Last week I wrote about the work Tom and I are doing at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. This week I am writing about relaxing. Relaxing and doing chores. Relaxing, doing chores, and hiking. Well, you know what I mean.
One of the really nice things about coming back to Cumberland Gap is already knowing some people here. Before we came, I texted back and forth with Julie Bahr. Julie is a volunteer and we lived next to her for a month when we worked here two years ago. I thought we were going to miss each other because she was leaving the day we were arriving. But, because of a very rainy weekend, the Dulcimer Festival stayed at Cumberland Gap and Julie stayed to play with them. We got to spend an hour with her chatting and catching up.
Sherry and Paul Downing, good friends who embody southern hospitality, invited us to their house for dinner before we even arrived. They suggested the day after we arrived, but we postponed for little while so we could get set up. We had supper with them and Karen and Larry Blondell after Memorial Day.
Sherry and Paul are huge park fans and came to all the events two years ago. They also visited us at Fort Frederica and came up to Ohio. We were having so much fun talking with them and enjoying some excellent brisket that I forgot to take any pictures. Tom took one picture of Sherry with a fruit trifle, which was our dessert. Paul and Sherry are the only people we know who have been to more National Park sites than we have!
In addition to seeing friends, we have to do the usual chores on days we are relaxing. I need two mornings for Bible Study and writing blog posts. We go grocery shopping one day and clean the RV as needed.
We have been doing laundry on Tuesdays. The washer and dryer are over at the campground, so we load up the car, drive to Virginia, and do the laundry. The first time, we stayed for the three hours that it took. There was a thunderstorm and we were happy to be inside. The other times we take a walk around the campground while the first load is in the washer. Then we leave to have lunch while the second load is in the washer and the first load is drying. We stick around for the third load and take another walk or read. It is a pain, but we are thankful to have free laundry close by. This last week we spent the last hour getting to know Pat and Pat, the campground hosts.
Usually doing the chores takes up most of two days. Which leaves us one day to explore. We also have plenty of time to get in some hikes in the park. I have been a little cautious about hiking because my hip isn’t always reliable. I am usually okay with two to three miles at a time, but get worn out with anything over that. Shorter hikes were good for all those rainy days. The rain is letting up some now and we have been enjoying places a little further afield. We explored the Marsee cemetery along the railroad tracks behind Bartlett Park. We hiked along the Cumberland Gap to the new bridge over Gap Creek. And we walk along Little Yellow Creek almost every evening.
Living and working in Cumberland Gap is providing a very nice balance of relaxing and working, challenge and routine. It is a beautiful place and we look forward to spending more time exploring and enjoying the company of new and old friends.