Divorce Kayak 2.0 – Oneida, Tennessee, USA, June 16, 2024

It all started with Alligator Creek Trail when we were still in Lake Winfield Scott, Alabama.  I am not sure why but when we decided to do this trail it didn’t occur to us we would see an actual Alligator but once we got started we realized we were hiking in a swamp that had the very real possibility of having an alligator.  This was just the start because now we had plans later that day on trying out the inflatable tandem kayak again and we had also discovered overnight it had a slow leak.  So as we reinflated it (correctly this time) and it managed to be much easier to carry down, launch, and paddle.  We somehow managed to work a bit better together this time and (being in an inflatable boat) it’s a darn good thing we didn’t actually see an alligator but boy would we have been in trouble if we did.  I think this is what motivated us to work together a bit better.  Although Ron revealed to me he had hoped someone would steal it overnight, we will continue to put in the effort to try and be better at the kayak cooperation.

That’s when it happened…the ant attack.  Somehow, red fire ants had a nice little nest in the back of the boat and Ron could not get his shirt off fast enough to keep them from biting the crap out of him as we nearly capsized the boat (into the alligator waters).  That’s when we decided to call it quits.  As it turns out, actually deflating and packing up the kayak is nearly the same workout as actually trying to work together to try and operate it.  We did manage to dry it out, kill most of the ants, roll it up, and get it back in the bag.  The good news it fits in one of our outdoor compartments and I don’t have to drag the ant village inside to try and store it. Thank goodness! 

We have had a couple of recent factors start to change our decision as to where to go next (big shock). First off, daughter #1 is coming home for 2-3 weeks from Spain sometime in July or August.  She wasn’t sure yet, but we wanted to try and see her in Ohio when she comes.  Second item changing the itinerary was the weather.  A hurricane was starting to bloom in the gulf and Florida was getting some crushing rain.  If it came north, we didn’t really want to be this far south.  Thirdly, we had started to get rain each day and excessive heat.  All of these factors had encouraged us to move north instead of directly west.

So, we have been bouncing between available sites from Alabama to Georgia to North Carolina, and as we sit now, we are in Tennessee.  Our next move is to Kentucky then we hit Columbus Ohio again.  We have been hiking every day for the last 3 weeks hopscotching over, around, and on the Appalachian Trail.  We have hiked Blood Mountain, which is 3 times the elevation of Stone Mountain and apparently the most difficult in Georgia and about 9 miles long (cause we paired it with Jardin Gap Trail).  It was the longest hike we had done so far.  The people we met hiking have been great.  A lady in her early 70’s was 100 pounds soaking wet, said she had completed the entire Appalachian Trail by herself was awesome and I am sorry we didn’t get to sit down and chat with her longer.  Then we met another70+ gentleman who was reminiscent of Moses if I were to ever meet him.  He said he hikes the Great Smokey Mountain every summer and was nearly to the top of blood mountain.  It made me feel like a wussy knowing that these folks 20 years my senior were not only in better shape but had hiked more than we have even attempted.

Then we decided to be really stupid and try a longer hike.  Based on our alligator experience and now that we were in the heart of bear country we decided to go into this a bit more prepared.  First off, we bought bear spray.  Second we decided to take more water, a little food, and the machete Ron recently purchased…just in case the beat spray did not work.  I even had 4 Band-Aids in case either of us were attacked (I know – not a big help).  Our next try was 14.5 miles to be exact to Angel Falls overlook in Tennessee.  Now hang with me on this one.  We hiked 8 miles out and once we got to the Angel Falls Overlook (elevation approximately 1,300ft), you can’t see the falls!  I was a bit disappointed to say the least.  Then we had to turn around and hike 6 miles back.  We made it but barely but at least we set a new record for ourselves hiking.

This is when things get really crazy.  Now we are starting to actually consider doing one of the major trails like the Appalachian Trail.  Perhaps go to Spain and do one of the El Camino routes?  We have really started to get into some of the longer hikes and now are only missing carrying a 30 pound pack on our back while we do it, a snake bite kit, and a whole lot more research.  So now we have our own little book club and have started reading “A Walk In The Woods” by Bill Bryson(thanks dad).  Excellent personal story about the Appalachian Trail and what it might actually be required for us to take this on.  This idea is going to ruminate for a while and it won’t happen this year but is fun to consider and perhaps in the next year work two we could potentially make this part of our off season plan.  We also did a shorter Angel Falls hike and actually got to see the falls!  Take that!