Last week, for the sixth year, it happened again. We drove to the mountains. We camped in a tent. We had a great time. I don't want to forget details, as I am apt to do, so here's the blog post.
Monday
Sunday night, we loaded up the truck. Around noon on Monday, we met Aunt Mo to loan her our eight baby chickens for the week. (Thanks a bunch, y'all!) Then, we stopped by Cherokee, NC to eat supper before we hit no-restaurant land. As soon as we entered the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, we passed the to-be visitor's center and spotted a deer elk grazing in the grass beside the construction site. Of course, we had to jump out and be tourists.
We finally arrived at Cades Cove around 7:30 PM, just in time to set up the Taj-Ma-Tent before dark. Grandad R was delayed by a blown out tire, but Aunt R soon followed us. Right after she arrived, we quickly piled up in the truck for the evening ranger walk. We were hoping to see the firefly display, but as it turned out, we were three weeks too late for that. But, New Daddy did get this nifty twilight photo at 1/60 sec, of the mountains around the cove with a waxing gibbous moon.
The kids asked to go back to our campsite before the walk ended. We turned around. As we passed the horse pasture, we heard a horse coming our way. He stopped at the fence and begged for us to pet him. This was a big no-no, but New Daddy lifted each of the five children up to pet the horse's nose. When another horse came up to get some attention, too, this frisky young fellow chased him away. Petting horses in the dark- an unforgettable experience for a child.
Tuesday
New Daddy was up at 6:30 AM to fish the Horseshoe at Abrams Creek. He had missed out on this last year because of a bear in the area. He caught and released about nine trout, but the trek was excruciating. The rest of us stayed around camp and let the kids play in the creek near the campsite. Towards the evening, Bro. Trevor and his family arrived, and then Aunt Ma arrived just at dusk. Party complete.
Wednesday
This was our Action Day. We were up at 7:00 AM, ready to bike "The Loop." We hit the road around 8:15 with Precious and Bubby in the bike trailer. Grandad R, Aunt Ma, Bro. Trevor, and his oldest son also biked the loop. Afterward, we had our ice cream. One more important point- we made it out before the cars caught up with us.
After lunch, we drove to Pigeon Forge and played mini-golf, go-karts and bumper boats in the humid June sun. Getting sprayed in the bumper boats was my favorite event.
Then, we met everyone at our favorite Townsend bar-b-que joint for supper. From there, the tired folks went back to the campsite. And the pretending-not-to-be-tired folks went on to Maryville to enjoy a Kaufman Kamp Koncert. We got back to our campsite at midnight.
I should also add that Wednesday night, not only was a bear heard scrambling around Grandma and Grandad R's camper, it was also heard growling. At what? Grandad R's snoring through the open window. At least the sound was somewhat intimidating for the bear.
Thursday
Our vegetate and contemplate day. The kids went swimming and looking for salamanders while New Daddy and I went on a shortened Loop ride with Grandma R and Cousin I. We cut across on Sparks Lane; I have to say-- that was my favorite trip around the loop, ever. The shortcut greatly reduced the misery of it all, and we truly enjoyed the trip.
Later that afternoon, Bro. Trevor and New Daddy piled the minivan full of kids and headed out for a swimming hole. On the narrow path between the pull-off and the water, Cousin S slipped and almost fell on the rocks. But his hand caught a root, and his foot hit a tree, and New Daddy was able to pull him up. After that, they had a great time in the water.
That night, we had our cookout- brats, hot dogs, hamburgers, muenster, chili, s'mores-- oh, yes. Then, we played violin and guitar until the neighbors started cycling their generators on and off. Just kidding. It was a very pleasant evening, and everyone seemed to enjoy the music.
Friday
We packed up, chatted, and parted ways. And completely forgot to take a picture of everyone on the trip-- a tradition that we accidently broke. We not-so-accidently broke the tradition of eating bar-b-que yet again before heading home. No one was hungry, and we all needed to get on the road.
We stopped in Cherokee again, only longer this time. We ate bar-b-que during a downpour. Then, the kids got to play in the new water park areas, and New Daddy and I both enjoyed our coffee drinks from the Tribal Grounds shop. It was also in Cherokee that we regained cell phone service and learned the sad news about a brother in our church.
We drove some more and stopped in Tallulah Falls, GA. The store at the overlook was just about to close when we drove up, but the lady let New Daddy run in and buy bottles of cider for us. Something about the light put me in a photo-taking mood, and I got some pretty nice shots of everybody.
Closer to home, we met Aunt Mo again, played with our other cousins, got our chickens, and arrived home shortly after 10 PM.
