Saturday July 28 through Tuesday July 31, 2012

The last camping trip during this summer break. Melissa, Austin, and Cole were the first visitors of the day. Melissa came to drop off Austin and Cole who would be going camping with us for the next four days. She loaded clothes, bikes, and helmets into the already packed camper that would take one more trip up through the Smoky Mountains.

Nancy, Tod, and Jillian were the next visitors to arrive. Jillian would be staying with us as well. She had one duffle bag containing all of her belongings, along with her helmet and bike. Getting around on a bicycle would be our primary means of transportation over the next few days.

After we arrived, we were set up within an hour. The more often we go camping, the more familiar we are with all of the buttons, hoses, and gadgets that need to be hooked up. Soon after setting up, we were off to make our routine 3.5 mile bike ride around the lake. Austin said, “Dad told me to look at that tree to see if our names were still carved in the side.” Knowing that there was only one funny looking tree along the path that we always stopped at, I told him, “We will try to find them.”

Half way around the lake, we came to the place where there was a multitude of names, initials, hearts, and plus signs that decorated the L-shaped tree. We looked for several minutes, and after searching through numerous carvings, we decided the bark must have grown over their names.

We had a lot of fun swimming in the Citico and Tellico Creek. The water was cool but not as cold as it in the early spring. Cole met a friend named Will. He visited everyday while we camped. He even had S’mores with us one night. He arrived to the campground with his grandfather who had no other means of transportation at his house other than an old tricycle. Needless to say…Will begged to ride Coles’ bike every day, and Cole hesitantly gave in. Cole was forced to ride Will’s tricycle through the camp ground, riding at a much slower rate than he was used to.

Grace and Jillian suffered from a severe case of peer pressure. They jumped from a relatively small cliff of about 15 ft. into the icy cold creek after watching some kids younger than themselves complete the same feat. They seemed excited at their accomplishment and jumped several more times until the hike back up the rocky cliff was far more exhausting than the thrill they received from jumping off the rocks.

It was a great trip.

We returned home with various bug bites and memories that will be cherished for a long time to come. We also returned home to find a copper head snake in the dog lot after not seeing a single snake in the woods in four days. Weird! Anyway, David shot it with a 22 Rifle and the kids were amazed to see its movement after it was obviously dead.

Melissa and Nancy along with Jenifer picked up Austin, Cole, and Jillian; Jo and Harlee came over to catch up on the weekend’s details; Suzanne and Madi picked up Grace, who will be spending the night with Madi; Steve Webb came by to put water in his truck as it was running hot; and Arnold came by to ask about our trip.

16 visitors over the last four days…and this may be an approximation, 473 in all