Today was our last morning in the Smoky Mountains. We were sad to leave the mist, the green, the mountains. The drive to Fall Creek Falls took us along the Foothills Parkway which was short enough to be enjoyable, and through the hills of eastern Tennessee to the home of the alleged “Tallest Waterfall east of the Rockies.” Game on waterfall, we’ll see about that. Now we are falling asleep on what might be the coldest night so far, and also the quietest… No gushing creek here to lull us to sleep, although no RV generators either. Fair trade I’d say.
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We woke up extra early, in the cold but clear morning. Deer, white-tailed and shedding their winter coats, looked back at us from the patches of wilderness separating one campsite from the next. We had the morning to ourselves, apart from the deer, and it made standing in the presence of that filmy veil of water that much more simple, awesome, and above all, quiet. We have found that, upon hearing our brief (9-day) story and our plans for the future of this trip, we illicit the natural human response — SHARING.
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The people whom we have met on the road, on the trail, in the campgrounds, outdoor stores, rangers’ stations, restaurants, all want to share with us THEIR STORIES — About the places they have seen, loved, lived in, driven past, eaten in, hiked to, or dreamed about. We love to listen… as that is precisely what this trip is about. Listening to each other and to ourselves. To wake up in the quiet early dawn and listen to what your soul needs.
I have so missed your writing. If you could shed some light on the “troubles” of camping that would be great i.e. Matt’s first experience with a hole in the forest floor or rogue raccoons. Love you both – can’t wait to read more xoxo
Baaahahahahah, yes. A “How To Deal With Less-Than-Pleasant Camping Experiences” will certainly be an upcoming post. Maybe after a long weekend of backpacking in the desert? That sounds like it could be good fodder for a story of this unsavory kind. Miss you lady!