Weaver's Bend

Had a camping trip planned for this past weekend. Since it was going to be out in the middle of the woods, I wanted to bring the KLR and possibly explore some of the forest roads/trails that I would come across. Problem with that is that the KLR keeps blowing the headlight fuse (and it has an expired tag).

I got the tag renewed and began chasing down the short. In the process of that, I managed to blow the starter solenoid in doing so. The cost for a new one is (GAK!!) $75?!?! Ugh! I swear I make things worse sometimes! I checked fleabay and found one that would work in my bike for $16 and free shipping. SOLD!

However, it wouldn't arrive before I had to leave on Friday, so the KLR is out. Meh! that means I have to take the Bandit. Life is tough!

Problem with *that* though, is that it has a bald rear tire and rain was forecast for late in the weekend. I figured I would deal with that problem when I got there.

I got the bike loaded up and took off for Weaver's Bend, which is on the TN/NC border -- basically a half hour away. I took the wrong turn and went about 10 miles out  of the way before I found a local to ask for directions. He pointed me the right way and I eventually got there.

Larry and his dog, Sprocket, were already there and had his camp set up. I told him I was only staying long enough to set up my tent and then was off to make a run to the grocery store for beer and food. I *could* have brought that along, but what I wanted isn't available in TN and since I was already near the border anyway, I decided I would drop off my gear (weight) and take a fun run on the bike to get beer and food.

It worked out *perfectly*. I KNOW the roads to the store and had fun twisting the happy handle.

I had a free run at TN-70 over the mountain (which offers a few fun switchbacks but only lasts a couple miles) then onto NC-208 along the river and just laying the bike over to the right and the left in quick succession.

I hadn't had any seat time lately, but my skills were pretty sharp! GOOD TIMES!

Then for the icing on the cake, I had a free run up the mountain on US 25/70! I have NEVER had an uninhibited run up that stretch. The bike gods were smilin' on me!

I got to the store, grabbed some grub and liquid bliss. It was funny, though. As I loaded up the grocery cart (with beer mostly), I began wondering how in the hell I was going to fit it all on the bike. It worked out, but since I only had my collapsible cooler, it was tight. Nonetheless, I got everything packed and I headed back to camp.

Larry was still the only one there and that is how it would be for Friday night. That was just fine. We sat around staring at the fire and an occasional train going by. One of which Larry got a wonderful long exposure shot of ...

bridge lit up by train crossing at night  
(photo taken by Larry Walden)

In between trains, he and I solved all the world's problems. I must confess though, that the alcohol has clouded my memory and I cannot recall the solutions we came up with. I guess we will have to hold another fire.

The night passed quickly and Larry said to me "well it's 3 AM, I guess I will go lie down". It sure didn't feel that late; time flies when you're having fun!

I was up and moving before Larry so I grabbed the camera to play some.

the view out of my tent

down river

up river

Larry's everything-but-the-kitchen-sink idea of camping

sunrise 

duck take-off

When I got back, Larry was still snoozing, so I gathered some wood and rekindled the fire. Larry soon got up and we were sitting around wondering if anyone else was going to show or not. In the meantime, these ducks were giving Larry, Sprocket, and I hell!

Larry talking (cursing out?) to the ducks

After that, we discussed tackling the mountain on the other side of the river. It's basically a vertical bluff, topping off at 700' above the river.

this mountain is MUCH steeper than the pic indicates

We planned on getting some pictures of camp from above.We figured if the rest of the group showed we would catch up later and headed out with Sprocket. Sadly, the ol' boy has a nagging hip issue, and we didn't make it very far before deciding to turn back for his benefit.

Just as we got to the road back to camp, we heard a couple vehicles coming up the road.

(photo taken by Larry Walden)

Yay! the rest of the group had arrived. Larry grabbed lunch and plans were made. They planned on floating the river but had to juggle how to leave one vehicle at where they got out. Larry and I were determined to get our pictures.

We started back up the hill. Larry had consulted his map and assured me it was "only 1000' " to which I replied "yeah 1000' straight UP!!!"  ; )

It was rather rigorous for this out-of-shape-ol'-boy. Footing was a bit sketchy at parts; not only was it steep but it was slippery! Not a good combination at all! Plotting your next move involved finding the nearest tree or root to grab onto to give yourself some sense of security.

We got separated and Larry took the proper course to get there and I ... did not! I took some pics trying to capture the grade but pictures do NOT do it justice.

was using this tree to hold myself in place

lying on my belly and taking a picture

 I got about 2/3 of the way up and it hit me! This is really friggin' STUPID! I mistakenly jarred a rock loose and it started rolling ... and rolling .... and rolling. I counted and it was a full eight seconds before it stopped. That's a helluva drop! and I am going to have go back *down* this grade!

However, I was this close to the top (so I thought), and figured I would contend with the descent when the time come!

