Hiking Adventure #3

So Rice Krispy and I decided that with it being mine and Shamrock’s 5^th wedding anniversary, why not spend the weekend atop Gregory’s bald among the flaming Azaleas? Sleeping under the stars....romantic right? Well things didn't go exactly as we had planned. Because of the KSO 75th anniversary concert for the park in Cades Cove; access to the bald was impossible. Why didn't the rangers tell us this when we called the evening before? Or else when we got to the station to get the backcountry permit??? At any rate.....we found an alternate trail. We hiked up Anthony Creek trail and stayed at campsite #9. It was a short 4 mile hike but boyyy was it a hot one.

"All packed and ready to go!"

"Ox, Shamrock, and RiceKrispy having a sit down"

Things heard this trip:

I hurt, I stink, I'm ready to go home! - RK

I saw a bear! :arms flailing: - RK

No more clif bars!!! - IW

"Stubborn Inchworm!" - RK

"Men make big fire!"

"Oh dear"

Lessons Learned:

• Campsite #9 is gnat central
• You might not hurt the day after....but you WILL hurt the day after that!
• Beware the no-see-ums...'cause you won't see 'em...until it's too late.
• Find a better bug spray
• Bears and Bryan's snoring...sound the same at times.
• Unzipping the sleeping bags and useing them like blankets....NOT a good idea...even if you do have a warm body to snuggle against.
• Women get very desperate when "they gotta GO"

"This felt soooo good after the hike!"

"Beautiful tree tops over the campsite"

"The tree swallowed a boulder"

"I'm pretty sure this guy passed me."

Regardless of the heat...the sleepless night...and the bug bites...I had a great time :-). I'm glad the hubby was there to share it with me.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

5 Years

Happy anniversary love. I love you as much now, if not more, than I did so many years ago. I can't wait to enjoy the next 100 years with you. You are the greatest!

My love, I love, I love you my lover

My heart will never belong to another

Your love, you love, you love me the same

So much it leaves my soul set aflame

Never, oh never, I'll never leave you ever

I'll be with you long past forever

Show me, please show me, show me the way

To keep our love growing day after day

The trail that leads to the road that leads...to nowhere.

From this day forward I shall be known on the trail as "Inchworm".

(The view from Andrew's Bald)

Two trails diverged in the Smokies and I....I took the one less traveled by...and the thorns made many scrapes and scratches. (Forney Creek/Forney Ridge....we took Forney Ridge)

(Andrew's bald - great picnic spot)

Famous last words: “Ooooh what about THIS trail?”

Lessons Learned:

• Don’t forget to break in the new shoes...and then remember...and then forget again.
  
• Motrin is a staple
  
• I need bigger bandaids
  
• 40 degree bag + hammock + Late May = Sweating on the top...freezing on the bottom. YES you can be hot and cold at the same time!
  
• Learn to look up and down at the same time...darn tree branches and rocky trails. (Right RiceKrispy?)
  
• Flaming Azaleas are beautiful…so are the “tunnels” of Mountain Laurel.
  
• Must buy ankle braces.
  
• I love horses...I hate horses.
  
• If someone walks in front of you, you don’t have to worry about spiderwebs J.
  
• When you see your trail buddy flailing her arm…it’s a spiderweb.
  
• I need a hat with netting….gnats are not tasty critters.
  
• When you are tired and sleep deprived….dung beetles are extremely amusing.
  
• Sleep near creek….pee all night.
  
• Ricekrispy has a hard time keeping leaves out of her shorts.
  
• Telling a snake to move faster along the trail…doesn’t work….they don’t listen.
  
• I cant avoid the “Hiker shuffle” no mater what I do. ::Sings-Everybody's doin' a brand new dance now..come on baby...do the hiker's shuffle::
  

(Home sweet home...Zzzzz)

(The Chimney without a house - Campsite #71)

Heard on the trail:

"Just keep swimming...just keep swimming..."

