Cell Hell

TWWEEEE! – TWWEEEE! – – TWWEEEE! – – – TWWEEEE! – – – – – – teeee? In complete darkness the Oriole questioned his own out burst. “What,,,, am I too early?” No other living creature responded. I lay awake, twenty minutes past, twenty, and I’m thinking, “My word, I could have tasted coffee by now!! TWWEEEE! – TWWEEEE! – – TWWEEEE! – – – TWWEEEE! The beautiful hollow ring of the Oriole again tested the darkness. Weeeat – Weeeat – Thaaaaweet, another distant call rings out. Soon the forest aviary is actively tweeting. These are “Best Tweets” ever. I too agree, “Lets do this thing.”

After living close to an interstate freeway for thirty-seven years, it truly is wonderful staying in a forest. Often there is no Internet connection, but it is usually available within five to ten miles. The greatest hardship about spotty cell service is the difficulty Deb confronts when trying to find our next camping spot.

The National Forest Recreation Campgrounds are now moving to a reservation only system. This means the number of “Walk up” sites, are being reduced, which we have always counted on. State Park campgrounds have been reservation only for years, and it has been difficult, if not impossible to find a State run site without booking it months in advance. The idea of advance planning, reserving, mapping, really cramps our Nomadic style. Often Deb is searching out a landing spot as I’m driving. This gives us both something to do, and I think I have the easier task.

Due to a non-publicized policy change we cannot renew for another day’s stay here at Lake Powhatan, a National Forest. A reservation had been accepted for our previously denoted walk up site, and now we have to evacuate. Dang! As a believer’s in Jesus Christ this is as close to Hell as we are going to get, for a non-believer, well this is as close to heaven as one would get.

Lake Rabun Campground was a good activity hub for us. From there we kayaked the lake, visited Tallulah Gorge State Park, and Black Mountain State Park. We are approaching Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the Blue Ridge Parkway. The hiking trails are getting steeper and somewhat more difficult to navigate. We went into the town of Clayton and purchased some hiking shoes. Bill, at “Outdoor 76” did a wonderful job in assisting us. As a nature lover and hiker he had great hiking tips and suggestions. I never knew the benefit of wearing wool socks when hiking. Thanks Bill. Coincidently we saw Bill at a church we randomly picked for worship. That was kinda cool.