The Great Smokies

Day 8--The Great Smoky Mountains

The Great Smokies have been on my bucket list for years.  I have wanted to come and see them and I was finally here!

In the pouring rain.

We woke up to it raining and I laid in my tent listening for it to let up.  It slowed down to a drizzle, so Heather and I, with two of the girls, made our way to the visitor center for a map and to plan out the day.  Before we could get there, it became a torrential downpour.  We even had to eat the next day's breakfast of bagels while sitting in the car.  We dubbed it Shanon's Diner.



It looked like there was going to be no hiking and we would be sitting around in our tents all day with nothing to do.  I was so disappointed.  I told Heather that my camping trip could be saved by seeing a bear.  The rangers told us that the bears like to hide in bad weather.  I was kinda mad about it all.

And the kids don't seem to be enjoying themselves. But I think it's kids being kids and I hope in time they will see how awesome of a vacation they are having.



Adding to my frustration was this stupid strap on the carrier that we could not get to loosen or tighten.  We ended up swallowing our pride and taking the van to the visitor center and asking a ranger for help.  He wasn't the kindest volunteer we'd ever seen, but he was able to get it working.  I think he was a little dubious about our trip plans.  He noticed that the rack holding the carrier was being shimmied with the use of four work gloves--a work around that was conceived by our engineering husbands.

"I don't think that's the manufacturers intended use of the apparatus." he said to me.
There were a lot of things I wanted to say but I settled on "we prefer the term McGyvering."

After having to ask for help, we decided to go do the loop and see what there was to see.  There was a whole community back there at one time and so we got to see some old churches and graveyards.  And happily, it wasn't raining any more.






Also, happily, the spiders had all gone to hide for the day.  A relief for both Aunika and myself.

Coming back from our drive, there was a mama bear and two cubs!!  Right by the side of the van.  It was like God answered my sad, pathetic little plea and put them there!



We went to the visitor center again for ice cream and souvenirs.  Some of the older kids rented bikes for an hour and rode around the campground.  I spent the hour trying to figure out the strap so we didn't have to go embarrass ourselves again.  Success!


We ate dinner, played some games, and headed off to bed.  Another day in the books.



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