The weather here has been record breaking for the region and that isn’t good for us. It is very hot and humid. We picked the hottest day of the week to enjoy a hike of Bald Mountain with David & Ethan and the rainiest day for a boat ride on the Fulton Chain of Lakes!
I made the hike up the mountain and loved the view from the top but I was soaked in sweat by the time we made it back to the car. The hike is only about 1.5 miles round trip but is mostly uphill going and then you got the downhill for the return. It was about 95 by the time we made it to the top and very little wind! Ouch!!!
So cute
The deer are everywhere and this little guy was not any bigger than Duke!
Saturday, we decided to rent a boat and take Paul’s two sisters and the boys with us for an afternoon on the lake. We arrive at the dock about 10 am with donuts and sunny skies, about 80 degrees! It’s a great day and then while the guide is giving Paul instructions I look west and see these amazing black clouds creaping over the mountains. No problem, we are off to pick up the girls at a cousins dock. 15 minutes into our 30 minute ride it is getting a little breezy, no problem, call Judy and have her bring jackets. About the time Paul hangs up the phone the sky opens up and we are in the middle of the lake in the middle of a hail storm! The good news is the lightening is off in the distance for now. The faster we went the wetter we got so we took it slow and steady. We could see the rain on the lake and see where it wasn’t raining, the bad news is when we got to the dry spot it would be raining there!!!
Finally we make it to the dock and the rain stops. It looks clear towards town so we load everyone on the boat with jackets, coolers and lunch and off we go. We make it all the way into Old Forge and stop for the potty and here comes the rain again. We wait it out and decide we will just eat lunch here and give the storm some time.
Lunch on the boat!
That works beautifully. We have blue skies and decide to head out into the lake again. We make it almost back to where we picked Judy up at the cousins dock and the sky really decides it needs some relief. We have 8 people on this boat all huddled into the middle under the cover because it is really raining and cold. More hail. We can see the dock but moving fast is not a good idea. The lightening this time appears very close.
Of course we made it! We get to the dock and everyone runs for the boat house. After about 20 minutes it is decided that this day is just not going to cooperate and we elect Paul & Kip to return the boat while the rest of us load into the car and head for drier parts!
We all got soaked but had a bit of a boat ride, a great lunch and made some memories.
Tomorrow we leave Old Forge and continue or trip west. Carol, Judy and the boys are heading to Selma, NC where Carol’s son Adam will be getting married on Saturday.