It's been a wonderful trip.
Monday
Sunday night, we loaded up the truck. Around noon on Monday, we met Aunt Mo to loan her our eight baby chickens for the week. (Thanks a bunch, y'all!) Then, we stopped by Cherokee, NC to eat supper before we hit no-restaurant land. As soon as we entered the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, we passed the to-be visitor's center and spotted a deer elk grazing in the grass beside the construction site. Of course, we had to jump out and be tourists.
We finally arrived at Cades Cove around 7:30 PM, just in time to set up the Taj-Ma-Tent before dark. Grandad R was delayed by a blown out tire, but Aunt R soon followed us. Right after she arrived, we quickly piled up in the truck for the evening ranger walk. We were hoping to see the firefly display, but as it turned out, we were three weeks too late for that. But, New Daddy did get this nifty twilight photo at 1/60 sec, of the mountains around the cove with a waxing gibbous moon.
The kids asked to go back to our campsite before the walk ended. We turned around. As we passed the horse pasture, we heard a horse coming our way. He stopped at the fence and begged for us to pet him. This was a big no-no, but New Daddy lifted each of the five children up to pet the horse's nose. When another horse came up to get some attention, too, this frisky young fellow chased him away. Petting horses in the dark- an unforgettable experience for a child.
Tuesday
New Daddy was up at 6:30 AM to fish the Horseshoe at Abrams Creek. He had missed out on this last year because of a bear in the area. He caught and released about nine trout, but the trek was excruciating. The rest of us stayed around camp and let the kids play in the creek near the campsite. Towards the evening, Bro. Trevor and his family arrived, and then Aunt Ma arrived just at dusk. Party complete.
Wednesday
This was our Action Day. We were up at 7:00 AM, ready to bike "The Loop." We hit the road around 8:15 with Precious and Bubby in the bike trailer. Grandad R, Aunt Ma, Bro. Trevor, and his oldest son also biked the loop. Afterward, we had our ice cream. One more important point- we made it out before the cars caught up with us.
(thanks to our friend Julie K for the photo editing)
After lunch, we drove to Pigeon Forge and played mini-golf, go-karts and bumper boats in the humid June sun. Getting sprayed in the bumper boats was my favorite event.
Then, we met everyone at our favorite Townsend bar-b-que joint for supper. From there, the tired folks went back to the campsite. And the pretending-not-to-be-tired folks went on to Maryville to enjoy a Kaufman Kamp Koncert. We got back to our campsite at midnight.
I should also add that Wednesday night, not only was a bear heard scrambling around Grandma and Grandad R's camper, it was also heard growling. At what? Grandad R's snoring through the open window. At least the sound was somewhat intimidating for the bear.
Thursday
Our vegetate and contemplate day. The kids went swimming and looking for salamanders while New Daddy and I went on a shortened Loop ride with Grandma R and Cousin I. We cut across on Sparks Lane; I have to say-- that was my favorite trip around the loop, ever. The shortcut greatly reduced the misery of it all, and we truly enjoyed the trip.
Later that afternoon, Bro. Trevor and New Daddy piled the minivan full of kids and headed out for a swimming hole. On the narrow path between the pull-off and the water, Cousin S slipped and almost fell on the rocks. But his hand caught a root, and his foot hit a tree, and New Daddy was able to pull him up. After that, they had a great time in the water.
That night, we had our cookout- brats, hot dogs, hamburgers, muenster, chili, s'mores-- oh, yes. Then, we played violin and guitar until the neighbors started cycling their generators on and off. Just kidding. It was a very pleasant evening, and everyone seemed to enjoy the music.
Friday
We packed up, chatted, and parted ways. And completely forgot to take a picture of everyone on the trip-- a tradition that we accidently broke. We not-so-accidently broke the tradition of eating bar-b-que yet again before heading home. No one was hungry, and we all needed to get on the road.
We stopped in Cherokee again, only longer this time. We ate bar-b-que during a downpour. Then, the kids got to play in the new water park areas, and New Daddy and I both enjoyed our coffee drinks from the Tribal Grounds shop. It was also in Cherokee that we regained cell phone service and learned the sad news about a brother in our church.
We drove some more and stopped in Tallulah Falls, GA. The store at the overlook was just about to close when we drove up, but the lady let New Daddy run in and buy bottles of cider for us. Something about the light put me in a photo-taking mood, and I got some pretty nice shots of everybody.
Closer to home, we met Aunt Mo again, played with our other cousins, got our chickens, and arrived home shortly after 10 PM.
It's been a wonderful trip.
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