Weekend trip

**Hawk-eye** · 03-22-2010, 08:35

Can't wait to see them ... bet it was a great trip!

**NCPatrick** · 03-22-2010, 22:43

Eldest daughter (TinkerBell) and I went to Rock Castle Gorge for an overnighter last Saturday night. Couldn't talk her into hiking at all, but we had a great time just the same. Good to get to spend time with her, which I don't get to do much of these days.

I set her up in the JRB Tarp tent, thinking she'd enjoy the privacy. She did, for the most part, but ended up reading in my hammock for a good part of the afternoon since it was so much easier to get into. I had my custom huge OES tarp with me, and had made a silnylon tube to store it in that worked fine. Didn't get a picture of it though.

Otherwise, we just hung around in and near the stream. Saw lots of fisher-people during the afternoon, not so much in the morning. Not many mosquitos, but a lot of little teetzy flies until the wind picked up. I think they were hatching out of some of the tree's bark since they seemed to be congregating on certain types of trees. Didn't see any critters, but the signs at the trailhead have many bear warnings alongside a picture of a huge bear just to mess with your head. I hung my food just in case. Paranoid I suppose, especially if this huge bear is nearby. (not bloody likely)

There is a lot of ice damage to the trees on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and we saw some leftover snow up there. Many of the businesses are still closed for the winter. In fact, we couldn't find anyone who could give us a permit to camp where we did. Kept thinking I'd run into a Ranger who could tell me where to register, but didn't see anyone to ask.

Here are some pics from the trip.

**eflat7** · 03-22-2010, 22:56

Looks great. Looking forward to hangin with you again soon! About to do my first overnight hang with my daughter.

**NCPatrick** · 03-22-2010, 23:00

Originally Posted by bhancock

Looks great. Looking forward to hangin with you again soon! About to do my first overnight hang with my daughter.

Have fun! Taking your daughter out to Uwharrie, or someplace different? It's a great way to connect/reconnect with your kids, btw.

**gargoyle** · 03-22-2010, 23:05

Nice patrick, is that the old hammock hut?

**Trugracie** · 03-22-2010, 23:32

Nice pictures!
I like how you keep your set up. Its always nice and neat.
Hope to hang with you again some time soon.

**NCPatrick** · 03-23-2010, 06:48

Originally Posted by gargoyle

Nice patrick, is that the old hammock hut?

Yep, that's the old hammock hut. Pan says they stopped making them due to the high overhead, but didn't rule out making more should the demand for them increase enough.

Originally Posted by Trugracie

Nice pictures!
I like how you keep your set up. Its always nice and neat.
Hope to hang with you again some time soon.

Thanks! Hope to see you at Hot Springs.

**eflat7** · 03-23-2010, 10:48

Originally Posted by NCPatrick

Have fun! Taking your daughter out to Uwharrie, or someplace different? It's a great way to connect/reconnect with your kids, btw.

Nah, I manage a 55 acre piece of wooded property about 3 miles from the house. It's off the main road and definitely feels secluded. I figure I would keep it simple for her first overnighter in a hammock. She has been with my wife and I on at least 4 overnighters, but they were in a tent. I figure we can actually pack our backpacks and park at the entrance, then walk to .5 mile to our site. Then hike out in the am. A mini BP trip. So she can see how it really works and get a real feel. Not just pulling up to a site with a cooler full of food and soda and passing out with a sugar buzz (even though that is cool sometimes)! She's 4 and she already walks some of the local 2-2.5 mile trails here no sweat. If fact, she runs most of it.

As far as reconnecting goes, I never disconnect from her. My wife works second shift at our hospital and I work first. So we swap out duty. I have been feeding, bathing, reading, exercising, and putting her to bed her entire life! I almost felt trapped by that at first, but now I am know I was so blessed to have that much bonding time with her. We are truly best buddies. My wife is talking about going back to first shift, and it makes me sad in a way.

Anyway, I digress. Daughters just make my very emotional I guess.

Can't wait for the report!

**Miguel** · 03-23-2010, 11:32

Nice read and pics. My oldest daughter and I are planning a 60 mile, seven day hike this summer on the Loyalsock Trail which is located north of Williamsport PA. She's the one that got me into hammocking after she requested a Clark NA as her college graduation present. I am REALLY looking forward to the trip.

Miguel

**Shug** · 03-23-2010, 18:38

Nice NCPatrick ... all this father/daughter stuff gets me misty ...... wish mine liked camping. But she is in College in Quebec ... so do ALL that you can with them. Then report it here so I can get more misty........