We started off a bit late, had breakfast at Tellico Grains and picked up 3 loaves of bread, 2 garlic flatbreads and one honey wheat for lunch.
Stopped again to pick up a few supplies and gas up and we hit the road.
First stop on the route was Bald River Falls. We hiked up to the top and back before hopping back in the vans.
Esther, Suzette, Anna, Regina, Jon, Jake, Chandler, Emily, Ben, Zachary
Next up was the Donely Cabin, the footbridge was down, but we pressed on.
Anna got stung by a wasp at the cabin and so everyone had to wade a while in
the cold waters of North River to keep her company. The sting was soon
forgotten.
We left the river behind and started the climb to Whigg Meadows, where we climbed to the top of the bald and grazed on wild strawberries, then headed back for a wonderful picnic of fresh bread, a whole brick of pesto cheese, an entire summer sausage, boiled eggs and lots of water and tea.
We met up with the Skyway soon after leaving the meadows and stopped again at Hooper Bald, my personal favorite hike on the Skyway.
The wildflowers were everywhere, blackberries for acres and acres. The kids played and ran around and Ben...fell backward off a 6 foot cliff. Oh, he howled like a banshee and rescue was tedious, as there was no real way down to boost him back up. I ended up half-hanging off the cliff face and he climbed my legs until I could haul him up by the hand. He was filthy, but relatively unharmed, just terrified. And he bruised up his rump pretty darn good.
We had planned to go on to Joyce Kilmer Forest, but the kids were exhausted, so we headed back to the cabins.
Jake, Anna and Jon went tubing down the Tellico River with me while Ben, Zachary,
Chandler and Emily went swimming with Suzette. Regina went back to the
drive-in diner to get burgers for the kids after dropping us off about a mile
and a half upriver from the camp.
Our float trip was nice, but a bit bumpy here and there and we ended up paddling with our arms most of the way home. I imagine I will be sore tomorrow!
Back at the cabin, we showered and pre-packed as much as possible, tomorrow we head out for the second half of our big adventure! Leaving Tellico Plains behind and heading for parts unknown.
States for today:
Tennessee
North Carolina