When I woke up I could still hear the rain hitting the top of the tent. I guess the plans we had to do a little rock hunting this morning was a wash-out? Might be a great morning to just sleep in? But I could smell the coffee brewing and Pat wanted to know what I wanted for breakfast, country ham, bacon, or sausage. I hate to make a major decision when I first get out of bed! Ha!
After finding the Tylenol bottle and taking two, I picked up the mirror to comb the rat's nest from my hair and I thought...
"Who in the hell is this old man looking back at me!?".
Yes, I believe I'm a 30 year old man locked-up in a 60 year old body! Today was Friday, October 17th, my 60th birthday... oh, joy.
Outside the weather was cool, somewhere in the 40's with misting rain and the clouds had covered the top of the Gal.
The weather radio said as the front passed out of the area this morning it would start to clear with colder weather over the next few days. Good! We planned to do some "trimming" Saturday and the colder temps may help to keep the critters at home! I found several "critters" that thought they had found a perfect Winter home! All week during the afternoon, we had ladybugs swarming our camp and several had gathered between the top of the tent and the rain fly. I guess they could stay until Sunday.
After breakfast, several cups of coffee, and talk, we started getting things around camp in order... We had company coming this afternoon!! Tonya and her friend Chris was coming from home to visit and we planned to grill steaks and Pat even said something about making a birthday cake!
Just a note here about cookware. All the cast iron we use is made by Lodge Cast Iron and you can't go wrong with any of their products!! We've had a Lodge Sportsman grill for over 15 years and it's been on many camping trips and it is first rate!
If you're looking to buy a light weight, cheap grill, that you'll need to replace every year, then this one won't do. It's not made in China, it's made in Tennessee. Oh, Lodge is also a sponsor of the Boy Scouts!
Shortly afternoon we decided to drive out to the overlook so we could make a cell call to see where they were at. Tonya said they were coming through Hayesville, I told them to be real careful because they would hit a "wall of white" coming up the mountain! I parked at the Buck Creek Road turnoff to guide them back to camp.
It was great to see them and this made for a very special birthday!
Pat had things cooking in the tent and it was time to get the steaks on. Yeah.. I can cook too!
With the steaks finished and the rolls coming out of the oven,
we had the makings for one fine meal! Grilled steak, baked taters, corn, salad, ice tea, coffee... sorry, no beanie-weanie!
After eating such a great meal, Pat brought out the birthday cake... with one LARGE candle!! LOL!! I took the blame for not having the oven level, this made the cake a little one sided..
didn't hurt the taste any!!
Tonya gave me a birthday card as she does every year and they are always some kind of joke! Let's see... "Dad, if you should ever get lost(and we know that never happens), this Dad Map is GUARANTEED to help you out..." "Go ahead, Dad, you'll really appreciate this..."
",,, Just open and hold it up..."
"WHERE THE HELL AM I?"
Maybe I'd better carry that card with me!? LOL!!
This day will go down as one of the best!!
What a difference a day makes! This morning broke with no rain and the weather radio said it would be clear. The temp this morning seemed to have a little more nip to it and I could see patches of frost around the edges. Buck Creek didn't seem to care as it flowed by our camp on it's way to meet the Nantahala River just down stream...
It being Saturday, several trucks and vans went by our camp and stopped at the end of the road. Must be a club or college students going to the Herbert for a field trip? I walked out to the edge of the road for a better look...
...I could see a few heads bobbing up and down on the trail going to the old mine... hope they pick up their trash this time!
Pat said.. "Ya ready?"... "Yeah, let me secure the door"...
It's hard to "secure" a camp when you're using tents. But, did you notice the stainless cable that ties the oven, stove, table, and propane bottle together, and is locked to the trailer!?
The drive was just long enough for the heater in the Jeep to start felling good and to finish another cup of coffee. The location we hoped to get to is in one of the first places where the Service had one of their "burns". We would be taking a longer trail but it should shorten the way through the burned area that already had a full season to grow briers and thorns!
Let me say this... I don't fear much in the mountains that walks or crawls, but one that flies has my total respect!!
This nest was located next to our trail and about 10' off the ground on a small sapling. Even being near freezing, we gave it a wide pass! I didn't see the guard that's normally posted at the opening and sounds the alarm of ANY danger. I had seen several around our camp that week... the nest WAS ACTIVE on our return to the Jeep! You better look for the hornet's nest!!
I found what I thought was a good place to enter the burn area?
But, by the look on Pat's face, I could tell she wasn't to sure about following me into this area! "Pull the machete out of my pack for me"...
"You sure this is the right place!?"...
No, but we'll give it a try."...
After about 30 minutes of thorns, she asked... "Are we going the right way!?"...
"Baby, I don't have a clue!"
I was OK as long as she wasn't reaching for her pistol! Several years ago in North Georgia, she said... "I'll shoot your ass if you get us in a mess like this again!!"... I don't know if it was the upper 90 degree temps or the 1/4 mile of briers we went through on that trip or both! LOL!!
After gaining some altitude and hitting an opening in the thick brush, I could see Perry Gap to the south and everything started to lineup...
I told her that we were to high and would need to drop down some and more in that direction about 60 yards. Don't worry Baby... the "Wild Man" will find it!!
... all she said was "that's real cute, let me take your picture.". I don't guess she was to happy with this trail? Ha!
I knew the location was near the contact with the dunite and I started looking for the rusty brown rock to make sure we didn't go passed the contact area. You do know that the green rock and dunite weather different... don't you?
Just a few steps further and I saw the "trademark" of the site we were hoping to find! Biotite! On the side of a big green rock was two books!
A moment later Pat said, "Here's corundum!". I told her this is the right place and to start looking around this spot! I found a large rock that had the end covered with "pink" but way to large for a trip back!
After finding several pieces and having lunch, I made a mental picture of this location. The Forest Service had changed the looks of this site with their burn and I needed to change the way I remembered it from long ago. I now knew the best way for a return trail to make a future visit less trouble. Yes, the Service can burn the woods, but will never reach the melting point of corundum!
Pat seemed to be in a happier mood after finding some rock to carry home. She didn't even say a word about the zig-zag pattern back to the tall trees!
"Wonder how they did over at the Herbert, today?"...
"I don't know, Pat... maybe they should have taken the other road?"...
"What road?"...
"...the Road Less Traveled!!"...
Best at ya!
Wayne & Pat
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