Thursday, June 17, 2021

July 2020: In Spite of COVID

Traditional photo with son Walt and his family before they head for home

Hubby and I gathered with a coastal Mississippi group of campers in July 2020 for a wonderful time of family, friends, food and fun in the Smoky Mountains.

Our oldest son and family joined us for three days of the 11 days we were camping in the national park's campgrounds.


Selfies may be our new tradition.

After breakfast at the Log Cabin Pancake House in Gatlinburg, we went to the sign at the  entrance of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park to document our Smokies experience.

Then son and family left for home. Hubby and I returned to a campsite we had reserved for several more days. 

But age had caught up with us. Hubby announced he was tired and about ready to head home. 

I concurred. We left a note for Hubby's sister and brother so they wouldn't think we were abducted by aliens.

We pulled out and hit the road accompanied by great memories and an equally great pleasure anticipating the comforts of home.

UPDATE: We are planning another Smoky Mountains camping trip. I think Hubby and I are now the elders of the Mississippi Gulf Coast camping group. 

Here's hoping my energy doesn't fail me!

But just in case, I'm loading my iPad mini with reading material in addition to the digital versions of my various Bible translations.

Give me something to read and I'm a happy camper, regardless of circumstances. Well, except that night several years ago when a severe storm tore through the campground.

There was a sizable crowd gathered in the campground's outdoor theater for a ranger program. Since keeping my balance in low-light conditions is a challenge, Hubby had driven our van and parked across from the ranger station. 

We hiked across the bridge over Little River, made it up the paved path to the amphitheater and chose a spot down close to better see and hear.

The ranger arrived and started the program. Suddenly we heard a roar in the tops of the trees. A cyclonic wind hit. We joined the crowd scurrying out of the amphitheater.

We made it to our van. Hubby drove it close to the ranger station and parked. He had chosen the space farthest from trees for waiting out the weather front. 

I don't recall any injuries or major damage in the campground, but our van was thoroughly rocked.

 


-30-




18 comments:

  1. I've got to hand it to you! I would never be able to camp, with all my aches and bad back. You sure are brave, and up for anything! And that makes everything more fun. You are quite an inspiration.

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    1. Don't imagine that I'm sleeping in a tent on an uncomfortable surface. In the summer we pull a pop-up camper. In cooler weather we have a van that Hubby retrofitted with comfortable bunks and mattresses. Not luxury but comfortable!

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  2. I agree with Ginny about you being an inspiration. i am not a camper, now if it is in a cabin or an RV maybe as long as it is not a long drive. just riding for an hour cripples bob and me. glad you got to see your family and what a big beautiful family you have.

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    1. I sympathize with your long-distance riding challenges. Hubby has to stop at least every hour so we can both get out and walk around. Definitely extends our drive time. Like the Eagles song, it takes us twice as long to go half as far!

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  3. Way to go! It is great that you can get out and join others in God's great outdoors.

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    1. Definitely a blessing! Thanks for visiting.

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  4. Beautiful place for a family get-together!

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    1. Even though we don't hike mountain trails any more, camping in beautiful surroundings is invigorating!

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  5. Still probably the safest way to gather. Outdoors and sunshine. Of course that storm wasn't necessary. Hope you have a less weather eventful gathering.

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    1. Thanks! We come home tired out but also refreshed physically and emotionally.

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  6. wow, my goodness that was quite an adventure. Glad you were all okay.
    I'm glad you could be together with family..those times are the best.
    Next week we are actually having Christmas in June at our son and daughter in laws home. We had to cancel the annual party at Christmas this past year so why not...it will be a pool party with a feast and gift exchange..Hope I can get a few photos to share.
    Sue

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    1. Way to go! Bravo for creativity in these tumultuous times.

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  7. Years ago, when I was young and lithe and flexible, I camped with a friend in the Smokies. We had a memorable time before we left and traveled on down to Charleston for camping on the beach. Now, many decades later, I can't imagine bedding down in a sleeping bag and trying to get up off the ground the next morning! I admire your grit! Peace.

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  8. I admire your "young and lithe" camping. As young marrieds we did one camping trip with a borrowed tent that leaked horribly in a terrific rainstorm with lightening. We kept on camping but bought an old "tent" camper that was basically a box on wheels. The box unfolded with supports for a bed platform on each side and a canvas tent that had to be set up on top of the platforms. We used it until the tent disintegrated. A sister-in-law the took it, sewed a new tent from an old parachute. She and her family used it for a number of years!

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  9. Dear LC, my friend and I camped every year in northern Minnesota for ten years. Then she got ill and I could find no-one else interested in camping. So I, too, gave away not just the tent but all my camping equipment. For everything there is a season and that season passed! Peace.

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  10. I'm impressed that you tent camped for a decade!

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  11. You sound like a real trooper--and an inspiration to us older folks like me.

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  12. That would have been freaky to have the wind come up just that quick!

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