"It's not that much farther"

"Just one more mile"

"It can't be that much farther right?"

"Think positive!"

"I see the junction sign!!!"

"Are you OK?"

"Du yu needs a vide?"

(Translation: Do you need a ride. Said by a very sweet lady at the Lakeshore trailhead)

:sitting at the junction of Whiteoak branch and Lakeshore trail. I have one boot off doctoring a monster blister. My ankles are aching. RiceKrispy has her shoes off and socks hanging on the junction sign. Her knees are throbbing.:

(The sounds of happy hikers in the background)

RK: I hear hikers. They sound happy.

Me: Hit them with the poles as they go by!

RK: Wow, what’s gotten in to you? You have a mean streak :laugh:

Me: (looks down the trail) Oh nevermind, they are on horseback.

RK: HIT EM WITH THE POLES!!!

Trail rules (Rules added this trip)

• Finders keepers!
  
• If you pack it in…pack it out (Tuna cans in the firepit…seriously?!). This also goes for other people offering to carry stuff out for you. Evidently if you look injured and pitiful….random guys will offer to carry stuff out for you. Just suck it up and keep going.
  
• Always have a backup plan

"Go towards the light!"

The Road To Nowhere

Lakeview Drive was intended to run along the north shore of Fontana Lake, from Bryson City to Fontana. It's purpous was to provide access to the old family cemeteries. Due to an environmental issue the construction was stopped. The issue was later resolved but the roadwork never resumed. The roadwork ends about 6 miles into the park at a tunnel. Swain County residents gave the road it's unofficial name, The Road To Nowhere.

I'm not a trekkie

Stardate 5.10.2009

Celtica's Blog 

Ok...so I was never really into the whole Star Trek thing. Sure I watched the show. I remember most of the characters...along with the popular phrases. "The Trouble with Tribbles" of course was my favorite episode.

This movie blew me away. It was one of the best action movies I've seen in a while. I thought it was really well done. Chris Pine (James T. Kirk) and Zachary Quinto (Spock) fit the rolls perfectly. There was plenty of humor as well...not to mention some mushy lovey parts :-p. I thank the hubby for dragging me to see it.

Myrtle Beach 2009

The sand has been cleaned from out the suitcase….the tan has already faded. Memories of pina coladas and crab burgers seem like they are from ages ago. Vacation is over. The peaceful shroud of utter relaxation….has been lifted. I am back in the box!

Thanks for a wonderful time love! I enjoyed every second :-)

Nashville Renaissance Faire 2009

Waverly Hills - Ghost Investigation #1

Waverly Hills, the building it is today, opened in 1926 in Louisville KY. It was a hospital for those suffering from Tuberculosis. 10,000 people died during Waverly's first 3 years. Dangerous treatments performed included Pneumothorax (collapsing or deflating a portion of the lung) and Thoracoplasty (removing 2-3 ribs so lungs could expand). By the 1950's TB was nearly eradicated thanks to the antibiotic, streptomycin. The hospital closed in 1961. It reopened a year later as Woodhaven Geriatrics Sanitarium. The state closed it in 1982 due to patient mistreatment and unusual experiments.

Room 502 is popular due to the fact that a nurse was said to have hung herself. Also, there's a story of another nurse who jumped from the window.

The body chute, otherwise known as the "Death Tunnel" was used to take bodies out of the hospital discretely. This was so that the patients would not get discouraged by seeing all the patients that had passed away. The numbers were very high. Any bodies that were not claimed were dumped into a mass grave not far from the hospital. The staff at Waverly would not disclose the location to our team of investigators.

While walking through the dilapidated halls of Waverly I noticed lots of graffiti and absolute destruction. Evidently, one of the owners of the building wanted to tear it down and re-build. However, Waverly is a protected site due to the history of the place. The owner encouraged vandalism etc in hopes that the state would change their mind. He even went as far as to dig deep holes in attempts to crack the foundation. All his attempts failed.

