Camping day 3

Today started quite early at 3am when I woke to some intense thunderstorms. Crazy rain, thunder, and lightning. I really couldn’t sleep because there was a tornado warning with a medium threat. It started to calm closer to 5am. I pulled in kid shoes, dumped the rain collected on the rain cover, pulled the only dry chair in. I repacked the clothes bin so all the pull ups and pajamas were protected. And I prayed while snuggling Owen. We were definitely getting water in the tent. Everyone was getting wet but they all slept. Owen eventually woke and we did a bathroom break together. The rain had slowed but the river was so loud. 

I coaxed Leiland to come snuggle with us and we fell back asleep for a little longer. When I finally woke everything was soaked but we got dressed and took off. We had an appt to ride horses at 10am. When we pulled up to the turn for smokemont stables the road continuing was closed because of weather. So we went to the horse stables. 

Ellie was on a horse that was white named Jesse. He was so good for her and teathered to the lead guide Pricilla. I don’t know Owens horse but he was a dark chestnut brown. Leiland was on a light brown and white names Apache. I was on a brown girl named Polly. Behind me was another guide Asia and two others who were on the ride. It was a bit muddy but an absolute beautiful ride. We kept walking into wet tree branches hanging down but that’s ok. Leiland seemed a bit nervous. He didn’t like how narrow the path was but he did great. Owen was a champ at commanding his horse. When it would try to eat he’d pull the reins and he was steering him when needed. I was so proud and he was a natural. Ellie was all smiles the whole time and telling Jones with the guide up front. Ellie and OWEN said that was the best thing ever. They couldn’t be any happier. 

Now the plan was to go to cades cove and possibly a hike. However when we went to leave the stables the road was still closed. So we stopped at another turnoff called minges mill I think. We went and walked to see the mill built in 1886 and saw how they channeled the water to run the machine that killed the corn and wheat. The kids only cared about catching all the little purple butterflies. When we walked back to the truck Leiland went to go potty so the rest of us climbed in the bed of the truck and started lunch. Owen thought that was the coolest way to eat lunch. When we finished lunch we drove to the visitor center to get an update on the road closure. 

Turns out the storm caused a landslide closing a huge portion of the main road. There was another route to get back to the other side of the park but it was 3 hours. And it had a lot of traffic because so many were detouring. We decided not to do that today. We went into the city there called Cherokee, NC and checked out the Cherokee Indian museum. Very cool information and the boys really liked learning about it for the most part. 

We decided to walk around to a few of the bear statures the kids wanted photos with. Then because it was getting hot we stopped for ice cream. We popped in a few of the suvioneer shops. We went back to the car and headed back to camp. 

First I set about drying out the tent. Opened all the windows, used a towel to sop us puddles, and took out the air mattress to dry on the truck bed as well as be refilled. The kids put on swim suits and we after shoes and played in the river/ creek for a bit. Very chilly but they enjoyed it. I went to watch them but I stayed dry. By the time dinner came to I started building a fire for kids to warm up. We planned to have spaghetti but I messed up and brought the bag of just sauce and not the one with noodles already in it. So then we chose to do hot dogs. But the lighter was left on the table and didn’t want to work. Thankfully we had another in the bin that was dry. We still didn’t have much luck of getting a fire to start so I did the camping stove anyway. The hot dogs were tasty and we all enjoyed dinner. The fire started picking up very slowly. We toasted some marshmallows and everyone had one. As soon as we were gone making them the fire picked up. Go figure. The kids played with fire and worked hard to keep it going. Me with my lung issues I really struggled to blow air on the coals and the kids just aren’t skilled at it yet. We added some of the color changing crystals into the fire and we all loved seeing that. The kids played smoke ninja fighting the smoke and we just had a good time. 

At bedtime we caught fireflies before brushing teeth and getting pajamas on. Ellie’s terrified to use the bathroom right now because of a daddy long legs on one of the sinks. She cracks me up. She loves watching them crawl on the tent when she’s inside and they are outside.  But this was too much. 

Overall a good day. Didn’t go as planned but we made the most of it. 

Camping day 2

Everyone woke up feeling pretty great. We slept till 8 and it wasn’t too cold out. We ate breakfast at the picnic table  before getting ready for the day. First we went to church. The kids came in with me and everyone was so friendly and welcoming. We tried finding info online and had no luck. Apparently we showed up for the Bible study and not the service. That was after. Oops. We left and went back to the tent so Owen could put his shorts on. The we decided to drive to the park. We ate pistachios and snacks along the way as our lunch. 

We tried to find a place to go horseback riding. The first turn was not what we wanted and wasted a bit of time. So we moved on. Then when we got there they didn’t have any openings until 230. We decided yes we would do that and she realized it was full so we bumped it to 330. I decided we should do the next day since I didn’t want to be constrained by the need to be back by that time. So we headed to clingmans dome. I knew it was about a 40 min drive. We drove but hole cow I was not prepared for the parking situation up there. There was absolutely no space available. Finally just before we’d have to exit two cars pulled out and we got one of the spots. It was SO tight and I barely fit but I did it. I was very nervous how we would get out between how cramped it was and all the people. So we walked a bit and took a few photos. 

