Cumberland State Park,
Tennessee

Group Campout July 7, 8, 9, 2008

(2007 trip)

Our first stop after setting up was the Dutch Maid Bakery in Tracy City.
Okay, well I did not take any pictures of the goodies, but that is Kaitlin, sitting in front.

Then it was off to swim at Grundy Lake!

There were dozens of these chibi frogs, SO cute!

I can't believe that was an accident...

Heather and I watched this wasp drag this katydid across the grass and then dig out the hole to his house to make it fit!  COOL!

G is ever-ready for a Kodak Moment

Carson, Austin, Jake, Ben, Griffin, Kaitlin, Chandler, Emily

Back at the camp, we had a fire and make hot dogs and s'mores for dinner.
This was after the food had been eaten and we added Funky Flames to the fire!  It made it burn blue and turquiose and pink!

Ben watches the girls attempt a very blurry sugar-induced dance.

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DAY TWO

Up early!

I totally flake with the toaster!  hahaha, the box had a picture of how to actually set it up to not burn the bread and even that was beyond me for some reason.

We manage to eat enough to get moving and load up to hike.

Ah, hello my nemesis.  These stairs.  Again.

Greeter Trickle

Second angle, just in case.

Think they look tired now?  We still have to climb back out!

Up one, two, three

Keep going!

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Next stop was Stone Door

Overlookish

Happy hikers!

Stone Door Down

Stone Door up

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At the Dairy Delite for ice creamy goodness!
The menu provides cheap entertainment.

Back at Grundy!

Emily

Chan

Kaitlin

The Jaker

Back to camp for beans and rice followed by Jiffy Pop and a movie in the van! : )

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All loaded in front

And in the back!

We head to see Foster Falls, which isn't falling, but there are flowers!

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From there, we head to the Natural Arch
There are 47 steps and you have to walk across it-2 things I managed to totally block since last time.

Heather headed home, we went to Tullahoma

 Taco Bell followed by the Hands-on Science Center!

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Our final leg of the trip started with dropping Jake off to spend a few days with his best buddy in the world, Leighton.
We met them at Old Stone Fort State Park in Manchester

Jake gives Kaitlin a shower while we wait.  It had just rained.

We planned to swim afterward, but got caught in a traffic jam for well over an hour and opted to head home.

(Miles of this, ugh!)

We had a great time!  It was a Hallmark Trip in that it did not rain WHILE we were camping.  Heather and I are like rain dancers flapping tarps, I guess.  Our magic was slightly abbreviated this trip, the rains came as we left.

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