Veterans Day

November 11th is Veterans Day, a day when we remember and recognize all men and women who are or have served in the United States military.

This is a painting of my mother and father from when they married.

He retired from the United States Air Force.

This is a photo of my mother's father, who was in the United States Seabees during WW2.

This is my stepbrother when he was in the United States Army.

This is me when I was in the United States Air Force.

My stepfather, who died in April this year, retired from the United States Air Force.

Autumn camping.

Ready to roll out on our fifth camping trip this year. I've been working everyday for the past 50 days, and now that autumn is finally arriving, I have been looking forward to another camping trip.

This is one of four campsites in this little wooded area across from White Oak Lake, which is only 25 minutes from home. We camped in campsite one at the end of January. This is campsite two. Because the weather wasn't going to rain for the three nights of this camping trip, we didn't put up the gazebo.

On our first full day, we drove ten minutes to White Oak Lake State Park and went hiking.

They have three trails to choose from.

This is the shortest and our favorite. (1.5 miles)

This is the second longest. We did this trail when we were camping here. (3 miles)

This is longest, and for me, probably would take all day. (10 miles)

On our second full day, we went to another of our favorite places to visit, called, 'Little Grand Canyon', right across from where we were camping.

Last drive through the Great Smokey Mountains

A mother black bear with two cubs.

There were several tunnels.

While it was 99 degrees Fahrenheit (37 Celsius) at home in south Arkansas, we mostly had 75 degrees Fahrenheit (24 Celsius) while camping, with lows near 60 degrees Fahrenheit (16 Celsius).

WonderWorks, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

We did go into Gatlinburg, Tennessee, one day, but just to drive along the main road. There was too much traffic, and too many people.

Another day, we went into Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, which wasn't nearly as busy. While there, we saw several interesting places, and decided to visit one of them. This upside down looking building turned out to be a kids science museum called, 'WonderWorks'.

Clingmans Dome, North Carolina

Another place we went to was called, 'Clingmans Dome'. This is the second highest elevation in the eastern half of the United States. Our home town, Camden, Arkansas, is at 200 feet above sea level. Our campsite in the Great Smokey Mountains, is at 2,100 feet above sea level. Clingmans Dome is at 6,900 feet above sea level. Most the elevation change can be done be car, leaving only about a half mile hike to the overlook. The hike is paved, but fairly steep. I started out, but realized quickly that I wasn't going to make it, so Destiny went to the top. Unfortunately, she deleted the pictures she took at the top.

While she was hiking to the top to take pictures, all the tourist at the parking area were treated to a visit by a black bear. Black bears are extremely common in the Great Smoky Mountains, and most tourist hope to see at least one on their visit.

The biggest problem with bears, isn't bears at all; it's the visitors. Visitors leave food or trash out, which the bears smell. That by itself still isn't much of a problem, except that when bears get used to human food, or even human trash, they continue to come around. And then when people get too close to the bears, or try to make them go away, this leads to either people getting hurt, or the bears having to be moved to a different location they aren't familiar with, which can lead to the bears dying. In the worst case, bears attack people because the bears are scared, and then the bears are destroyed.

Cades Cove

One of the places we visited is called, 'Cades Cove'.

It is about an 11 mile loop nestled in the Great Smokey Mountains, and dotted along the drive, are many historical old buildings. The Ephraim Bales cabin was the only one we stopped at. It was very interesting.

Driving through the Great Smokey Mountains.

Driving through the Great Smokey Mountains always provided incredible views of nature: mountains, valleys, creeks, waterfalls, and forest.

Laurel Falls

Laurel Falls trail was only about 15 minutes from our camp. The trail itself was not too steep or difficult, and the temperature and humidity weren't bad. I am not used to doing very much activity in my daily life now, and keeping in mind that I am in my mid 50's, plus being quite heavy, this 1.25 mile hike was about the limit of what I can do. Although, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Both sides of the mountain road, in either direction from this trail, were very congested with tourist parking. And we must have seen at least a couple of thousand people along the trail, including many people visiting the United States from other countries.

