It's Been A Great Day

Our day started on this long and winding road.  We were headed to hike on the AT to see the wild ponies.  Well...

After the white-knuckle drive on a gravel road that was on the side of a mountain that kept getting smaller and smaller (we were all praying that we didn't meet another car on the way because that meant one of us would need to back up for miles!)

So at the end of the road, Mark found a really nice lady that was cutting her grass and asked her for directions.  And get this...she was born in Independence, VA but grew up in Toledo, OH and had just moved back to VA.  Small world.  They became fast friends.  She also told us that we probably couldn't hike because they have closed most of the trail because of LOTS of bear activity. 

So we went to Plan B.  I didn't get to go on the first float trip down the river so we rigged up a float made of two tubes and Alaire rode on it.  It was so different from the New River that we are used to rafting on.  This was calm, sandy and really shallow.  But lots and lots of rocks.

Alaire was helping Pappy get off a rock.  We all got stuck at least once.

I think Ellis would have just floated with his vest on if he could have.  He was in the water more than he was in the kayak.

We made some new friends.

We stopped just short of our place to have a little snack and take a few pics.

We found a nice little place to swim.

We dropped a rock at the rest stop and these may have made it into my pockets.

After dinner was all cleaned up we got to have a campfire with s'mores!

I just love a good crispy, burnt marshmallow.

Alaire warming her tootsies before she went to bed.

I got to sit out by the fire for awhile after everyone went to bed.  I watched the stars.  I listened to a dog barking.  I counted lightening bugs.  I got a little chill.  And now I smell like smoke.  In my mind, I'm back to my younger years at Dale Hollow Lake with the Greene's and the Funk's sitting around the campfire laughing and now when I go to bed I will smell of smoke.  Ahhh, life is so good!