TC4 - Been there, done that

“Ruby, I get my lemon juice powder from Suttons Bay Trading Company in Indiana:

http://www.suttonsbaytrading.com/Flavored_Powders/Lemon_Juice_Powder.html

Currahee, send me your email address, and I will send you the cookbook. I already put the Champion Sushi Recipe in it.
last edited: 10/19/04 4:26:31 PM”

“Tmac.........GREAT pics!!!.......so good to meet you and glad you hung out with us........I need a nap......”

“Great Pictures Dub and T Mac.

So Divinity, seen any cops lately?”

“It was a great time. I loved talking to everyone and the eats....

I hope everyone returns next year and many more come....the event will be even better next year...
Ya'll come.”

“I found a recipe for a dessert I might enter next year.

Smokygirl, you have mail to the account in your profile.”

“My foot is about tapped out from waiting for divinity's trip report. ;-)”

“I'm working on it......sheesh.....I have had a bad week......so going to be with friends and drink a few beers tonight......tomorrow will be better.......in fact..I'll work on it now......”

“Nice pics. TMac!! >8-O Where's your hair???? LOL!”

“LOL, you know I'm just pickin'.
Do it when you can. It's just that teaser bit about almost getting in trouble that got my attention. ;-)”

“LOL....I know SS.....I just got in from work.......not even changed clothes....just kicked off shoes and came here to get cheered up!!!....I am almost finished......be back later.....”

“lizs: I cut it all off before my trip to the Rockies in May and decided to keep it this way. Its the ultimate approach to ultralight hiking! ;-)

dang it, if Div hadn't been so nice to me, I'd make some joke about her not posting a report because she wasn't actually there... :)”

“Ok...here ya go.....way long..and not too exciting......

