Blogs from Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee, United States, North America

Tom and I are getting ready to return to Asia in the spring of 2012. The current plan is to spend six weeks in Vietnam, six more in southern China, and four weeks in Japan. We'll be traveling on our own for part of the time, using some private tours, but for the most part relying on ourselves to manage the Asia transportation systems and hotels. Our goal for the trip: to learn how people live in other cultures and countries. Our current challenges: preparing to conduct the business of living as a retired couple in Tennessee while buying train tickets, getting visas, making hotel reservations, sending emails to non-English speakers to arrange tours, and corresponding with friends we made in Vietnam during the last trip. It's the day after Thanksgiving, 2011, and we leave from ... read more

Today, I run the Ocoee. This river is considered the best whitewater trip in Tennessee. It’s also the most popular rafting trip in the United States. A month from now, it will be nearly impossible to move due to all the boats in the river. For me, the trip was very important; after my experience on the Chatooga, I was using this river as a bellwether about booking more rafting on this road trip. I ultimately got my answer, but not in the way I had intended. The Ocoee River is dam controlled. The dams were built in the 1920s, by a power company that was ultimately acquired by the Tennessee Valley Authority. In 1976, the Authority was forced to open the dams completely while it rebuilt the power canals. Thousands of whitewater enthusiasts descended on ... read more

19th August 2007 ... read more

Zero Day Events, Good Food and Rest. Got up early and CC stayed in bed to rest. Went out to breakfast with the other hikers and Johnny. He makes three runs a day to town - breakfast, lunch and supper. He will run you by the post office, the store or where ever else you might need to go. Erwin, TN is quite spread out and his hostel is on one far end. We stayed at the Waffle House until 9AM when the Post Office opened, then he drove by there on the way home. Our box was there waiting all in tact. Got back to the hostel and got in trouble for not bringing CC a sweet roll. Laundry was done then it was lunch time. A group of 13 men from "Kingsway Church" in ... read more

Rain and thunder continued throughout the night into early morning. Fog shrouded the mountain like cloth draped over furniture in an old mansion. Water dripped from the end of the leaves creating small puddles under their branches. Wind swirled mist and the fresh smelling clean air through the open door of the shelter as morning broke and we climbed out of our bags for chow. Earl had slept on the second floor and I had heard him stirring about 30 minutes before I got up. Not sure what he had for breakfast, but I did not hear any stove. He was all packed up and ready to head out as CC and I were in the middle of our oatmeal. He did not have rain pants, only a coat which he wore. We suggested he ... read more