HOMECOMING – August 26

We woke with the reality that we were again coming home.  Our house keeper had moved out and the house was waiting our arrival.  We stopped on the way to pick up our car from the kids and learned that our family would gain another little one in the spring! 

Our journeys are always memorable.  With Covid 19 taking the world by storm, the nation being at unrest  and Rob’s health being what it is, this adventure carried with it an especially heavy load.  Somehow nature has a way of healing what nothing else can.  Life may have its challenges, but we have our family, our adventures and each other and that is all we need.

We look back on this trip and this year with so much to be thankful for.  The next days would be filled with load after load of clothes and food, replenishing and catching up - and life would go on, living the adventure of every day.

BACK IN THE HOOD – August 25

We were just an hour drive too far from home for a single day’s drive for our liking so we decided to secure a campsite at the closest state park to Charleston for our last night on the road.  Hoping the kids would come join us and enjoy a bbq and a campfire, we got on the road for an early arrival. 

Back in familiar country, we again took back roads on our final stretch traversing all the small towns of South Carolina.  We found a quirky farmers market – so unusual these days – along the way and stopped to grab a fresh vegetable or two.  Full of tomatoes, squash, pumpkins and a large supply of used baby furniture (?!), we got a full taste of being back “home”.

We checked into our campsite early afternoon.  As has been our routine, we found the closest trail and hiked what we could.  Being that the area had had a lot of rain, the path was covered or closed in numerous sections.  We did make it to the blackwater of the Edisto River where the water was again fully beyond its normal bank.

The kids decided not to join us as the forecast was bleak and it was a good decision because right when we returned to the site, the rain started to fall.  And fall – hard.  The wind kicked in for good measure and we realized our journey had in fact come to an end.  We had one last ritual night of drinks and games before retiring to the rain on the roof.

THE ATLANTA SLOG – August 24

We had choices about which way to turn as we approached the Georgia border.  Left would take us further north of Atlanta and into the beautiful Georgia mountain country where a right would expedite our timing and shoot us past Atlanta with a lot less mileage and wandering.  Given the now increased pressure of being so close to home, we decided on Atlanta. 

Our journey home was planned almost entirely around missing any cities along the way.  Finding them and their traffic stressful at best, we figured there just wasn’t any reason to torture ourselves.   That being said, Rob was a bit worn on all the back roads and we figured with Covid and being midday – how bad could it be?  Right.

Anyway, the day was about what we SHOULD have expected.  Atlanta is one of the worst cities in the south to travel through and this day was no better than any other.  The journey passed.  We fought our way through the fast paced and crowded highways without any opportunity to enjoy the day or those wonderful mountains just an hour or two north! 

Having succeeded on our quest, we finally came out on the other side to find that our options for camping were pretty slim.  The closest and most convenient campground boasted the birth of the confederacy.  Neither of us had it in us to endure that kind of energy or display so it was bypassed without much thought.  The next was poorly reviewed and we ended up making in all the way across the state, pulling into the Army Corp property at Strom Thurmond lake just shy of our home state border.

Despite having no cell service to secure a mandatory pre-registration, we fought our way through the continually dropped connection and worked out a site with the campground welcome staff.  Our site was one of the prettiest we’ve ever had.  The lake is large and pristine and the water was very high with all of the recent rains.  We were practically ON the water with a large site and an amazing view. 

I snuck in a couple miles around the campground area before the rain started coming down.  We pulled out the awning, our chairs and happy hour necessities and let the day melt away as nature provided a soothing balm. 

SURPRISE CAMPSITE - August 23

Today was our son’s birthday and proved to be a challenging day not being home in time.  We had decided we needed to slow the pace of our return from that of our trip out to Colorado.  Having weathered the journey so far with the snow, the fires, the medical procedure and the less than optimal health news, we just needed to slow it down.  I spent the day feeling the weight of that decision and being relatively close to home but not being there.

We moved across the state again without a final destination planned.  Deciding to take another secondary highway, we traveled through a nice area of the state and kept checking off our potential campsites for the night as we moved ever on.  We stopped at the first option for lunch and decided it was simply too early to call it a day.  Moving on, we checked the second one off the list when it was placed in the heart of a small town with far too many Trump banners for our comfort or pleasure! 

