2024-03 Robert A. Eddings Memorial Trip

Dear family and friends,
it was a very short but important trip for me, to meet Bob´s family members and
friends after his passing.
I had to walk through that house where we spent many lovely and memorable moments, which will stay with us.
Robert

Leaving Vienna, March 13th at 7 AM

On the fluffy way

Approaching Madrid

First night-sky in Matthews NC

Morning walk through Poloview

On our way to Biltmore Estate in Ashville, NC

Rain too heavy, windscreen wipers too slow, shit

Wellcome to George Washington Vanderbilt II´s Biltmore Estate

Biltmore Shuttlebus

Biltmore Estate, the largest privately owned house in the US

Window front with glass-sculpture

The Entrance-Hall

Nice wooden Roofstructure

The Gentleman´s room. Ladies, please stay away to avoid smoke getting in your eyes

The dining-room

Triple fireplace

Organ at the dining-room

Breakfast room

View from the balcony, still as it was when G. Vanderbilt bought the land ( ca. 500 km² )

Hallway to the library ( precious tapestry from ca. 1400 )

Bone China, obviously NOT "Made in China"

The Library : if this doesn´t put you in awe, you are lost!

The Library

Scholar´s room for Shakespeare, Goethe and Cervantes only

Steinway & Sons, what else ?

Hommage at Architect R. M. Hunt and Landscape Architect F. L. Olmsted

Vanderbilt family portrait

view back

Master bedroom

Master bedroom

Office, oldfashioned

Childrens´s corner

Lady´s conversation room

Where the hell is the 100 inch TV-Screen ?

Stairway to Wealth

unshaved beauty

Janice & Vernon, walking strong

Louis Quince Suite for demanding guests

Louis Quince Suite

Desk for love-letters, but please, only in French!

At the basement Exhibition about Building Biltmore House

Vision & Collaboration

Innovation & Technology

Conflicts & Disputes

Raising the walls

Finishing touches

Private bowling-alley

Indoor-Pool, State-of-the-Art 1895

The Gym, State-of-the-Art 1895

Pantry

Accomodation for domestic staff, somewhat advanced as everything else

Main kitchen

Visitors & sculptures at the park

Biltmore parkdweller, beware, not stuffed (yet)

Janice on the way to the Biltmore-Winery

Eight bottles of Cabernet-Sauvignon, uploaded to the BHO-Campaign-Truck

March 16th, allready on the way to New Bern

On the way to New Bern

55 mph Speed-Limit, a sad joke for hasty Europeans

On Highway 95 North with lots of construction-work

Still on 95-North

Finally at Bojangles

Real hunger makes you eat almost everything...

Dig in folks !

Somewhat neglected property nearby

Approaching New Bern

Bob´s Mailbox with a note for family members

Good Old 207 Colombine Crossing

207 Colombine Crossing

Backside

Bob´s Chrysler, retired

207 Plunderd & Soulless

The once beloved porch

J & V

Pollockstreet New Bern

Hanna House B&B, simply otherworldly

Hanna House B&B, simply otherworldly

The Fox ChaseRoom for me

The German Mill Room for J&V

Janice napping

The German Mill Room

Looking down from the German Mill Room´s balcony

Biltmore Red with Manner a recommended combination

Hanna House from the stairway

Hanna House breakfast table

The Lounge, on our way back from dinner we served us a little glass of Cherry

Leaving for dinner nearby

New Bernians, probably

Pollock Street, view back to waterfront

Matthewsans, surely

Baxter Entertainment

Antiques & Junques

Thirsty Bruin

Dinner at Captain Ratty´s

On the way home

Pourhouse

Bear City Fudge & Ice Cream

once again Baxter

Lit up houses on Pollock Street

Another B&B on Pollock Street

Hanna House B&B, built 1896 restored 2000

after a glass of Cherry in the Lounge we crawled up to our rooms

took my medicine from Bob´s glass ( rescued for me by Mary Brinn )

March 17th, morning at the NB waterfront

J&V at the waterfront

Sunday walker at the waterfront

Sunday walker at the waterfront

Sunday walker

Janice contemplative

Like in the old days: no blue hair, no nose-rings, no tattoos

Finally something beautiful for the civil-engineer

not my yacht at the Persimmons-pier

Persimmons restaurant where we met for brunch

Robert A. Eddings Memorial-Brunch (Janice, Berverly, René, Bob, Vernon and me

RAE Memorial-Brunch

J&V less serious than before

Bob & René

Allready on the way home ( we passed this one )

Some gasoline intake before taking 95 South

Some Mozart-Dollars to cheer us up Beverly took all the Mozart-Balls

On 95 South

On 95 South

Finally some action approaching Matthews

Approaching Matthews

Approaching Matthews

March 18th, visiting Charlotte-Premium-Outlet

Turn in your weapons the government will take care of you

The Black Easter Bunny is still on the run, bro

Main Plaza

Waiting for the one and only Starbucks Coffee at the Plaza

White House / Black Market

On the way back to Matthews

On the way back to Matthews

Harris Teeter vegetables cheap as f...

prices not per kilogramm but sad pounds

Commited to being a responsible corporate citizen...what ???

The shoppers, non-corporate & non-compliant

Walking down to Mollies´s house

Molly, the doyenne of the Matthews-Stich-Whitches

Thank´s Micah, for reminding me on Ps.19

March 19th, Beakfast with Vernon at Miki´s

at Miki´s

3029 Poloview Lane

One of Suzies tulips

3040 Poloview Lane

On the way to 131 Main Restaurant

On the way to Main 131

Near Main 131

131 Main Restaurant

Big-talk with High Note after dinner

ready ?

I´m not quite sure if this is for Patriots or for LGBTQXYZ+ folks

On the way home

March 20th, 7:30 AM, delivering Vernon to the Golf club

taking out the equipment

Golf Club

Clubhouse

Precision lawn-shaving

Golfclub parkinglot

Car-wash with Janice

Not bad but my Triumph Tiger TR6 650/1963 looks better AND sounds better

Grandmother Liesi´s Bible...a present from Judy to me

Allready in London Heathrow

Family & Friends : THANK YOU FOR ALL AND STAY WELL !

Robert Allen Eddings 1931-2024, RIP

Bob´s Multipurpose Tombstone in Vienna