June 18, 2015 - Mostly Rain

The sun was shining brilliantly when we walked up to the campground in the morning. The boulders along the campground road were giant emeralds. At least, the ones in the sunshine were.

 

The little boys from Site 4 were very proud of their new outdoor gear. It was a combination whistle, compass, flashlight, and several other things. They also had new binoculars. The boys were steadily blowing their new whistles. Mom and Dad were taking down the tent while the four kids were hanging around the pickup truck in the parking lot. When we suggested that the parents were going to go absolutely bonkers before they got back to Michigan, they agreed that whistles were probably not the smartest things to buy the boys at this point. We’ll miss those two families with eight happy children running all over the place.

The man in Site 10 was on his hands and knees blowing into his little campfire, trying to get the wood going. Andy told him about the man who had been in Site 11. He used a big air pump meant for inflating air mattresses to get his fire going. I suggested he try fanning the fire gently with the lid to his big pink tote box. I worked well and the wood caught fire.

 

A long, if not fat, log has moved a bit farther down Big Creek with all the rain raising the water level. It was about 50 yards above the bridge last week. Now it is below the swimming hole.

 

Boss Larry dropped by with a weather report. I offered him coffee and poured us both a cup. We were having a good chat when Andy reminded me that the post office closes at 1300. Naturally, I was anxious to get those bills and statements. Larry and I had not even finished our coffee. Larry graciously took Andy’s hint and left. We headed to the post office in Hartford. After we picked up our package, we ate barbecue at the Pigeon River Smokehouse. I was not expecting much, since it is in a gas station, but the sandwiches were both very good.

There was a lot of wind and rain during the night. Then, we had another torrential downpour this afternoon. We heard a branch hit the roof and found the pieces when we headed up to the campground. One section was stabbing the ground.

One of the picnic pads next to the creek looked like a square pond with a picnic table sitting in it. I have to give the “best tarp” award to the people in Site 12 this week. This huge tarp covers the whole tent pad. They also have a pop-up canopy over the picnic table.

This tiny white flower is along the creek path. It is upside down. The green ball underneath will turn into a red berry. I forgot what it is. They are all over the place in here except my wildflower book. The whole plant is only a few inches tall.

Big Creek was especially smoky after the afternoon rain. It is not campfire smoke as all the campfires were drowned.

 

Andy led me to this bright red mushroom he had spotted near the gate to the host site. It was even redder than it appears in this picture.

 

We saw this huge white mushroom in the grove between our road and the lawn as we walked back to the motorhome. It I probably five or six inches across.

 

Since it rained most of the day, I managed to reconcile several statements.