I got to a point where I could see the top of the mountain, but, again, it was straight up. There seemed to be an easier way by going to the left and going at an angle rather than a tangential path -- straight up.

This was not the best of plans. While it did seem "less strenuous" (at this point WTF does that matter?), it also would not take me where I wanted to go, and would even add more ground to cover.

I rounded the edge to where I thought I could get to the peak only to find that the mountain curled back in on itself and then out. So I would have to travel twice the distance I originally thought or I could try the tangential route straight up that I had just ignored.

By this point, I could no longer hear Larry and the sun was getting kind of low on the horizon. I opted to skip the picture and head back to camp. I held on to the hope that Larry got some. He did and I will put them here.

(photo by Larry Walden)

  (photo by Larry Walden)

What a view!    (photo by Larry Walden)

Coming down wasn't as bad as I had envisioned while going up, but was still precarious. There were stretches that lacked handholds or footholds. I would slide for 10-20' and try to steer myself toward the next living tree or substantial felled log that would slow me down or allow me something to grab onto.

By the time I was halfway down, I could hear Larry calling to see if I was okay. I told him I was and for him to go back to camp, but he patiently waited on my slow ass. Poor guy! he may never hike anywhere with me again!

By the time we got back, everyone else was already there. Tales of the day's events were shared and laughs had. We were all sitting around the fire and just enjoying a beverage and each others' company when Brooke mentioned she wanted to get on rope. Robby began trying to sling a rope up and around a tree limb but was not having much luck with it.

Meanwhile, I was obsessing about the mountain I did not conquer. I kept staring at it. I wanted to try and capture the scale so took a walk with the camera. I did a panoramic view to try and show how much it stuck up above the surrounding grade. Here is the best I could do ...





Brooke got bored and climbed a tree while waiting on Robby. He kept on  trying but never did get a rope all the way around the limb he was trying for. It sure wasn't for a lack of effort nor determination!

The weight he was using was not heavy enough to come back down once it got over the branch. Anyway, he kept trying. He must've been at it for about an hour. He finally gave up and went for a closer branch.

He finally settled for the tree Brooke had already climbed, which was MUCH lower than the one he was trying to get. You can see how much daylight there was in the pic to the left. The pic below was taken shortly after Robby got a rope rigged up for her.

Brooke on rope, Robby drinkin' a beer

After the rope adventure, we all were back at the bonfire, except Gavin who started to cook up dinner. This man can cook around a campfire like none other.

His offering for tonight was meatloaf turtles. These are meatloaves covered in bacon with sausages for the legs and head.

Shortly after, and not to be outdone, Robby started preparing his chili. By the time I got around to filling a plate, both were done and Jenn told me I needed to put the chili on the meatloaf. Okay, works for me. It was fantastic. .

The rest of the night was filled with bonfire, beer, and good company. It just doesn't get any better! Good times!

(photo by Larry Walden)

Usually, I am the last to crash, but I laid down before Brooke and Robby because I was wore out from that hike earlier. I also was sufficiently buzzed! So much so, that I had inadvertently left my jacket out as well as my camera. 

At some point, the rain that was predicted moved in. I woke to a soaked jacket (and a rainy, 30* morning -- without a DRY jacket) and to find my camera with water drops all over it. SHIT! 

Worse yet, I wasn't alone. Brooke left her phone out in a chair and the water had accumulated over it so the phone was sunk in the water. Oops! She was rather unhappy. I am hopeful my camera didn't take any water inside the case, but time will tell on that. She couldn't be as optimistic. 

The rain really delayed everyone packing up. Once it finally broke, I quickly got my stuff packed up and soon others did the same. It was nearly noon before vehicles were packed up. 

It was a great weekend. Yes, it was great to get out of the house and all, but the company was what made it so great. Such a great group of folks I am blessed to be able to hang out with. 

The "cost" of fun!

One of my caving buddies had mentioned to me during the Blue Springs Cave trip, that on the last weekend of February they were going to be camping out at a rustic/primitive cabin in the Big South Fork area (near the KY/TN border). This is a guys-only thing.

I ride through that area a LOT and know how beautiful it is. Admittedly, I was a bit shocked when I asked what activities they normally do and got the reply (parphrased) "nothing! we just sit around and drink".

Bummer! I shook my head. The area is too beautiful and riddled with outdoor activities to do "nothing"!

However, the idea of hanging out there doing nothing was *MUCH* more appealing than hanging out at the house and doing nothing. Additionally, I honestly could NOT recall the last time I was on a "boys night out" thing.

Luckily, Isaac was available and I was able to leave by late Friday morning. Another cave buddy was going and has been there before, and since he lived close by, we made arrangements to ride over together.

I got to Larry's place a little late (15 minutes, so not quite yet Ed-late). We loaded up the truck with his gear and hit the road. The parking lot was roughly 2 hours away.

Heh. the parking lot! There were two ways in -- a three mile, level hike and a one mile steeply sloped hike (down on the way in, up on the way out).

