Yay, is the weekend!! I work from home and I logged back into to check something before I ended my day, and I learned something. You have to be willing to take correction or you will always be stuck and you will never grow. Duh!
If you were looking for a tree hugging, homage to the beauty of nature, this is not that post. Based on the words of Charlamagne-tha-God, it will go from religious to the ratchet real fast.
It rained and was completely overcast today, because of Barry-I-wanna-be-hurricane-but-I-will-just-reek-havoc-across-the-entirety-of-the-southeast-part-of-the-US decided to rain on my weekend parade. But, what Barry, truly now is a hurricane, made for good reading weather, and I planned something soupy and slurpable for dinner. How about The Wiz and Seafood Ramen a la Felicia?It rained and was completely overcast today, because of Barry-I-wanna-be-hurricane-but-I-will-just-reek-havoc-across-the-entirety-of-the-southeast-part-of-the-US decided to rain on my weekend parade. But, what Barry, truly now is a hurricane, made for good reading weather, and I planned something soupy and slurpable for dinner. How about The Wiz and Seafood Ramen?
And my book selections to be read simultaneously, besides my own Not My Family, The Librarian of Auschwitz and Letters to A Young Poet, not exactly light Summer reading fare, but are taken right out of South Chattanooga Library. Unrepentant book hoarders should never be allowed inside used book stores like McKay’s here in Chattanooga. Jus’ sayin’.
Did Not Listen to TLC, and Went Chasing Waterfalls In TN
Why might you ask? I have time, I have a full tank of gas, and it’s all free. But there is a catch. All of the waterfalls are outside. I am not outdoorsy. As a matter of fact, I hate the outside. I would prefer to sit on a screened in porch with a fan moving the air, appreciating the outside. I hate outside. It’s hot, it’s muggy and there are bugs and crawling stinging things out there. And you look weird with a bottle of Raid, a bottle of water, and a hiking stick on the trail.
How I went from, “Hey that was a good idea to what the hell was I thinking??” will be the stuff of many heads shaking and “Girl, what the hell…” My intent was take pictures of books at several of the 500 waterfalls gracing the state. I had the shoes, water my chair, and Roadtrippers map all set.
So, those 500 waterfalls? Over 90% are actually on private property completely inaccessible, well that’s what the chatty trail walker told me and I figured out after the coordinates landed me in the center of the road.I am over 40, Fab ,and Fluffy. Loops and trailheads are not part of my vocabulary. I was over 6000 steps just to get to the Machine Creek Falls, and Falls Creek is more accessible but I was just over it by the time I got there. If I had simply created an itinerary of waterfalls contained within state park lands, I would have been golden. Check out https://www.stateparks.com/tennessee_parks_and_recreation_destinations.html for a complete listing of our state parks. The parks here are concentrated in the Eastern part of the state and several of the parks have RV sites with full hook ups(lingo for electric and sewage and cable, I kid you not) and tent camping sites. It really made me miss my old 30 year old travel trailer. Yes, I bought it and lived in it for 1 year and a half when I thought I wanted to go tiny house, story for another time.
I am over 40, Fab ,and Fluffy. Loops and trailheads are not part of my vocabulary. I was over 6000 steps just to get to the Machine Creek Falls, and Falls Creek is more accessible but I was just over it by the time I got there.
View From Connector Bridge
I just wanted an Idyllic place to take pictures, sit and read.
Trail of Tears 2.0
Nobody told me I would have to double time it to the interior, cross some streams…
View of Machine Falls through the bushes
And beat back brambles and bushes to find out the waterfall overlook are ledges with 50 foot drops and 2 miles hike down to the bottom of the waterfall.
Dirty Truck in the Woods
It doesn’t get easier or faster hiking back to your truck, I never thought the sounds of the cars passing the parking lot and the sight of my dirty truck would be so welcomed.
I am fabulously fluffy and I own it to the chagrin of my internist. But today I have sweated below plus size. For those out there that want an adventure plan your trip accordingly, don’t try to become super hiker or mountain man jack for the weekend. If you survive your body will hate you for days to come.
I earned every crystal of my Epsom salt soak.
I am placing this adventure in the at-least-I-tried-it-and-I-am-good-to-never-do-this-again bucket. Mardi Gras in New Orleans of Rio De Janeiro are pending to be placed in that bucket.
So until tomorrow travelers, PEACE!
Highway to my personal hell or West I-24