...Thursday Oct 14th.....I know I drove everyone crazy that day!!!......I was so excited......picked up the rental car and then ran home to put gear in car.......I rented a car for this trip cause I was driving sooo far.....and was looking forward to having cruise and a cd player......got half way home and guess what???......no cruise and no cd player....grrrrrr......so I go home...throw my gear into car and off I go.....uneventful trip...long but enjoyable.......loud music and singing......and CAFFINE!!!!....Gives me a chance to ponder important questions like....why is it.....you look each time you visit the bathroom and always paper...BUT about the time you are in a hurry and forget......NO PAPER? " I arrived at the Wilderness Road Campgrounds and stopped by the office and there was a piece of paper stuck on a stick...."NS E 24"........so I hop back in my car to find NowSlimmer....wooohooooo......hugs...and I set up my tent.....good conversation & I had a beer...yum........since I had been up since 3am I was ready for bed......so good nights said I crawl into my tent......just in time.......started to rain.....I love sleeping in a tent in the rain......
...Friday Oct 15th....I heard Nowslimmer leave...he was getting some work done on his car....I was sleeping in!!!!......wooo hoooo.......I got up and packed up tent....and while I was finishing up Super Troll pulled up he was checking to see if NS car had started.....so we decided to meet in town for lunch...he saw a Hennesy at another spot and couldn't help himself and HAD to ask about it......GEAR SLUT!!!!...LOL....It was Tmac.....we talked a bit and then I went to shower.......wooohoooo....nothing like running hot water.....so...off I go to Cumberland Gap for lunch...we met at a wonderful place called Webb's......home cooked meals......YUMMM......after that we walked around the town.....it is a WONDERFUL town...old old buildings...I loved it.....we set up our tents and soon Tmac came along and we adopted him......we walked up the trail across 2 covered bridges and hiked to the old railroad tunnel.......it was so cool......they made a trail thru it.....we had a great time....saw a pretty turtle...and some nice wild flowers...walked thru the old stores...and looked at antiques....SuperTroll knew what everything was ( since he is older than I am)......we decided to go to the Tea House for refreshments....nice place...one room is formal and the other is not so formal...LOL.....we opted for not so formal.......we were begining to think no one else was showing up........but as evening came....folks started trickling in.....we went to the park and had the BEST BBQ!!!!......wooohoo..Heavy's BBQ..yummmmmm....it was as good as I remembered from last year......they drew for door prizes...and I WON...WoooHoooooo...I won a really neat set of Appalachian Trail bandanas...wooohooooo....I just happen to love bandanas!!!!!....so we went to the Tea House for beer...yummmm......LOL...
they were getting to close...Tilt snuck in...and then came a few more...and we finally left before they kicked us out.......so off to the designated camping area....an empty lot ...overgrown.....but it made for soft sleeping!!!.....we all sorta hung around the cars and I just happened to have a few beers on ice in my car......yummm.....so I had a few....and this trip it can be said I WAS drinking & was loud...the cop drove by a few times...( not many streets in CG)....and I was hesitant....some young guys stopped to ask questions.....I tried to answer...I think I scared them away...we tried to convince them that they could camp with us......they left..LOL....lots of visiting and laughing!!!..off to bed.....
...Saturday Oct 16th....I woke up way before sunrise..about 5 am...which is actually sleeping in for me.....started packing up....(I hate to have to hurry).....SuperTroll was up next and started waking everyone up....so everyone started to roll out of bed......our wake up call (Kpeb) came by about 7am on her way to help out with the festival....Thanks!!!!.....finished packing and off to get breakfast...yummmmm....egg mcmuffins......and some COFFEE!!!..........we took Tmac's car to the Civic trail head and got back in time to pile into the shuttle........CHILI...this year our driver was ALOT slower than last year....LOL..... Ya didn't have to hold on for dear life!!!... we arrived at the Hennesy Settlement and our driver took us right to the trail head......off we go...the morning air was damp and cold.......and the trail is mostly downhill.....not too bad.....we arrive at Martin's Fork wooohoooo....pick our campsites and set up camp...we were there no more than 15 minutes and in hikes MATT the webmaster.......he must have FLEW...cause he was leaving when we dropped TMac's car off!!!.....he introduced us to Eugene the GNOME.......( he is NOT a troll!!!)..we sat around.....chatted.....and found sunny spots to sit to stay warm.....SuperTroll would not let me get in my tent and nap....he said if I did he would do bad things to me....( not sure what...but I wasn't going to chance it)....folks started to trickle in.......lots of hugs and chatter......checking out everyones gear.....and the other shuttle bunch hiked in.....eventually the cooking began....YUMMM......wonderful smells.......WONDERFULLLL food........and the judges were actually folks who backpack...woohooo.....I was impressed...they asked great questions......like...."How much does it weigh?" ( my fav question.....).....all the food was GREAT!!!....but the crab cakes were the BEST I have ever ate...can't wait to cook them!!!!!
....and then the drama began...Matt asked me about Eugene....ut oh......"I didn't take him.....I was over there when it happened...I mean.....I don't know...I didn't take him!!!....You can even search my tent!!!"........and he DID........and Eugene wasn't there....BUT he knew I wasn't totally innocent......that I KNEW something...I was a witness......( he never asked me WHO took it..I never told...so I never once lied....well...sorta....)...he kept asking me questions......I will go to jail someday cause I act guilty........Prosecutor told me I need to learn the phrase " Talk to my lawyer".... Eugene was found lounging in a hennesy in a nice soft warm down sleeping bag.....I WAS innocent.....
....a GREAT campfire.......lots of laughing.......chatting.........it was cold....brrrrrr......the stars were awesome!!!!!...Tilt showed TMac and myself some of the constellations...and I must be getting old....cause when the sun goes down...I get sleepy.......I crawled into my tent and slept like a log......my first night on my Prolite 4...woohoo..it was wonderful.....well worth my money spent......
....Sunday Oct 17th....up and at em!!!.......time for breakfast...I had some Mountain House freeze dried eggs with bacon....good flavor but the texture was spongey.....yuck....and some cupaccino & hot chocolate and chai tea......every one was packing and heading out.......I took off for the meeting place for the shuttle...and the UPHILL trip....sheesh.....I am a true flatlander....from Northwest Ohio...the black swamp drained years ago and miles and miles of flat black dirt fields......I can hike forever.......until I get to uphill......BUT......it was great......the views .....the mist in the mountains....and it was a bit warmer than Saturday.....met up with Super Troll who had left before me and we hiked into the Settlement area.....where the rest of the shuttle bunch were sitting at picnic tables........off we go....... down the mountain.......back to civilization....back to reality....we went to Webb's and ate lunch...chicken and dressing....green beans...fried potatoes and some great iced tea.......and some awesome blackberry cobbler...yummmmmm.....( when I got home I had gained 3 lbs) ....If ya go to Cumberland Gap you MUST eat at Webb's and read the menu...LOL.....it is so funny.....they said they "promise good service...if not.... don't tell anyone"....on Friday nights townsfolk get together there and sing and play music...we peeked in and it sure looked like they were having a GREAT time.....and on Sundays it is PACKED!!!!
...next year I would like to take a later shuttle and spend time at the festival....and someday I will ACTUALLY hike out and see Sand Cave and the Pinnacle.....LOL..hahahhaahaha
...Thanks to all who put this together...and for taking it on again next year......It is nice to know I can drive 325 miles and know you have everything taken care of!!!....Thanks to Kpeb for the company and the wake up call!!!!.......The Tea House for allowing us to camp in the lot....and not actually kicking us out Friday eve but tolerating us until we finished our drinks....who knew they would close at 10......the town for supplying bathrooms..lol..( my children call me the Pee Queen)...The cop for not arresting me for disorderly conduct and public intoxication......The nice lady who gave me a piece of fudge to try...yummmm.......ALL the nice prizes!!!!!.......the BBQ...yummmmmm.......our nice shuttle drivers who filled us in on the Hensley family history and entertained us with a tape of humor.....Matt the webmaster....for not having TT court and putting me in TT jail ...I'm INNOCENT I tell you!!!....Tilt for the astronomy lessons.....the judges who saved food for us scavengers...Nowslimmer for the free camping space Thursday and the circus peanuts.....SuperTroll for almost getting me into trouble.....
...It was GREAT to see everyone......and I had a wonderful weekend....”