Larry tried to convince my dumbass to strap my bag and cooler to his backpack rig, but I was sure I could handle it. Stubbornness! it may well one day be the death of me!!

If the straps to my bag were larger and padded this likely would have been a non-issue. However, they are not either of those two qualities. Not only that, but my collapsible cooler's straps were torn where they attached to the cooler -- the weight of about 28 twelve ounce beverages on ice will NOT help this!

After a few hundred feet or so, the straps were already cutting into my shoulders. I would spend the rest of the way down the hill, alternating which bag was on which shoulder. Poor Larry! I told him to just go on ahead and I would eventually get there, but he stuck with me, bless his heart.

By the time we got down to the river and a level surface, I noticed that my cooler strap was about to let go. That tear at the top of the hill had deteriorated into a concern that it may just let go at anytime and the cooler would take a 3' drop, breaking some of the bottles in the cooler.

This was not acceptable! I put the cooler inside my camp bag and pulled some other stuff out and carried it, while the cooler sat nestled in the much sturdier and safer "camp bag" (actually an old Army rucksack from a H.S. friend of mine).

I am really slowed by now as I am about spent! Larry tries keeping my spirits up by telling me how close we are and the occasional, yet false, "it's just around the next bend" rhetoric.

He even sends owl calls because anyone at the cabin that heard it would be calling back to him. It wasn't long before we did hear these returned calls. It worked, I felt better, but was still too exhausted to pick up the pace and hardly was able to carry my bags for more than a few hundred feet without setting it all down and taking a "breather".

We finally come around the right "bend" and the cabin is visible. You talk about a sight for sore eyes! OH MY!

It was bittersweet, though, as I was *tickled* to see the cabin -- and, yet, a bit disheartened to see that it was up a hill. My legs are DONE!

Yeesh! I saw that and was totally bummed. I damn near sat down and dug a beer out and figured on drinking one or three to lighten the load to get up that hill. Gavin, who originally suggested I come, seen me in my state of despair and exhaustion, came down and grabbed my bag out of my hands. I told him I would get it and he said "c'mon". My tired body didn't argue as the 190 pound frame I was already lugging around was cumbersome enough.

As soon as that bag hit the cabin deck, I dug myself out a beer before ANYTHING else happened. IT ... WAS ... TIME!

 After 12 oz. of liquid bliss, I went ahead and set my sleeping bag up for the night. After that, it was time to get (the rest of) my drink on. Many laughs and good times were had to round out the evening.

The fire and a roof was the lone amenity to the cabin

Robby, Ike, and Randy

Saturday dawned and my calf muscles and shoulders were screaming! Sad thing is, I had to hike back up the hill to get more beer -- carrying what I had carried down the day before nearly broke me -- at least I was smart enough not to try and carry more. Larry was in the same boat. I told him I would grab whatever he needed, but he wanted to go too.


Before we made the trek back up, he wanted to grab some breakfast, so I whiled away that time playing with the camera. Here are a few pictures

creek leading up to waterfall

Larry

some woodpecker(s) been busy

looking up

That hill about kicked this outta-shape ol' man's ass! I struggled mightily.

There were times poor Larry thought I was going to go into cardiac arrest. I was winded and that is all, but he had fun picking on my dumb ass.   ; )

looking back

About halfway up there was a rockshelter and we took some time to explore it. Mostly for me, it was a break for my aching calves.

We finally reached the truck and I gladly took Larry up on his offer to use his backpack rack for the hike back to the cabin.

It is amazing how much better a situation is when you have the right gear. I had decided I wanted to hike the flat path back in -- despite the fact it was three miles instead of one.

Three level miles was more appealing to me than one mile of that incline. I told Larry he could play it either way and I would pick him up if he chose the shorter route, but he went along with the extra miles.

So we moved the truck. Outside of getting back to the cabin, this was the best part of the day. LOL

We find the lower parking lot and begin the three mile hike. Did I mention I am wore out yet? Three LEVEL miles is STILL *three* miles!

Along the way there is this ....

Apparently the story is that a couple good ol' boys were out drinkin' 'n' drivin' and rolled their car. This path is not exactly vehicle friendly so it still sets there after all these years.

We finally got close to the cabin and could hear the ruckus of the boys being boys. Such a welcome sound for these ears!

By now, I am walking like a sasquatch from sheer pain -- and really, just happy to be able to be walking still, and not carried! A few beers helped me not notice it so much, and the night passed quickly with yet more laughs and good times.

Sunday dawned and everyone is packing up to leave. Larry and I were the last to do so. Oddly, I didn't feel as much pain today as I had yesterday. Either I had gotten to the point where I was numbed, there was just no way to feel any MORE pain, or something. The hike back to the truck seemed easier on me than any of the previous of the weekend had.

Despite the pain, it was a great weekend, and I cannot wait to go back next year -- albeit with proper equipment!