The kids wanted to climb these giant rocks at the beginning so I let them. Owen wanted a photo at the top. So he and Leiland went but Ellie was too scared. I waited and waited but they never went to it. I called for them a few times with no response. So I forced Ellie to go with me to find them. I don’t like that panic feeling one but. Now I’m wearing flip flops because my sneakers didn’t make it in the bag like Ellie said they did. It was really hard to climb because they have no traction. But we finally got up and I found them rather quickly. I was not happy but I climbed down and took their photos. Ellie got to be in it because I could t leave her behind. So then I helped her down and the boys posed for a couple more rock photos they wanted. Finally I pushed them to get moving on the hike. It’s only 1/2 mile climb to the lookout - how hard can it be? Now was I wrong. It kicked my butt. I was struggling to breathe so much worse than I’d expect. I know I’m out of shape but sdd to it this sinus/ bronchitis issue - not a fan. But we took breaks and pushed through. Right as we got to the base of the dome I got really nauseous and had to sit. We had Hurd thunder a couple times and dark clouds were coming in. We walked to the top and you really couldn’t see anything. What a bummer. It was still cool but not the view you expect. So we head back down and plan to look in the gift shop. On the way a woman gives us a heads up that there is a mama bear just off the trail up ahead. Shear excitement and then a letdown. We never saw it. We looked. We asked others. No one else knew where. Owen was not happy. So we got to the gift shop and look around. I realize I left my wallet in the truck. So we decided to go to the truck and get it then come back. We step outside and it’s raining pretty hard. I wrap my camera in a hoodie and we book it. We are soaked. Everyone is leaving. All done, time to go. We can’t do anything in the pouring rain. I don’t have cell signal so I can’t even see how long it will last. We waited in the truck a bit but it was no use it just kept pouring. So we drive back towards the campground. 

We went into Cherokee and decided to do a movie. We got there just in time to see elemental. It was so good too and the seats reclined and had heat. We shared popcorn and lemonade. Ellie and I snuggled. I was so exhausted at this point. When we leave it’s still raining but not as bad. We decide to stop for dinner because no way we can eat in the rain. We shared a plate of carne asada and the boys loved it. After dinner we head to camp to get to sleep. Everyone’s dressed warm as it has cooled quite a bit. We all fell asleep really quick and rather early. 

I’m woken at midnight because of someone who screamed really loudly. No clue why though. But I fall back to sleep. 

Camping day 1

 We all slept till after 8am. My belly still bothered me a bit when I woke up. We went for the breakfast and no one was impressed with it. We got on the road and stopped shortly after to get gas. Then Walmart to get Owen a toothbrush and me belly meds. Got on the road again and didn’t go too far before stopping for a potty break. It was an adorable little rest stop with a creek and right on the river. We finally got on the road and made it all the way to the campground. 

We got to the camp at noon. A little early to check in but they let us. We found campsite #22 and parked. It’s a strip of parking and a ton of campsites. Our site is right on the river and it’s absolutely beautiful. First we set up the tent. It went really well and the kids were even a little helpful. The hardest part is always the rain cover but we made it work. I was even able to stake it and it’s still standing now at bedtime. 

Once we had set the campsite up we grabbed lunch to eat while we drove to the park entrance. Now we are camping at deep creek campground which is inside the park however there are no roads to connect to the park so we have to drive 30 minutes. We did that and went to the visitor center first. On the drive in we stopped and got the much needed national park sign photo. Then as we entered the park we were able to see elk grazing. It was incredible. Inside the visitor center the kids enjoyed a touchable map of the mountains and see so many of the places we want to see. We heard a person teach us all about the elk in the park, saw chickens pecking the ground, and browse the gift shop. We did a short walk down the trail that starts there and saw a few mamas with their calf’s. It was so close and magnificent. I watch the babies nurse with the mama and the babies were so spunky running all around. 

We walked back to the car and decided to get firewood and go make dinner at the campsite. We didn’t have any luck getting firewood and so we made nachos with the camp stove instead. We made friends with a neighbor who let us toast marshmallows to start off our first night at camp. 

Ellie had an idea to do a bike ride so if we went. We rode to the end of the road in the campground and found a bridge over to the campground. There was a spot for dropping off people with tubes for the creek so we rode around the circle. Over and over again. Owen was in the lead so I just kept following him. Ellie asked me to go the other way so I turned around and rode clockwise around the circle. This was obviously not what she wanted but sure made her laugh. Eventually we rode off through the picnic area, over a bridge, and back into the campground. Ellie begged for one more trip so that’s what we did. By the end we all were a little sore and my lungs were definitely feeling it. 

We came back to brush teeth and get ready for bed. I dropped the boo boo oil down between the bed of the truck and the cab. Owen helped me find a good stick to help get it out. That’s necessary for us. We all settled in to our beds and have Smokey the bear on the toniebox. Day one at camp was a success. Tomorrow we will go to church and the rest is up in the air. Nothing set in stone here just a to do list of ideas.