Clingman's Dome

October 16, 2015

The day started out on a bad note. It was cloudy outside. Matt and I were excited to have a whole day together with Clay to go exploring and show him a beautiful part of TN that we found on our honeymoon eleven years ago. For Clay, getting up early, he was cranky. It was difficult by not only leaving an hour or so later than planned, but just wanting to call it off so that the crankiness would end.

We got into the park about 2 hours later and headed towards Clingman's Dome with everyone finally calmed down and enjoying the climb into the mountains, the fall colors of green, red, gold, yellow, orange beginning to peak their heads out of the wood surrounding the road and the river flowing alongside parkway it was a half-way decent trip to the parking area.

It was a very busy weekend in the park. It was so popular Matt had to park quite a ways from the parking area down the mountain and walk back up to where he let Clay and I out at the parking area. I had to go to the restroom and that was an adventure in itself. The restrooms were outhouses with a modern toilet seat over the hole dug in the ground. When you first walk in it looks like any restroom minus a sink , must use sanitizer, until you notice the odor. A very unpleasant odor that really wants you to turn and leave. When using the restroom, you want to be very careful not to sit as there is a breeze coming from below. It was an experience to say the least. Next time, I think I will take some Lysol wipes and air freshener or body spray (that can substitute the air freshener) and baby wipes.

Outside the wind was blowing fiercely and cold. The hike itself is to the highest point on the Appalachian Trail and 300 feet up in 0.5 miles. It is a steep, but gorgeous climb. It takes determination, patience, and really paying attention to your body and limitations as you climb this paved trail. There are benches about every tenth of a mile and outcroppings of rocks that make perfect seats all the way up to the dome.

Along the way, I had to sit down and catch my breath much more than Matt and Clay, but it wasn't a total waste as I met several people. First, we met a man and woman from Michigan, I believe. I could be wrong about from where. He was a pastor of a church and an adoptive parent which was something that we could relate to. It was a nice few minutes just to sit and connect.  I think that was the 2 bench along the trail. Around bench 3 or maybe even 4, we met two women hiking up, also and as I sat there trying to catch my breath and Matt saying I could quit if I wanted, they were great encouragers as to let me know I was at the halfway point and it was ok to sit and just continue the journey up the mountain as that was what they were for and it was everyone struggling just in different ways with the same goal as reaching the top. It was something, I needed to hear. I have to say this. I stopped at each bench, each outcropping of rocks, and being told I could quit at each one (just to push me as he knew that was the best way to get me to keep going, I will prove someone wrong when I know I can do something and with fierce determination, also), but I kept on going. At one point a man going the same way that was walking quicker and easier and without stopping said " your almost there you can do this! Good Job!" was just the few examples of a combination of what was needed to hear.

The women were right, we were halfway there and soon after we were at the top. I did it!!!! The goal is to do it better next time, but at the same time if I hadn't been stopping we wouldn't have met some pretty cool people.

On the trail as you climbed there was a point where the sun was shining bright, the wind died down and it warmed up until you got near the top and the wind and chill was back at full force. It was a clear day that would allow you to see, I believe they said 5 states. It was gorgeous. I DID IT!!!!!!

On the way down, as I could relax and breath and just walk. I was able to think and I realized that life is like that trail, that journey. There are more times that not that life is hard and a struggle. It can just down right stink, and be uncomfortable, but if you keep putting one foot in front of the other, take a seat and stay in a place when you need to and allow the people around you to be themselves and accept them for who they are you can find friends, acquaintances, answers, just the joy of waiting for a brief time from the exertion and hardship of the climb. It isn't easy, nothing is, but with your  loved ones their by your side and pushing you when needed, support in the others, and just the rejoicing of making it to the top that goal it is doable. Not easy, but doable. It is a journey just like every part of life.

It was a gorgeous walk back to the car and drive through the park. We had a good day for the most part and just enjoyed time at the Christmas Place store and eating before heading home. It was a nice day and one we enjoyed. I hope you enjoy the pictures posted.

 

 

Short Trip Home and Other Stuff

This past week, Matt had to make a trip home to meet someone. While there he took a few photos from our favorite lookout on Pine Mountain. All other pictures are various pictures of Clay and his field trip, Green Belt, and while spending time as a family.

