What did you do thisw summer?

[Sportymonk]

What did you this summer?

Here is my report.

Part 1
I started by following up on a conversation with my son (20 and in college at UNC )coming back from my mother in law’s funeral. I had been thinking how we hadn’t been fishing since he was a little boy, wwayyy too long. A little while latter, he pops up and mentions how we have never been camping. That does it. Plans are discussed and the trip is on. Fresh water with no boat.
We borrowed a tent, restrung the reels (the line hadn’t been changed since the last trip!), found out sleeping bags and went to Kerr Lake state park at the NC/VA border. We had fun planning it. My knowledge of fishing had faded but we did ok. The pier was open 24 hrs at that location so the first night we started fishing. Caught several catfish and some white perch. My son Byron (By-run) caught one cat that really bent the pole. Got the fish about half way up (we were about 30 feet or so above the water) when the line popped! Gggrrr! We decided the plan would be the next time, we would walk around the edge of the pier and bring it up on the beach. Good thing we came up with the plan. On the morning of the third day, we were tired and stinky but we went out that morning. We had one worm left which I cut in half and we each took half. I had been hoping he would catch another good on. Suddenly the line bows and we get the fish up to the top of the water. Time to put our plan into action. He walks around the pier and bring the cat up on the beach. We let him loose since we were going home and didn’t feel like cooking.
Some may laugh that we didn’t catch any “big ones” but we had a long over due good time. We learned what it means “too small to keep” but we had some good size ones also. Bottom line we had great time.

Part 2
My wife and I have tired unsuccessfully since we were in Germany back in the mid 80’s to make cheese fondue. Tried several time but it never came out correctly. I found the fondue pots tucked away and said, “let’s try.” So we did. Used Entermeiller cheese, Guyer cheese, (forgive the spellings) and comte cheese. The comte was almost impossible to find. Several stores I had seen it at no longer carried it. I wound up driving to Raleigh (70 miles away) to get it. Looked kind of iffy for a moment but it came out great. The wife and I finally got it rfight!! (Sorry no photos on this one, too busy having fun.)

Part 3
My wife and I have tired for some time to go back to Gatlingburg Tennessee where we spent our honeymoon 28.6 years ago. Plans always seemed to fall through. Then about three weeks ago, my son came downstairs on Thursday morning and said he was leaving to visit his friend Steven in Willmington before college started back. He had planned to leave Saturday but now it was Thursday morning. He left after a while the the wife and I looked at each other and said “Can we?” Had to see if the vet could board my two escape artists (beagles). They could! Quick start packing for a four day trip. We decided to take her Civic instead of the Pilot due to gas mileage. The trip is approximately 5 hours away on the other side of the state. So off we went. We stayed at the same place we did back then. We had a great time seeing the town (but too commercialized now). We toured Clingman’s Dome, Cherokee Village, Maggie Valley, Cades Cove and toured part of the Blue Ridge Parkway. A lot of fun in the Civic.
As part of her treat to me, she knew I had always wanted to someday travel the “Tail of the Dragon”. http://www.tailofthedragon.com It has been written up in car magazines for years. (See the Audi R8 article in the August issue of Motor Trend). Basically it is 318 miles curves inn 11 miles of mountain road. It starts at Deals Gap North Carolina on US 129 and goes into TN for 11 miles.
As we went through Cades Cove, my sweet wife said rather than go all the way around the Cades Cove loop, she suggested we go out by taking this road on the map, Parson’s Branch Road. So we turned off onto an improved dirt road and went for a couple of miles when we saw the sign for Parson’s Branch Road that would take us directly to US 129. The sign at the start of the road said, “This road is a one way dirt road 8 miles long that takes approximately 1 hour to travel. The gates to the road are closed at sunset.” Hhhmmm. The wife said lets go. Wish we had the Pilot. Steep drop offs, high center crests at times, 19 creek crossings (the only part of the road that was paved.). Have I said I wished we had the Pilot. Spotted a couple of red foxes. It took about 50 minutes to complete the trip. Came out at the 4 mile marker on US129 and we were on the Dragon!
Traveled to the Tennessee end and then turned around and rode back to the NC end and then on back home. Only saw two sheriffs, one highway patrol, and one unmarked car on the dragon. If you go, watch out for the police, be forewarned.
Have I got a great wife or what?

BTW – Here is the link for the calendar for the different groups each weekend. Why don’t we have a Honda Pilot meeting sometime? http://www.tailofthedragon.com/calendar.html

Well, that was my summer. Oh, I did quit teaching public high school. (good timing with the economy the way it is). Couldn’t snag a position at the local community college. So I am now looking. Am at a point in life where I want to do some things I want to do. Have always loved photography. Am investigating going into wedding and event photography. (easier said that done. Know it won’t be easy). In the meantime looking for something to hold the fort down until my wife finishes her PhD next summer and we move.

So tell me about your summer. What did you do?

PS Give me a few moments to load the pictures before posting.

[Sportymonk]

My son cooking on the grill. Dopn't look at the meal, it ain't fish!

[Sportymonk]

The camp site.

[Sportymonk]

Fishing at the pier.

[Sportymonk]

Bringing that last cat in. Way to close the trip.

[Sportymonk]

The wife and I started to eat here near Gatlinburg but something just didn't seem right. Can't put my finger on it.

[Sportymonk]

Something just ain't right.

[Sportymonk]

But Fed Ex delivers no matter what!!

[Sportymonk]

Aahhh, my favorite picture! I thought of you folks the minute I saw it.

WHEN PIGS FLY! THEY REALLY DO!

[Sportymonk]

Starting up Clingman's Dome.

[Sportymonk]

At the top of Clingman's Dome. The top of the montain top is what made the clouds stop coming in temporarily from the right. Leter they engulfed us for a few moments. I thought this was awesome.

[Sportymonk]

A mountain stream in the mountains.

[Sportymonk]

Another mountain stream.

[Sportymonk]

Yes I was standing a few minutes latter on that narrow edge to the road while my wife took a picture. (Sorry, not posting any of me) Look at the rocks at the edge of the raod in the background.

[Sportymonk]

Cades Cove - Two deer. Mother and doe.