A day at the cabin

Early Monday morning I was woken up by a loud bang. I thought Caroline had fallen out of bed and asked if she was ok. The benefit of a open plan cabin. She was and thought it was me.  We crept downstairs but could see anything. (As if the invading hillbilly was just going to be standing in our living room!)

Of course there was zero cell service at the cabin so even if we wanted to call for help, well tough. 

We went back to bed to sleep (as if that was going to happen). About 20 mins later there was a loud thud on the back door and rattled the chair we had braced against it. (It may seem a little paranoid but it was the middle of nowhere. And apparently not that paranoid.)  Once again we crept downstairs, this time me clutching an empty cider bottle (it was the first thing I could find) and peaked out the window. No crazed hillbilly or zombie thankfully. But something had got into the bins. I though it was a deer so I opened the door. Then a very large dog jumped out. The door was shut again extremely quickly! 

And he brought friends, at least 2 others that we saw. They looked friendly and well looked after but had no collars. So we didn't take any chances. I like dogs (now) but I am not keen on the possibility of meeting potentially wild rabid dogs. (The TV advert we saw later about how your dog is like a wolf and just wants to eat meat did NOT help.)

Are you looking at me?

Sleeping on our porch.  Right outside the front door.

Once we figured out the noise, we want back to sleep and slept in late. The weather wasn't great so we didn't go out. (It had nothing to do with not being able to get to the cars.) The view from the cabin was nice but it was cold and snowed on and off all day.

Cabin porch

We just spent the day watching movies, eating, and doing facials and manicures. I finally got to try out the new nail varnish I got for christmas. :)

Pretty nails

The only problem was the dogs. We really wanted to spend some time in the hot tub (I don't get to do that often) but I had visions of ending up either trapped in the hot tub by dogs (I did consider if it would be possible to creep through the window - probably not!) or having a bath with a dog, friendly or otherwise. Not that we are cowards, but we decided to make some creative barricades with anything we could find as some extra protection (I insisted!) 

Barricade one.

And barricade two!

I even took a broom out as a last resort (though in reality it would more likely be seen as a challenge) and a bowl of raw veggies and crisps. To throw in the opposite direction and hope they were stupid enough to go after the raw veg than us. (I was desperate. I really wanted to go in the hot tub!)

Self-defense mop. (And extra cider!)

Of course no hot tub is complete without alcohol.  We got through all the wine the previous night, so were on the cider. 

Hot tub! (With "dog diverting food" bowl behind me.

We didn't stay long. I said I was cold but frankly felt like I had pushed my luck fair enough. We made tacos and watched more movies. Caroline was going to get up and back early but didn't want to go out there alone (2 against 3 is better than 1 against 3). I was going to get up early for the same reason but was very glad she decided to sleep in as it was really comfortable!
The drive back took about 4.5 hrs but the roads were clear and the snow was only on the mountains (a lot less dangerous than last time!).

Snowy Smokies.

I had a great weekend and the hot tub really helped my ribs and back. (I pulled and possibly tore the intercostal muscles coughing, thanks to my chest infection. They have been killing me.) It was so nice to be off-line for a few days (I can't remember the last time). Though dealing with the resultant emails took forever! :(

Smokies

After a late morning in Pigeon Forge and trip to a pancake house :), we drove through the Smokey Mountains National Park to Bryson City in North Carolina. We had to take separate cars and I stopped to take a few photos. The first part was dry and sunny.

The Smokies.

However there were some colder, more icy parts.

Icicles. 

Deep snow!

More snow

There were parts where I was questioning the wisdom of this part of the trip. Where the sun hadn't reached, the roads were quite icy. I also got stuck behind a car going 5 mile a hour. I understand the need for safety. But you also need some momentum. I was very glad when the car pulled off! (I was nearly going backwards - and sideways! - at one point.)
But in the sun, the roads were clear and the views great.

Clear skies.

We reached the cabin safely. It was a different one to last time we were here, with an open plan. (Which was extremely fortunate the next morning!) We spent a few hours in the hot tub with a couple of bottles of wine, putting the world to rights and gossiping! So much fun (and I really want a hot tub!).
We also had a fire place! We cooked and watched films. Neither of us wanted to deal with the road to the cabin consisted of a 45 degree road with 180 degree hair pin bends and blind corners in the dark.