A new tradition has begun with Clay and that is every time he tests for a new belt and gets it he
wants to celebrate at Shogun's. We will be celebrating his Green Belt there around the end of the month. My child that at age three was scared to death of Shoguns, now loves eating there and wants to go there to celebrate each belt. He is growing up so fast!!!

One day, I really do hope we can add a little girl to our family!!

View of Pine Mountain Valley

View from Pine Mountain

View of Pine Mountain Valley from Pine Mountain

Matt on top of Pine Mountain

Matt and his Jeep on Pine Mountain



Clay ready for his field trip

Clay walking out the door ready to go

Clay with his green belt and corn pipe bought at gift store at Museum of Appalachia's

Clay with his Green Belt

Chilling at McDonald's Saturday morning

Testing for Green

On October 8, 2015, Clay tested for his green belt in Tae Kwon Do. He had a very adventuresome day. At 745am he went to school. He went to the Museum of the Appalachia with his class. He wanted to go alone, without us tagging along. They had bus issues on the way to the Museum and on the way back. Thus they were an hour late getting back to the school, finally, at 5pm. Testing was at 530pm. We made it!!!! I am posting the video of his testing and then of the award ceremony and pictures will follow. I will then post a brief sentence on the results.

Tae Kwon Do Testing

Tae Kwon Do Awards Ceremony

Clay received was rewarded Level 2 Green Belt (Belt and Certificate), 2 Stars for academic excellence (which is determined by his teacher how many stars), and Award for attending 32 classes. We did not know that there was to be award for class attendance so the pictures are a little blurry. Hope y'all enjoy watching this as we did seeing our little one perform at something that he loves to do. We are VERY proud of our little boy!!!!

More Pictures from Chickamauga

Chickamauga Battlefield Demo September 19, 2015 (Click here to watch video)
Chickamauga Battlefield Demo 1 September 19, 2015 (click here to watch video)
Chickamauga Battlefield Demo 2 September 19, 2015 (click here to watch video)
Chickamauga Battlefield Demo 3 September 19, 2015 (click here to watch video)

Chickamauga Battlefield

"The Battle in the Valley of the River of Death" The last two days we have been to Chickamauga Battlefield. This weekend Sept 18-20, 2015 marks the 152nd Anniversary of the Chickamauga Battle. Saturday we got to participate in and see a demonstration at the Kelly Cabin. A battle that took place on September 19, 1863. A battle that included one major mistake that the men fighting that day were never able to recover from. It came in the heat of battle when the Union soldiers fired upon itself. Over the course of the two days of the battle 40.000 men from both the Union and Confederacy were either killed, wounded, or missing. The Snodgrass Cabin was turned into a field hospital. The remedy for shattered limbs were amputation and would have to be done in 15 minutes. Even though chloroform and ether were available it was in short supply and not at Chickamauga. Today, markers telling the story at each location of each unit, monuments that have been in place since 1893 and more recently tell the story of this battle and give a visual of where everything would have occurred and men died. It is a place that consists of rolling hills, and peace reigns as you hear the birds, crickets, and squirrels that marks the sounds of nature. Yet, as you enter each marker and read it and look up you see what must have been that day. You walk on grass and terrain that on that day 152 years ago was covered in bodies and blood. The land there was paid for in blood that demands our respect. On Saturday, we witnessed the firing of an original battlefield cannon, not once but twice as the Park Ranger told the story of that terrible mistake that I discussed earlier. Then we got to see a demonstration of the men as they returned home from war in Sept 1865 and the difficulties they faced upon returning home to find everything gone and destroyed and unable to find their family or any remnants of it. Clay and I both were able to read a small part for this demonstration. The differences in the going to war and coming home of the men were extreme. The merging of men in uniforms and carrying weapons of that battle and seeing faces of the visitors to the park that day with our modern clothing and devices were surreal. It is hard to explain. On Sunday, we explored the park in more detail. We drove the lines and viewed the markers and monuments and at the same time left a lot to still be explored. It never leaves your mind that you are walking were someone died, was wounded, or cried out to God for mercy after realizing what the battle meant they had done and yet to tamp it down for later as they lived what they were trained and fought hard until not just the end of the Chickamauga Battle those two days, but for the duration of the War that followed.