The current owners plan to re-do the old hospital and turn it into a haunted hotel. I'm curious to know what the "patients" will think about that. While I didn't see any ghosts, I did hear a few things that I can't explain. There's definitely an odd vibe to the place. Of course, how can there not be? The place was full of pain, sickness, and death. It was a hospital after all. Something like that has to leave a mark on a place.

Thank you Dudley for inviting me to go on an investigation with CGH. I'm sure we made TAPS proud ;-).

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

Trails

The everyday pollution

all just falls away

with every step I take.

The boot beaten trail

is a spiritual path

that leads to wholeness.

With a fresh breath

and a face full of sunshine

I am truly free.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

Trail Adventure #1

Things I learned on my recent overnight hike ( For any of you that may decide to go on one):

Lessons learned:

-I need a lighter pack...50+ lbs...a bit much....even if it was just 14 1/2 miles...30 pounds should do.
-I need a lightweight sub-zero sleeping bag..I don't care if it's July...just get one
-Hammocks are meat lockers...take a lightweight tent.
-Horse trails are covered in poo...lots of poo....enormous amounts of poo.
-I can't get a fire going when i'm exhausted, freezing, and everything is wet...keep that in mind.
-A briar patch...while it may be secluded...is not a good place to pee
- Even if a filter bottle doesn't specify....even if you've had them in the past and not had to run water through them....DO IT ANYWAY...or else you'll be drinking black water...yum charcoal.
- I won't cross a creek twice to recover the best hiking stick in the world...goodbye "Lightning Bolt"
-Never get too tired to take your boots and socks off to cross water....or else have something handy and waterproof to cover them with.
- Don't run out of socks
- Don't go without sunblock...even if you are deep in the woods.
- Logs do not make good pillows
- Do not sweat....stop to dry off as much as possible
- No matter how tired you are..hang your pack up in a tree so that you don't freak out when you hear something rummaging through it while all zipped and drawn up in a mummy bag...whilst huddling around a nice smoke pit...whilst curled up against a log!!!!!!!!!!
- If the park ranger says it's gonna be 34...count on it being 24.
- Fingerless gloves...not a good idea....unless you don't care about missing fingertips.
- Granola bars freeze...however....do not try to keep your food warm by keeping it in your sleeping bag...if you don't understand why...don't go in to the woods at all.
- Boots and socks will freeze as well....don't leave them laying around the fireless fire pit.
- Keep your water bottle tucked in your sleeping bag no matter how cold the water makes you feel.
- Sometimes windburn, sunburn, and frostbite...are hard to distinguish
- Hiking socks are worth the $$$
- If you know you shouldnt wear cotton...then DONT!
- It's not a bad idea to carry some sort of fire starting kit with excellerant.
- Take a head lamp...you might look like a dork...but it's better than holding a flashlight in your mouth while trying to set up camp or find a good spot to pee.
- Always watch your feet...your ankles are very important...don't roll them 50 times like I did.

- Fork over the money for the good gear...you don't have to buy the best...but don't try to make due....it doesn't work.

- Also don't try to set up camp once you are already exhausted, frozen, and dehydrated....or else your poor hiking mate will end up worrying that you are going to just curl up and die....thanks RiceKrispy lol.

- The most important lesson of all: When you THINK you are going to freeze to death....and you don't...and you see the sun coming up the next day...it puts a whole new perspective on EVERYTHING. I need to thank God more often.

Yes I already knew most of this stuff...exhaustion, dehydration, and cold temps cause stupidity! 

The white stuff

It finally happened. TN got enough snow to frost the landscape. I know I know....everyone in IN, KY, and AR are telling me to GTH right now. I know they are in a state of emergency. I'm just happy to finally have some winter weather. These 60+ degree days just aren't right. I want seasons! It didn't even phase the weiners. They just carried on with their business like it wasn't even there. :shrug: