EXPLORING ROCKY TOP (PART ONE THURSDAY)

The Radio Clown found himself on a bit of an adventure last week. I went with my dad to Knoxville, Tennessee to watch the Sooners battle it out against the Vols. It was a trip I'll never forget for sure. The game was spectacular, but moments away from the football stadium are the ones that stick out the most. 

Going hiking in the Smokey Mountains with my dad was a daring adventure with his herniated disk and the fact we took no water. We hiked two and half miles to Abrams Falls taking about two hours to get there. Stopped to take some photos then headed back. We started back and the trip was harder for my dad going back. It didn't help that we were losing sunlight before we got half way I was having to use my phone for light to see the way. We got to the halfway point a place that I called Mark's Rock(Mark is my dad). We stop to rest as my dad sits on his rock, not yet sure if we'd make it back the rest of way for now it is officially pitch dark. I can't see a foot in any direction without the cell phone light. As we continue back my dad trips I'm there to catch him, but he thinks he heard his knee pop and give out. By the grace off God it did not and we continued on. 

The whole time we're in the dark I can't stop thinking about this bear sign I saw at entrance about how it attacked someone on this path. Finally we come to a bridge and I know we've made it back to the beginning. We're only about a hundred and fifty yards from the rental car. We hopped in the car and were off heading back to Knoxville. 

When we get to the park entrance and the gate is locked. At this point I'm thirsty, hungry, and tired not necessarily in that order. So it looks like we're sleeping in the car tonight till an park ranger comes opens up the gate for us and ask if we knew the park closed at dark. I was too happy to be heading home for a snappy remark. So now we just have to head back towards our hotel. Wait that would be too easy for us to do. The roads aren't marked well and we end up in North Carolina. So I don't know how but we eventually find our way back to Knoxville and the Waffle House. I've never been so happy for below average breakfast food in my life. That all happened on a Thursday. So you know the rest of the week got crazy as well. So Friday, Saturday, and Sunday to be continued.