Open fire.

Lumberjacks and Margaritaville

Last weekend, Caroline and I meet up in Tennessee for a girls weekend! Last time we were in Pigeon Forge we saw adverts for the Lumberjack feud and we figured it had to be done. It was a dinner and a show though honestly the food wasn't that great. But the show more than made up for it. The pre-dinner show was a trio band.

Banjo and guitar

Our lumber jill, dancing.

It just ins't a show without a dancing bear.

I was quite surprised how many people were there considering it isn't anywhere near peak season. There were even a group behind us who had just got married that day. This was their wedding dinner. Not my idea of a good time but each to their own. They seemed to really enjoy it and got pulled up on stage to participate. 

Wedding group

The idea of the show is there are 2 families, the McGraws (our team in red) and the Dawsons (in blue) who are competing for the rights to log the last mountain after the smokies became a national park. So they have a lumberjack competition.

Ready to fight.

They did various activities. All really impressive. And they were very .... athletic! :-)

Chopping down a "tree"

We were encouraged to cheer for our team. And like good sportsmen/women, boo for the other side.

Boo!

They also had a lumber jill on each side who got into the action.

Jill and jack double saw.

Jack and jack double saw

Honestly though my favorite was the lumber dogs. They were just so happy. They came bouncing onto stage each time, so eager to do their job.  Basically they play catch and fetch for a living. The first one was jumping for a stick into water. Flying dogs! And a fetch the "duck".

Flying dog.

Got it!

"Let's go!"

Fetch for a living.

It was also really funny and light. The comic relief was a guy called Cookie who was a little crazy.

Cookie

Don't call a guy with a chainsaw a jerk!

Showing us the chainsaw.

My favorite was one of the cheats. They are supposed to put their hands on the top of the log for one event. But they wrote "top" on the bottom side so his hands were close to the chainsaw. But he got caught. However Derek was then told to put his hands on his bottom. So he did! (Current favorite photo!)

Hands on your bottom!

In action

Derek was my favorite lumberjack. He was so cute! After each win, they gave away a cookie (piece of cut off log) to someone from the winning side who was the most enthusiastic. Derek gave his to the little boy sitting near me who had been going crazy trying to get one. The kid was so happy!

There were also times when I had to cringe. The axes were real. And very close to limbs at times.

Too close for comfort.

The lumber jills also got into the chainsaw action.

Very happy with her chainsaw.

In action

And no one seemed the least bit fazed by heights. At least Cookie had a safety rope.

Cookie being nuts.

The lumberjacks did a "climb" up and down a 60 foot pile. With no safety lines. In about 10 seconds. It was like watching spider man! And coming down was more of a semi-controlled fall. It was amazing (and most of my photos were blurry).

Coming down. At speed.

The finale was the log roll, where 2 lumberjacks get on a log, in water and try to roll the other on off by spinning the logs.

Balancing

It was a best 2 out of 3. The second time, our lumberjack Derek landed funny. One leg either side. :( We think it may have been staged as they had a routine ready. But can you imagine being told that was part of your job!?!?!?

About to do the splits.

Dramatic finish.

The show was great fun and I highly recommend it.
After the show we went for a walk around an area called the Island. The whole place is a little bit over top (a cross between Vegas and Blackpool) but it made for good photos.

Night time display

I wish I could say my choice of hotel was carefully selected, as we were over the road from the lumberjack feud so could walk. But I don't plan that well and it was a complete coincidence. And even better was the fact that there was a Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville a minutes walk from the show. 

Margaritaville

We had to wait a bit (as it was packed) but they had a great live band so it was not a problem.

The band

There was also a 72-yr old in tap shoes, just dancing away around the bar. He was very happy just dancing. I hope I am like that at his age. Because if you can't dance like no one is watching then, you never will!

Dancing in tap shoes.

We got a chocolate brownie sundae and of course margaritas, including a sampler selection.

Margaritas.

Enjoying our sampler.

