We returned from Spring Break and limped to the end of the school year. It was all a blur, but before we knew it, school was out.
For Memorial Day, we invited our friends the Alexanders up to Roan Mountain. The weather did not cooperate. Our feature activity was a day out on Watauga Lake. It was a frigid day. Jay and the kids dove into the chilly water, which was actually warmer than the air. Our weekend also included a trip up into the clouds hiking to Round Bald.
We made several trips up to Roan Mountain. Ansel was the driver for several projects. First, we updated the paint and lights in the front bedroom. Although not the intention, perhaps our Gamecocks friends will feel more at home without the orange walls. On another trip, we painted and updated the fixtures in the bathroom.
Parker’s summer was filled with kayaking. This included several trips to the Whitewater Center in Charlotte. He and Jay also made a trip to the Nantahala so that he could get into paddling shape. He was preparing for his first camp. On June 27, we drove Parker up to West Virginia to check in with with the Keeners Program. Parker was scheduled to go last year but was unable to due to the pandemic. This year, the program set up a southern outpost at ACE Adventure Resort. Parker learned a lot and enjoyed paddling with pros such as Clay Wright, Stephen Wright and the other coaches. They paddled the New River Dries, New River Gorge, and Kanawha Falls.
While Parker was at camp, Jay and Ansel made the trip to Conway. Stan had lined up Larry Dickerson at Donzelle’s to fry up some chicken for Jay. That made for a nice homecoming. Jay gave Ansel the full Horry County water experience with swims in the Atlantic Ocean and Waccamaw River. The river swim came after seeing an alligator so Ansel’s bravery was applauded.
Jay went to pick Parker up and enjoyed the day in WV exploring the New River Gorge, America’s newest national park. He set camp at Grandview Sandbar and then set off to explore the park. He started by touring the visitor’s center and then hiked the Kaymoor Miners Trail. He ate at The 304 before retiring back at camp where he enjoyed some solitude by the river. The next day, Jay picked Parker up and headed home.
Back in NC, we had a week before Parker was scheduled to attend his second round of kayaking camp. As he recovered, Jay took Ansel to Greensboro so that she could fly by herself to Philadelphia to see Mom Mom. Ansel had a great time in Delaware. She enjoyed her time and returned to a very special surprise (more on that later).
While on a business trip, with Jay and Parker at home and Ansel in Delaware, Kristie saw the cutest puppy on the website* of the Charlotte Dog Club, where we got Lulu. She returned home and the next day, Jay, Kristie, Parker, and a friend of his volunteered with A Bed and a Book to build a bed for a child in the area. Over lunch at Cin Cin Burger Bar, it was determined that “Johnson” (later renamed Moose because “ya doesn’t hasta call him Johnson”) would be joining the family. That afternoon, with visions of a new pup occupying us, we drove up to Bryson City for Parker’s camp. We stopped for dinner at Ilda in Sylva. After dinner, we settled in to our usual camp spot at Smoky Mountain Meadows Campground. The next day, after breakfast at Mountain Perks, Jay, Kristie, and Parker kayaked the Nantahala River. Afterwards, they checked Parker in with his friends at the Nantahala Outdoor Center for camp. Kristie and Jay went back to their campsite, but returned the next day for another run down the river. They paddled the river and then headed back to Lewisville. On the way home, we stopped at Kanini’s in Waynesville for dinner.
Parker enjoyed his week at camp. He spent time on the Nantahala, Pigeon, and Ocoee Rivers. Reports were that he outlasted everyone in Hell Hole on the Ocoee. While he was away, Ansel arrived home, and while loving on Lulu and telling her how much she missed her, Ansel was shocked to see a little furry monster walk up. Moose’s arrival mid-week was known by Parker but a complete and total surprise to Ansel when she came home. Given the fun in Delaware and a new puppy at the house, she is now planning to return to Delaware each year. The next day, Jay went and picked up Parker and spent some time park and playing. They hurried home so that Parker could meet his new friend.
We wrapped up July by taking another trip to the Roan. Our friends the Csernovicz’s, from Nashville, met us up there. This time the weather was gorgeous! We enjoyed catching up, time on Watauga Lake, and a hike and swim at Compression Falls.
As I was assembling the pictures for this post, I realized that pictures of the dogs greatly outnumber those of people. It reminds me of when the kids were babies. Suddenly, there were no more pictures of Kristie and Jay. Too bad phone cameras weren’t as advanced back then.
*Kristie has since removed all bookmarks and social media likes/follows to the Charlotte Dog Club.