Great Smokey Mountains, Elkmont Campground, Tennessee

We loaded up the trailer with our camping gear, and also took our bikes, for a week long vacation in the Great Smokey Mountains, in Tennessee.

We split the long drive into two days by staying in a hotel the first night in Jackson, Tennessee, about halfway. We arrived at Elkmont Campground the second day, and setup camp.

HERE is a link to another video, done by a YouTuber, with more information about this area of the Great Smokey Mountains.

Pool and gazebo.

 I bought an inflatable pool, and then put it inside my new gazebo.

Last day.

Yeah, that's a deer. This was our favorite part about this camping trip, all the wildlife that would just walk among the campsites, sometimes even walking right up to our tent.

Ducks saying goodbye as we were packing up to leave.

We went out to dinner at a local restaurant, and then to a movie, to see, 'Cruella'. This was the sunset when we came out of the cinema. Beautiful ending to a relaxing last day of this really nice vacation.

This video is about some things we do as far as camping security. I'm trying not to speak too loud so I don't scare wildlife or disturb other campers.

Bridal Cave

Another day and another cave. This time we went to the Bridal Cave.

Local folklore tells the legend

Centuries ago the Osage Native Americans discovered the pristine beauty that lies beneath Thunder Mountain. Local folklore tells of a legendary Native American wedding ceremony held in the cave in the early 1800s.

Today this magnificent natural wonderland is called Bridal Cave. In keeping with the tradition of the Native American legend, the Cave can be reserved for a romantic wedding chapel. Over 3,000 couples from around the world have exchanged vows in the stalactite adorned Bridal Chapel.

The Legend of Bridal Cave

Centuries before the paleface found his way into the Ozark Mountains, this vicinity was inhabited by the Osage Native Americans. Within the Osage tribe many smaller tribes were formed. The following incident is a legend which brought romance and tragedy to this section of the Ozarks and gave the names to many places as they are known today.

Conwee, son of Chief Neongo of the Big Hills (a tribe of the Osage group, which lived on the north shore of what is now known as Ha Ha Tonka State Park), fell in love with Wasena, daughter of Elkhorn, Chief of the Little Hills, who lived on the north side of the Osage River near the junction of the Niangua, and greatly desired that she become his wife. Neither Wasena nor her father looked with favor on his intentions, Conwee however was not to be discouraged. He left his camp at Ha Ha Tonka one dark night with a number of his braves, crossed the Osage River near the junction of the Niangua and kidnapped Wasena and her companion, Irona. Hastily, recrossing the Osage River, Conwee started back to Ha Ha Tonka. As dawn approached and threatened to reveal them to their pursuers, they decided to stop at the cave, now known as Bridal Cave, and conceal their captives. After a short time in the cave, Wasena eluded her captors and ran swiftly toward a high cliff that towers two hundred feet above the Niangua River. When Conwee had her almost within his grasp. she reached the edge of the cliff and without even a backward glance sprang over the the brink into the valley below, choosing death rather than life with one she did not love. From that day forward this cliff has been known as “Lover’s Leap”.

The fate of Wasena’s companion, Irona, was very different. She had long loved Prince Buffalo, another son of Chief Neongo of the Big Hills Tribe, and brother of Conwee. After a period of mourning over the death of Wasena was ended, Irona and her Prince Buffalo chose to be married in the cave where she and Wasena had been held captive in the beautiful stalactite – studded room now known as the Bridal Chapel, and gave the name “Bridal Cave” to the scene of the nuptials.

from “Indian Romances” by Col. R.G. Scott

Jet ski and museum.

Another day, when the weather was nice, we rented a WaveRunner jet ski for an hour. It was an absolute blast. I haven't driven a jet ski in a long time, and Destiny was a little nervous because she had never been on a jet skit before.

It didn't take long and she was having lots of fun.

After we finished with the jet ski, we went to a local historical museum.

This was an old school house, and they had many different things exhibited from the early 20th century.