Despite our intended slow pace, we put a good number of miles in and finally settled on the Noccalula Falls campground having no idea what we’d encounter.  The park was obviously very well attended and popular with lots of trails and services including a petting zoo (although with no petting – ala Covid) and everyone’s favorite, a little train – conductor, whistle and all! 

The campground was actually quite nice and it didn’t take long to get settled and on the trails.  We wandered and wandered and found ourselves never sure of exactly where we were!  The trails were all marked incredibly well but as we traversed, we found that they changed without notice and we’d end up backtracking or completely disoriented!  No worries, we enjoyed it all and finally found our way to the park’s namesake Noccalula Falls which were not really “falling” much being the end of the season. 

We actually wandered beneath the falls only to find ourselves directly below our campsite but with a sheer cliff face between us and it!  Being adventurous and clearly not too smart, we followed two young women up the rock to the top.  Well, I say we followed them – we watched them find their way then spent the next half hour huffing, puffing and heaving ourselves in far too vertical a fashion! 

Not to worry – we are hear to tell the story!  Feeling pretty proud of ourselves and kind of giddy from the adrenaline, we pulled out the lounge chairs and the cocktails. We closed the day having pizza ala Matt who had prepared some amazing crusts for us to enjoy on our trip.  We enjoyed each bite as we toasted his birthday and talents and looked forward to our reunion just days away. 

ACROSS THE MISSISSIPPI - August 22, Sardis MS

The rain came down in earnest through the night and was still pounding when we woke making disconnecting and packing up a very soggy affair.  We had packed up most of the exterior the night before but the power, water and sewer still needed to be done leaving Rob battling the elements.  Steve and Lucinda braved the downpour to come exchange contact info before we said our goodbyes and each pulled out of the park and onto the road.

The day brought a lot of driving without the benefit of a specific destination to head for.  Some times (most times, actually) we just look at the map, pick a route and see what happens.  This was one of those days.  Not really knowing what the area would be like and crossing into yet another state, we had no idea what we would find for a campsite. 

Especially after spending time with Lucinda, it’s easy to ruminate over all of our past mistakes as a country as we move through the south.  With cotton fields having just been harvested, the reminders are everywhere.  We crossed the Mississippi and entered its namesake state where we would find our campsite for the night finally deciding on an Army Corp property further down the road.

We got ourselves settled in our site after a few complications with hookups and reservations but ended up settled nonetheless and decided to head out to look for some exercise.  We unloaded the bikes and rode to a small park on the far end of the damn that the Army Corp was responsible for.  We had a fun hike on the “fitness trail” despite it being a bit run down and unkept. 

Having that checked off the list and energy remaining, we rode the loop over the damn as our return to camp.  They were performing a water release and there were a LOT of people fishing at the release site.  Apparently, the area is prize winning for its crappie fishing and from what we saw, it had to be true.  People were pulling fish up one after another!  We enjoyed the ride over the damn and managed to wear ourselves out in the process.

We had a nice evening barbeque and our usual games and called it another day and another chapter on our journey home.

HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK Sept 20 – 21

We woke to a beautiful day.  I got moving for a morning hike before checking the status on sites at the National Park.  Right at 10am, we got the call that six sites were available and we started packing up right away.  We arrived to find a wonderful site with full hookups (that’s a treat for us!) on a quiet stream and facing a beautiful wall of rock.  Right away we knew we were somewhere special.

Since our first trip visiting 23 national parks, I have an undying appreciation for the uniqueness of each one.  These parks are one thing this country has done very RIGHT.  Being essentially in a city, though, I didn’t really expect to find all the wonders it had to offer.  We set up easily and waved to new neighbors arriving before hitting the trails.  There were dozens to choose from and we wandered from one to the next climbing to views and enjoying each turn.  We even saw our first priest and nun out for an afternoon on the trail!

