hits by Trisha Yearwood and Garth Brooks. It made for a grand night indeed.