“I could have written all day and not covered it as well as Div just did.”

“ok...can I take a nap now?????”

“Ya know...so much is left out..I laughed all weekend.....what a GREAT bunch of folks!!!.”

“To Catch Up.... three days and some 115 posts later...


Well, I arrived alive this morning about 1 am! The Ridge Trail was Way Cool on Monday & Tuesday --- (and I only got rained on the last night). It was really great seeing everyone -- friends Old & New *G*!

>> Barb - send email <<

(all my contact info is in 'computer purgatory,' LOL)


I'll post that recipe soon... I've got to work out the amounts. I've been making it for years just estimating...

HEY Smokeygirl! I hiked! (a whole block from where the car was parked!) Maybe next year I'll hike all the way from the Ramada after a nice hot shower! *GRIN*

Yikes, Miss O. Take care of that foot and Get Well Soon.


Great Pics, Eugene!

Great Pics, Dub!
(Dick was there?)

Great Pics, T Mac!

GREAT GRUB!


Many, many thanks to the Planners, Participants and various Not-so-Innocent Standers-by.”

“Hmm....

Was I the only person to hike the Ridge to or from the Pinnacle this year? I thought someone was going to hike in that way... Matt?”

“Shoot.. i just figured out that you was Tilt-o! I was originally planning on hiking the Ridge trail out to the Pinnacle, but couldn't do it this year.”

“Send me your snail mail addy and we will get you a medal.”

“A medal?
Good Lord woman, a shirt will do just fine.”

“divinity - Great trip report but somehow I think we got the Reader's Digest version.
Very little detail about your 'troubles'. ;-)”

“Tilt,
I was going to hike in and out from the Pinnacle, but decided against it at the last minute.”

“but I didn't get into any trouble :( well...not much.......anyway!!”

“We didn't take alot of pictures because the cold temp killed our batteries.

http://community.webshots.com/album/203445913vRiiCU”

“Great pics Miss Opie! I'll add a link from my webpage when I update my TR.”

“It's a nice trail.... kinda like a slow-motion roller-coaster, [VBG]”

“Divinity, I laughed so hard at your trip report. Of course that is all that happened. ;)
I am going to try to make it to a TT trip very soon.Hey next time I will join you at Webb's for lunch on Friday. I LOVE Webbs, I go there way too often.
Miss Opie, great pics.
SmokeyGirl how is Bubba? You could bring him next year and do around trip hike from the Pinnacle.
I took a few picutres of the festival and will add those soon.”

“I don't care what photographic proof may appear --- I'll deny everything!”

“And for those of you who expressed an interest in distilled spirits recently (and perhaps not recently)....

Tonight (Thurs) on the History Channel at 10 pm (eastern)...

Modern Marvels: Inside The World's Great Distilleries

and I quote:

"From water and grain...to mash...still...vat...barrel and bottle--the distilling of alcoholic spirits is a big business and near-sacred religion. Its acolytes eye the color, swirl the glass, inhale the bouquet, sip, then ponder their ambrosia. What's your pleasure? Bourbon, Scotch, Rum, Gin, Vodka, or Tequila? We trace the history of distilling from the one-man/one-still tradition to the Voldstead Act of 1920 that devastated American distilleries to the mega-sales and high-volume distillery of today." ”

“wow i almost missed this show..it's so interesting...”

“If you tour the Jack Daniels distillery and have the right guide, you can have some FUN--eventhough the county is dry.”

“That was very sweet y'all! Thank you so much!”

“Here are my pictures sorry it took so long, lots going on. http://community.webshots.com/album/203756588zspYAS
Well, SmokyGirlyour dog started a trend with my wooden gate. We think last night a bear tore the gate apart. At first we thought it was trick-or treaters until we saw the prints, claw marks and teeth marks. Ouch!!!!!”

“I'm glad the card made it. I received my shirt in the mail this weekend. Thanks so much!”

“That's scary kpeb!!!”

“Did the bear make it into your yard??!!

Glad you got the shirt, Miss O!”

“Smokey, did our money ever show up?”

“I will check with Valerie”

“I am not sure how if he got in and was trying to get out, or if he was chasing a rabbit that got into my yard and was trying to get in. We looked for fur on the bottom part of the gate and nothing got hung up. However there was one paw print just inside the gate. All the wood was located outside the gate. I will have to take a few pictures and post them.
Hey Divinity-the police officer that came over to check it out was the one who kept driving up and down the street.”

“Currahee have you posted your pics yet from the trip? I also want a copy of the pic that you took of Randy and me Saturday night if you don't mind. I forgot to bring my camera with me.”

“No. I'm a slacker. I will get you a copy of that photo, though.”