blah blahblah blah blahblahblahblah: February 2014

So last weekend was a busy one for me. Saturday night a friend of mine was throwing a birthday party for his fiancee and invited Melissa and I to join them. Sunday was an early birthday caving trip -- with the option to camp out overnight.

Arrangements were made. Thanks to Melissa for being here Sunday and for Isaac being here on Saturday, not only would *I* be able to go to both, but Melissa would be able to join me Saturday evening.

Her and I would get a rare "date". The problem with that is, I fully intended to go camping after the dinner, and that was in the opposite direction of the house. This meant taking two separate vehicles -- some date!

Anyhow, we left here at 5 PM with a 30 minute cushion to get to Tellico by 7 PM. Of course, that wasn't enough and we showed up about 20 minutes late. Luckily, it was a non-issue (they all know me and likely expected me to be late).

We ate dinner, enjoyed countless stories, and laughed until about 9:30 PM. Technically, I had figured on being on the road by 9 at the latest to make it to the campsite another 2 hours away.

This would be interesting, though. The place I was headed isn't a campground, it's someone's driveway. Additionally, the driveway is located off a side street. Not having GPS nor a cell phone, this would be like finding a needle in the haystack -- always a good time looking at EVERY DAMN street sign you pass while it's dark in hopes that the reflective lettering will excite your retinas!

I managed to miss the road I was looking for once (Coal Bank Rd.) and asked at a gas station. The little Indian dude behind the counter had no idea where it was but yanked out his cell phone and googled it. It's down the road another 20 miles or so. I quickly found out that that was wrong as US 70 became US 70-S. I was never supposed to get to US 70-S.

I stop at another gas station and ask there. There's another Indian behind the counter with no clue, but tells me the Burger King that adjoins his station is open and someone there may know. Okay, I ask and there is a guy in there that knows where it is.

He gives me directions and I managed to miss it again. I am getting frustrated by now, but turned back around hoping it would jump out at me or something. I thought I would eventually narrow it down enough to find it.

I am beyond frustrated now and throw up a Hail Mary prayer asking for help finding this damned road! I came up to a FedEx truck and followed him for a bit. He pulled into a closed gas station, so I pulled in behind. I was about to knock on his door and ask if he had a GPS to clue me in, when ... BAM! I noticed the street sign and it was Coal Bank Rd. SWEET!

I managed to find the driveway with little problem. The directions I had mentioned something about a cow gate and then taking a right turn by the creek. I went on by a house and found a cow gate, went through the gate, and didn't see anything to the right. I continued on and found another house, then another cow gate. Again, proceeded through the gate and this time there was a road off to the right. I took it and got a bunch of cows' eyes reflecting my headlights.

I figured this was wrong and went back through the cow gate. There was a little road off to the right I had missed. I took it, but it quickly ended, but it was near the creek. I could see across the way an LED light (looked like a camp light, not a barn light). I went back to the start of the driveway and just as I got there I noticed there was another little road off to the (now left) right.

I followed it and soon saw vehicles. YAY! I was sooo damned glad to get parked. It is now about 12:30. I was pretty tired of looking for this place. Even better, everyone was still awake too.

The time passed quickly and before long folks were headed to their tents. I stayed up a bit and then finally retired myself.

Morning came and we started moving. It hadn't rained at all over night and there was hardly no dew on my tent at all. I was going to break camp but a steady drizzle started falling before I had. Now I will have to set that tent up again later on.

We got the campfire re-stoked and Gavin began preparing to cook breakfast. I grabbed a Snickers bar for my breakfast while at the store the day before. I had NO idea what was in the works. He cooked up bacon, eggs, and biscuits over a campfire. These are no amateurs!

Around 11 AM the rest of the group that were not camping showed up. We then headed over to the cave (also on the property we were camping on) and was treated to one of the most beautiful caves I have ever set foot in.

It was a huge cave and I will let the pictures tell the rest of the story (thanks yet again to Cardin Photography and Larry Walden for sharing their pictures)........