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Weeee…let’s do that again!
Day 2 (or 3 if you count the day spent driving here)
Hmmm, I suppose I should back up to Day 1 and tell you how fan-freaking-tastic riding in the car along Tail of the Dragon was. Let me tell you, there aren’t many straight highways in this part of NC. Its alllll curves, but the Dragon has what, 318 sharp curves (many flip-flop hairpins) in 11 miles? Incredible. Did I mention we were in my GXP that is set up with 415 horsepower and performance suspension? Like riding on rails. Best roller coaster ride I ever had – with hubs at the wheel.
We drove along the Cherohala Skyway:
The Cherohala Skyway was completed in the fall of 1996 after being under construction for some thirty-four years. It is North Carolina’s most expensive highway carrying a pricetag of $100,000,000. Winding up and over 5,400 foot mountains for 15 miles in North Carolina and descending another 21 miles into the deeply forested backcountry of Tennessee. The road crosses through the Cherokee and Nantahala National Forests thus the name “Chero…hala”. The Skyway is becoming well known in motorcycling and sportscar circles for it’s long, sweeping corners, scenic views and cool summer breezes. (www.cherohala.com)
Seriously, you are IN THE CLOUDS at the highest point. When we began the drive, it was 79 degrees – at the highest altitude, it was 66. You can totally understand why they are called the Smoky Mountains. Dotted all through the mountains, you could see fog drifting up through the trees, giving the appearance of smoke, as if it was on fire…
The name “Smoky” comes from the natural fog that often hangs over the range and presents as large smoke plumes from a distance. This fog, which is most common in the morning and after rainfall, is the result of warm humid air from the Gulf of Mexicocooling rapidly in the higher elevations of Southern Appalachia. (www.wikipedia.com)
Now, on to Day 2:
We woke to no electricity. Apparently a limb had fallen on a power line and disrupted the power. Perfectly fine with me. The temperature outside is comfortable and I finished a book while sitting in a rocking chair. Didn’t want to take off and go since I hadn’t had a shower….so…I was treated to the monotonous whining of “I’m bored”. Ugh. Pugs didn’t seem to mind either.
After a few hours, power was restored and all was right in the world of the teenagers. We took some more curvy roads to Franklin, NC to visit the Fun Factory – the nearest arcade/go cart/laser tag establishment. Wonderful drive there and back. Words can’t properly paint a true picture of how beautiful this area of the US truly is.
Worked on a puzzle I brought along and started a new book before finally passing out on the sofa bed. I slept like a baby for the first time since we arrived. Sometime during the night the power went out again. And now the cable isn’t working. Doesn’t bother me none, but I’m sure there will be other opinions from the younger faction…
Nice photos of Hubs and Kid riding the Dragon:
http://www.photoreflect.com/store/Orderpage.aspx?pi=0QAK00QE020262&po=262&pc=2061
http://www.photoreflect.com/store/Orderpage.aspx?pi=0QAK00QE020215&po=215&pc=2061
There are a few photographers that sit at various points in the Dragon and take photos of people driving up and down the curves.
I’ll work on getting the Cherohala pics posted later…
Ahhhh. Just what I needed!
Totally lazy this morning, but with good reason. I’m at a cabin in North Carolina in the Smoky Mountains. I have no cell service at all. None. Nyet. I am loving it.
The cabin is situated by a small creek. All I can hear besides the snorting of my pugs is the babbling of the creek and the typical “woods sounds” that accompany mostly uninhabited woodsy areas. Like where I grew up. Like where I went to Girl Scout camp. I didn’t realize how much I’d missed it.
I’m here for a week. Hubs and kid went riding on the motorcycle already – I’m hangin on the covered porch with kid’s pal. I don’t particularly care to be going 24/7 – especially on vacation. I plan to stay in my jammies as long as possible today…right in this glider swing…reading by book and surfing the net. With the pugs at my feet, quietly munching on chew sticks. Kid’s pal is enjoying the quiet too.
I stayed up until about 1am – wired from all the cokes I drank. I woke at 4am and actually GOT UP. Been awake ever since. If you know me, and how much I love sleep – this is very strange. The fresh air and relaxation I think is the reason. The more depressed I am, the more I tend to sleep.
I’ve already cooked breakfast, taken the dogs on a rather long walk thru some nearby trails, played on the computer, cleaned my mess up in the kitchen, watched an old episode of Three’s Company, a MotoGP race and swept the hardwood floor. This post will be logged on Central time, but it’s really an hour later where I am.
