My spirit lags behind in a sun-dappled picnic spot near Cades Cove. The afternoon heat is tempered by a soft breeze, resulting in the kind of warmth that just kind of dulls your senses and makes you want to stretch out on the table and go to sleep, which I would do, except that right by our table, a wide place in the creek makes a clear, shallow pool that just begs to be played in. A little while ago we caught a few minnows. Now Sissy is picking up interesting stones to show me. Keith just found a salamander . Peanut is working hard on a rock-and-mud bridge that will span the 10 foot wide creek when finished.
We’ve been here two hours and she’s got 9 1/2 feet to go.
So you see, we can’t possibly leave yet…..
Oh OK, if I have to.
But boy was it a great trip. The weather was perfect. So many new memories….. bike riding with Sissy against the backdrop of the mountains, an outdoor game of Uno with Peanut in the comfortable evening air, a wonderful mid-week visit from Brother and my parents.
The owners of the campground have flowers and plants everywhere. In one flower bed, at any given time we would see several of these beautiful butterflies.
They refused to be still for a photo no matter how sweetly I asked them.
But I was patient, and finally caught one resting ...
On the way home, I tell Keith it’s been one of our best camping trips. He rolls his eyes and tells me I say that about all our trips. I’m not sure this is true, but I'm too tired and content to argue.
Much.