Of course Destiny didn't recognize most of the things. Many of the things I only knew because of my parents or grandparents.

Just relaxing at camp.

Ha Ha Tonka

Ha Ha Tonka is an Osage Indian name for a region of rugged scenic beauty in the Missouri Ozarks and the site of a European-style mansion known as Ha Ha Tonka Castle.

In 1905, a self-made, prominent Kansas City businessman, Robert McClure Snyder, began construction of his dream home atop a 250-foot cliff overlooking Big Spring, a natural spring in the south-central Missouri Ozarks, just outside of Camdenton. This region is known as Ha Ha Tonka, or Hahatonka, and is most often translated as the “Land of the Laughing Water” because of the sound the water makes at the base of the cliff.

This is the view of the water tower as seen from the visitors parking lot at Ha Ha Tonka State Park.

Natural spring water would be pumped up to the water tower, where it was stored, and then gravity fed to the castle. A family would live in the lower half of the tower.

These two structures were either side of the stable gate house.

All  of the stone used for construction came from a rock quarry at the base of the hill from where the castle.

One year after Robert McClure Snyder, Sr. started building the castle, he was killed in a car accident, but his family completed the castle, which was later destroyed by fire.

One of the hikes we took at Ha Ha Tonka, was to see the Natural Bridge.

This was the post office for Ha Ha Tonka.

This is an old millstone left from a mill that operated using the natural spring water.

A beautiful trail hike to see the origin of the natural spring water source for Ha Ha Tonka.

Do you see the water snake?

The old electric pump used to pump the natural spring water to the water tower at Ha Ha Tonka.

These steps led to a parking area at the top of the natural spring cliff. This is an alternate route to visit the spring. We choose the lower, and easier path without steps.

Pre-Memorial Day vacation.

We have so much camping gear now that loading it on and in our little car is difficult at best, so now we use a small utility trailer to keep all our camping gear on, and just add the bikes if we take them. This way, instead of loading everything when we get ready to go camping, we only need to load our clothes, food, and a few other things in the car, hook-up the trailer, and go.

We went camping from May 21st to May 28th, just before Memorial Day weekend, which is one of the busiest camping weekends.

This was the view from our camp spot at Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. It took us about eight hours to drive here from our home.

This is a really big lake, and a popular destination for many people who like to camp, fish, swim, or boat.

There is lots of wildlife to be found here. We saw geese, ducks, deer, chipmunks, squirrels, turkeys, and much more.

The water was a little cold because the average daily temperature is still low. It was about 85 Fahrenheit (30 Celsius) during the day, and 60 Fahrenheit (16 Celsius) at night.

Destiny tried swimming once.

Many people were enjoying boating.

This is the entrance to a cave system called, 'Ozark Caverns'. This was our first cave to visit on this trip. They did not allow photography inside the cave, because it would disturb the bats inside.

Our first fire on this vacation.

 

Tribute to my step-father, Gil, and his love for motorcycles and to serve God through the CMA.

My step-father loved motorcycles, and had many throughout his life. He also loved God, and as soon as he learned of the CMA (Christian Motorcycle Association), he didn't hesitate to join.

He would ride and serve God with the CMA every chance he could. He even took part in a special part of the CMA through doing prison ministry.

My stepfather's funeral.

United States Air Force Honor Guard

Destiny studying schoolwork at home.

 

Our house was egged the day before Easter.

Spring break 2021 (bits and pieces)

This boy repeatedly rode his bike down a hill and into the cold creek water.

One of our dinners I prepared; grilled chicken with stir-fry vegetables and rice.

We had setup to watch a movie outside, and were having toasted marshmallows first.

It had rained a couple of times during the week while we were camping. The creek would rise and fall each day. But on our last day, they opened the dam upstream, and by the evening, we had to pack everything, tear down our tent and move it farther back from the creek. An hour later, the creek was at the edge of our tent again, so at 11 o'clock at night, we broke camp and went into town to stay the last night in a hotel before returning home the next morning.