The cabin is quaint. Two small bedrooms, two baths, sunroom. Wide open kitchen and den. Furnished. Its private property, so it’s not a commercial rental. The air isn’t working real well, but the weather is much more temperate than it currently is in Marion, AR! Two acres of dense woods surrounds the cabin. Hot tub, long covered porch with inserts to keep pets or toddlers from the steps.
I’m rather proud of myself for finding this place, even if the ride here left a bit to be desired (not because the scenery wasn’t absolutely fantastic!).
Thinking about rafting, zip lining, and hiking while here. Right now I’m happy to sit on my butt and listen to nature for the day… ;)
Early Riser Challenge, Day 4
The Early Riser Challenge from lifehack.org is working out very well for me. I wouldn’t have thought I possessed the will power to do it. I’ve found that I typically use sleep to escape certain things in my life (depression, anyone?), but the fact is – I’m turning the big 4-0 this year. I’ve been examining a lot of aspects of my life. As much as I enjoy late late late weekend nights and sleeping all day on the weekends, I’m beginning a new-found love affair with early morning solitude.
The early weekend mornings will be more difficult as there are complications with the solitude part, but I’ll just have to find a way to deal with it. I’ll post progress on that during/after this weekend.
I am now realizing that I’ll have to create some “preparing for sleep” habits. As I mentioned yesterday, I lay awake for almost an hour after turning the lights off. Lifehack has some ideas that may help.
Waking up earlier to enjoy some well-needed personal time has allowed me feel less rushed and more laid back during the day. I don’t feel so scatterbrained since I’ve spent time in the morning writing down things I need to do – kinda like dust bunny cleaning of the brain. I don’t find that I’m any sleepier during the day (except this morning when I was in a 4 hour training class in a room that contained windows with a view of the grey rainy day.)
I feel more than a little empowered – I’ve been exercising a little each morning and feel like I could actually keep it up and make a difference to my ever expanding waistline. Who knows – maybe I an even quit smoking!!! Oh, but that is another challenge entirely…
I’ve been able to keep up with friends and family on Facebook by having time in the morning to read. It’s blocked at work, so the only time I can view is at home. I’ve also kept my RSS feed reader under control – and have enjoyed the articles (like on lifehack.org) where I usually empty the list because I’ve fallen behind. And what do you know? I’ve been BLOGGING this week! What a concept!
Early Riser Challenge, Day 3
When the alarm went off this morning, I popped right outta bed 
Not only that, but I had actually backed up the time to 5:30. Decided I’d like just a little more goof off time before work.
The biggest problem I’m having now is going to sleep. Although you’d think I’d be dead to the world by 10pm, I’m having to force myself to turn the lights out and lay there. I’m hoping this will work itself out soon 
Things I learned this weekend…
various observations:
my orchid is not dead, it’s merely on vacation.
of the three red-eared sliders I have, the smallest one enjoys his new (actually used, from a neighbor-moving-donation) 10 gallon tank all to himself. I was right. The much larger Tony and Stewart had been picking on little Ryan.
Teenagers do not know how they like their steak cooked – when you take them to a restaurant.
No matter how hard you try to please someone, they will treat you like poo-poo if you let them.
Jimmie won again? Ugh. Maybe I should DVR the races and watch them only if I know he didn’t win.
I still don’t understand why people so vehemently feel that Damien, Jason, and Jessie are guilty. Even with no direct evidence (like DNA) to prove it. How can a person be given the death penalty with only circumstantial evidence? With all the mistakes made during the witch hunt investigation and trial? What would it hurt to give them another trial? With a different judge this time? If they are so guilty, wouldn’t it come out? I’d gladly shut up about it if another trial proved them guilty. (Nope, ain’t on the recent bandwagon. Been following this since it happened in 93. Never thought they were guilty to begin with.)
The Right Temptation wasn’t really a “terrible” movie. The premise was good. And I’ll take Kiefer in a seduction scene any way I can get it.
spending the entire weekend doing laundry is no fun
if it’s there, the pugs will pee on it
happiness is three pugs cuddling in bed with you
i really need to stop the Wii-Fit from collecting dust.
I don’t know that I will ever quit smoking, given my circumstances. If they change, well – that is another story.
You don’t realize how much of your hair is on the floor/carpet until you have to dig it out of the beater bar on your vaccum.
Scooby-snacks for thought…
Snaps for Tina ;)
I achieved a personal milestone on Tuesday. I won’t bore you with specifics and I haven’t shared it with anyone mainly because I don’t want the Negative Nellys in my life to beat me down. But, I am very proud of myself and seem to have an extra spring in my step today. I just have to say that setting goals for yourself and achieving them really does your body and soul good!
Pics
