We had another great two-day mini vacation in Cumberland Gap. We purposely tried to plan it for the Fall colors. Indeed there were more colors than what we currently have at our local level. At the higher elevation there were more colors. In another week there will be even richer colors, but I am not lamenting that at all. It's almost impossible to predict when a regions colors will be at their most intense. I had a lot of fun and relaxation, and so did Dillard and Sidney. We were able to hike into some new places and made plans to go back and do even more hiking next Spring. There are so very many trails to follow and you simply cannot do them all. And next time we will try for four or five days, instead of just two.

Our campsite had been recently vacated by someone(s), as the fire ring was still smoldering. They had dumped a huge pot of egg noodles with meat balls on the ground under the trees, left cigarette butts strewn, and a bag of garbage next to the picnic bench. Grrr! After getting set up we went into town to the local mall where we bought Dillard a belt buckle and Sidney picked out a camo knife. We then went to the local WalMart to get some snacks, drinks, and wood to burn. Sidney found some flame colors and so we got a box of those.

About the time it was starting to get dark, Dillard built the fire, and just had it going strong, when we felt a couple of drops of rain. We blew it off, only to have a deluge open up within about 15 seconds LOL. We had no choice but to go inside our pop out camper. For thirty minutes or more the rain poured hard, and the fire kept burning LOL. And Sidney had just put his colors onto the fire right before the rain. I told him we would go back and get some more colors. We played rummy and listened to the radio, or in Sidney's case, played with the Nintendo DS lite. When it was finally time for bed, I plugged my mp3 player into both ears and settled down with some bluegrass gospel. The next morning I noticed that the dumped food was no longer there. In fact there was no trace at all!!!! Dillard said about 10:00 p.m. or so he had heard something with a low growl outside, but that he wasn't going to look to see what it was LOL. I would have though LOL. If I hadn't had my mp3 player plugged in I would have heard it too and at least took a small peek LOL.

Sure enough, the next day after breakfast, we went by WalMart again for more wood and flame colors and all the fixings for S'Mores. This time we were able to enjoy a nice fire for several hours. The air was nippy but oh so nice next to the fire. Sidney was able to enjoy the blue and green flames after all, and hopefully I was able to photograph some of it. Tomorrow I will turn in about 6 rolls of film for developing. Yes, I still use my 35mm Canon Rebel with the 200 mm lens and add on flash. It was not a cheap camera in it's day and it still works great. I took my digital camera too along with a backup set of rechargeable batteries. But either the batteries won't accept a charge anymore, or they were never fully charged to begin with because it would turn on and promptly turn back off. So I didn't get but a few pics with it. Sure am glad I took old faithful LOL. Dillard actually let me take a few shots of him LOL. I will be anxious to see how they turn out!!!!

It was definitely a little cool after nightfall and I definitely didn't take enough blankets for me LOL. Sidney and Dillard didn't have any problems with it. I froze to death LOL. Next time, heated blankets!!!! I am too old for "roughing" it anymore. I is a tenderfoot.         LOL

All too soon we had to come back but I must admit we were sure missing Skeeter. She must have missed us too because she has been somewhat clingy since we got back. She is not a clingy cat at all. She loves attention but only in sporadic doses. She loves to sleep on Dillard's right arm when he is sitting in his easy chair. Otherwise she stays to her counsel for the most part LOL. But she has been underfoot every time I am up and around. She follows Dillard around even more, and seems to be concerned we will leave her again. Poor thing! I wish we could take her with us but cats don't do too well in camping areas. In the woods. With bears. And other critters.

before we left we were able to find out that we could indeed take our own firewood into the park. Since we are from the same geographical region, there is no danger in introducing foreign insects. So that big Oak tree that fell a few months ago? We can take that wood with us next time. A ranger also photographed the trash the previous camper(s) left. Even though we had already thrown it into the dumpster, he went through it and took pics of it. I picked up all the cigarette butts I could find and threw them into the fire. And Smokey ate all the food evidence. We definitely left the site clean and much cleaner than when we had found it.

Now to go open the newly arrived microscope!!!!! Have a blessed evening and I will try to get some articles posted in the forum.