Returning to the campground without yet making our way to the central springs area, we sat with a beer by the stream.  Our new neighbor wandered over and joined up and soon after his wife and life felt exquisitely normal again.  The weather was perfect, we were outside and safe but making new friends and the cares of the world drifted easily from our minds.

Steve and Lucinda are a wonderful mix of professional and down to earth and conversation flowed with ease.  Lucinda is full blooded Navajo and Steve works on the reservation providing endless opportunities to learn about a culture we sadly know too little about. 

We arranged to hike together the next day and all were ready at 10 with lunches packed and hiking boots on.  He hit the trail this time for the main attraction, the hot springs.  With the abundance of nature and the addition of fun conversation, the miles passed easily. 

The town of Hot Springs is a quaint collection of bathhouses, hidden hike trailheads and unique shops along the main promenade.  We wandered the town for a while and stopped for a cold drink before deciding we’d finish our hike on a back trail before getting serious with any otherwise distracting activity (a drink anyone?)  The trail was surprisingly upward once again!  How do trails always seem to have more incline than decline?  That’s not supposed to be physically possible, is it?!  We stopped on a perfected situated bench for our lunch before finishing the final leg.  Rob led the way and he and Steve maintained a constant flow of conversation – right down the wrong path!  Our original plan of 3-5 miles was already over 7!

Hey, we’re no lightweights!  I found an alternative route and we all thrilled at the sight of a Biden banner in someone’s front yard!!!  You have no idea how very comforting that was after traveling the past week with “the competitor’s” flags flying in near every homestead!  That in itself was worth the detour!  Back in Hot Springs we stopped for another beverage before starting the climb back to the campground.  We stopped on the way to “feel” the hot springs, disappointingly all that was available without an appointment.

With a final count of just under a ten mile day and plenty of elevation, we got back to camp and collapsed in our chairs.  For the next few hours we each pulled out assorted snacks including Lucinda’s wonderful homemade pico de gallo.  We tucked ourselves under the awning as a light rain fell and ate anything close at hand while enjoying each other’s company for the next several hours. 

Tired and satiated, we parted ways with our exits planned for the morning.  It was a highlight of a day and stay at Hot Springs, a most welcome release from all things Covid and Rob’s pressing health concerns.  We settled in for the night after indulgent long showers (sewer connections are a treat!) marveling at being in just the right place at just the right time.

THE SCENIC DRIVE Sept 19

I even wonder myself if I’m obsessive!  I spend so many hours each day poring over maps and apps to find our next campsite, trail possibilities and travel plan!  I swear it borders on irrational!  My father loved all things directional – any time we were anywhere he would stop and determine which way was which.  And specifically!  West, northwest or whatever!  Anyway, I give him credit for my love of maps – but I’m not going to blame him for the obsessive part!

I had found this scenic drive through the Ozarks and had my mind set on finding a way to drive it without going too far our of our way.  All for naught, on our exit from the state park, our path didn’t accommodate and all my lusting over “scenic highway 1” was left behind for a nearby route through the mountains and finally into Arkansas.  We had hoped to get to Hot Springs National Park but knew we’d have a tough go of it on the weekend so picked an Army Corp property just 20 miles away or so.

With Rob’s senior pass (a proverbial gold mine, all you folks over 60!!) we get a 50% discount at any national property – this included national parks, army corp properties, national forests, BLM land – you name it!  We had headed out early in hopes of catching the National Park site so we arrived well ahead of normal check in but landed a wonderful site in the Arlie Moore campground and wasted no time getting settled. 

With a lovely lake surrounded by rolling hills, there was ample room to spread out.  We hiked the interpretive trail and enjoyed all of the facts posted along the way.  I have a new appreciation for the loblolly pine tree for one!  We also checked out a few of the other campsite loops before returning to ours.  With a lot of dead wood around, we easily gathered all sizes to build a nice fire for the night, always a highlight for me.

That evening we also learned of the passing of our dear friend Sue who had been battling lung cancer for many years.   She’s the one we waved to through the walls at the cancer center just a week before.  Bob called with the news.  There’s not much that can be said.  Another warrior gone.  But we were glad she didn’t suffer and are proud to have called her a friend.  We raised a glass in her as the campfire burned.