It was a really fun night, though the bar closed at 10pm which was a bit of a disappointment. But still probably for the best. (I was really enjoying those drinks!) 

Seattle - Last day

Last week I was in Seattle for the AAS 225th Winter meeting. Unfortunately I can down with something on the Monday. It wasn't a cold (it was too nasty for that) but wasn't the full flu (I still remember the days which you don't do when you have the flu!). I also lost my voice. On Wednesday. The day of my talk! Figures. So had to cancel the talk. :-( I started feeling a bit better Thursday (the last day!) and managed to meet with a few people. I went out for some drinks Thursday night, but was back at the hotel early. Still I managed to lose most of the weight I put on over Christmas so I guess there are some good points. Though going to have to go to the Doctors tomorrow so not all good. 

On Friday I had booked a tour with Shutter Tours around Seattle and after talking to the guy decided to go as there wasn't much walking involved. (I am pretty sure I have a chest infection as I get out of breathe walking more than a couple of meters.) And I was the only one on the tour so I had my own private tour. 

The first stop was Snoqualmie Falls, about a 20 mins drive outside Seattle. 

The top of the falls.

Getting pictures was tricky as the wind kept getting up the mist and covering the lens.  But I did get some nice pictures of mist!

The waterfall is behind there somewhere.

View when the mist clears.

The Snoqualmie tribe believe if they say their prayers at the bottom of the falls, the mist will carry them up to the moon, which created everything. And seeing the mists I can understand why.

The falls are actually 100 foot taller than Niagara, so were really impressive.

Brief good view

Before the mist rises again

 The second stop was in Freemont, a hippie area of Seattle. They had a competition to build a statue for under a bridge to brighten up the area. So of course, what better for under a bridge than a troll?

The Freemont Troll

With his car.

Under his bridge

 The next stop was Theo's, a chocolate sip which has chocolate tasting. This served as lunch!

So much choice.

Perfect for enjoying chocolate

After that we headed to the Commodore Park ship locks to have a look around.

Artistic shot

 Washington state have legalized marijuana so I guess they have to have some pot free zones.

good to know.

 The locks were cool, which some small and large boats going through.

Locks

Sailing off.

Colorful little tugs boats.

As we were watching the larger boat, we spotted a juvenile Bald Eagle having his lunch on the other side of the canal. He was huge and apparently are really rare in these parts.

Having lunch

And he happily sat and posed for me for quite a while. My guide, Terry, rushed off to get his camera. (Though he only got one shot in before the eagle decided he had had enough of the paparazzi.)

Posing

Chilling out.

 The guys on the large boat found this very funny but still posed for photos themselves. :-)

Happy!

Random bucket.

Off they sail into the distance

We  drove around some of the music spots including Kurt Cobain's house where he died and his bench. The guide was really informative about lots of little bits of Seattle. It was really interesting though I wish I could remember more of what he said.

Views of the Olympic forest 

The harbor

The last stop was at Kerry Park for a view over the city.

Mt. Reiner

The Space Needle, flying the Sea Hawks flag.

Seattle skyline.

harbor.

The guide dropped me off at the Pike market place and recommended a place to get good chowder. And it was really good! (First proper meal I had had in 4 days so that may have explained why it tasted so amazing!) I had a wonder around the markets for a bit. I would eat so much seafood if I lived there.

Plastic monk fish, moves and used to freak out tourists 

Market area 

They have random pigs everywhere. No idea why.

Sally the pig

 My last stop in Seattle was the bubblegum wall in Post Alley. This is truly gross! People started putting their bubblegum on the wall in this alley and it sort of spread down the alley. It is really nasty!

Dripping gum 

Lots of DNA sources.

People even write messages in bubblegum, like marry proposals. How romantic! :-(

"Will you marry me?"

 This wall is huge! It can melt during the summer and the floor is covered too. Just nasty!

All bubblegum covered. And shows just some of the wall.

Even covering the theater entrance.

After the ally, I headed to the airport hotel and spent the night watching TV and eating sushi in bed. I was asleep for 9pm (a common occurrence this week - such a party animal) before flying home early Saturday morning. Well, starting the flights. It was a long day and it's good to be back in my apartment. Even if it is much colder here!