We left Sewanee to head towards our camping ground taking the back roads, about a 4 hour drive. We stopped at the Sewanee Natural Bridge, 
made by a natural sink hole. 
We walked across that with the boys and down to the cave 
where Travis passed a tree and stirred up a hornet nest and Samson promptly stopped to tee-tee on them ignoring my pleas to “come.” Thank God no one was stung and we scurried out safely!!! After that we passed through GA on the way to TN and we saw an American Goldfinch on the electric line…he was too fast for a picture, but I have a vivid image in my memory. We also passed the largest smoke stack that either one of us had seen. 
Travis’ creative side came out and he wanted to stop for a quick picture…so I played along! 
Another stop was something Travis has always talked about, 
Lookout Mountain where you can watch people hang gliding. 
made by a natural sink hole. We walked across that with the boys and down to the cave where Travis passed a tree and stirred up a hornet nest and Samson promptly stopped to tee-tee on them ignoring my pleas to “come.” Thank God no one was stung and we scurried out safely!!! After that we passed through GA on the way to TN and we saw an American Goldfinch on the electric line…he was too fast for a picture, but I have a vivid image in my memory. We also passed the largest smoke stack that either one of us had seen. Travis’ creative side came out and he wanted to stop for a quick picture…so I played along! Another stop was something Travis has always talked about, Lookout Mountain where you can watch people hang gliding. The "novice" run - a paved jump
I finally talked him into not watching and dreaming but actually doing it! 
He chose a double high tandem flight at 4000’ with 20 min of flying time with an aero-tow to get him lifted off the ground. 
Getting harnessed up
The tandem gliders getting towed in
uh - what did you talk me into???
He looked just like a human kite! 
the aero-tow with an ultra light plane
lift off
the release...he's on his own
He had a fabulous time and I can’t wait to get the better pictures developed and see him close up. 
Next time we pass through hopefully all of us can go. Now we were all set to go camping in south Cherokee National Forrest at a primitive campsite, Tumbling Creek Campground – about 12 miles of unpaved, winding mountain road to get there. 
Unfortunately, we arrived after dark to set up camp and we ran into a “little” glitch. Travis brought Christina’s single sleeper tent instead of our family sized one. 
Needless to say Travis barely fit in no less our blow up mattress. Thankfully we had a double sleeping bag for a little comfort. We got that laid out, both of us and both dogs squeezed in for the night. That was the longest night of sleeplessness I’ve ever had, thanks in part to a very persistent bullfrog close by! I think we both managed a few hours of restless sleep, but we now have a new appreciation of how sardines feel. Around 6am the “alarm” went off – a forest bird of some sort declared very loudly that it was time to get up. We ate a quick breakfast, went for a hike with the dogs, read and relaxed a bit, then decided to pull up camp and try again next time with the proper equipment.
Next time we pass through hopefully all of us can go. Now we were all set to go camping in south Cherokee National Forrest at a primitive campsite, Tumbling Creek Campground – about 12 miles of unpaved, winding mountain road to get there. Unfortunately, we arrived after dark to set up camp and we ran into a “little” glitch. Travis brought Christina’s single sleeper tent instead of our family sized one. Needless to say Travis barely fit in no less our blow up mattress. Thankfully we had a double sleeping bag for a little comfort. We got that laid out, both of us and both dogs squeezed in for the night. That was the longest night of sleeplessness I’ve ever had, thanks in part to a very persistent bullfrog close by! I think we both managed a few hours of restless sleep, but we now have a new appreciation of how sardines feel. Around 6am the “alarm” went off – a forest bird of some sort declared very loudly that it was time to get up. We ate a quick breakfast, went for a hike with the dogs, read and relaxed a bit, then decided to pull up camp and try again next time with the proper equipment.
1 comments:
What beautiful hiking trails! Glad the hornets didn't get Samson on his "teetee-er"!
Travis, what a blast to go hang gliding in such a beautiful area! Steve would be envious! (Me, I do that "feet on the ground" thing, remember?)
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