Update and The Mother of All Cricks No not fishing this time

I don't even know where to start, such has the past week been. I got off four days from work and decided to stay home for thanksgiving this year. My wife drove up from her work to her folks in KY on Wednesday night. I wanted to stay home and rest,especially since I have a long trek coming up for Christmas. I went to Shoney's for thanksgiving buffet and let me tell you! Many people had the same bright idea. It was actually pretty good and affordable. I stayed home on Friday and Saturday to get caught up on some reading I had been holding off on. Lisa (my wife), came home on Saturday evening. On Sunday I went on my first hike with the Smoky Mountain Hiking Club. We went to Frozen Head State Park, for an eight mile trek to climb Bird Mountain. It was a very nice and clear day and I had a great time.

On Monday afternoon at work, my shoulder and neck began aching real bad. I woke up that morning with a bad crick in my neck but thought nothing of it. I went home and straight to bed after work. I couldn't sleep that's how intense the pain became later that night. I stayed home from work Tuesday under excruciating pain. Decided to try to work this morning but lasted only two hours. Time to go to the doc. The pain was so intense I had to call my wife to come home from work so she could drive me to the doctor's office. After seeing the doctor the pain eased a bit and now with some meds it's getting somewhat better. What was it you ask? Nothing more than the mother of all cricks. The pain was so bad I thought I had something really bad. I'm glad it's not anything serious.

Just about died goin up Frozen Head Mountain

Well, three months sitting in front of the computer, eating and not exercising can do anyone in. I'm 42 and felt like 72. I blame it on being sick twice this winter and not exercising. Anyway, after driving up to the trailhead in Frozen Head State Park, I bought a map at the visitors center. I decided on the shortest but supposedly the quickest route to the peak of the mountain and the lockout tower. This trail was 3.3 miles one way and it is rated moderate. That is if you are in shape and that you are not me. I was huffing and puffing worse than the steam engine from the trains 80 years ago when these parts were logged. I came up on a party of three with a nice little Shi-Tzu dog. The dog was as tired as I was at that point. The reason being, it's legs are six inches. LOL.

I got to the top in about two hours. It was worth it. I had a nice view of Petros and Brushy Mountain Prison down below. I could see over to Buffalo Mountain and the windmills TVA put on top of there. I ate my two Little Debbie's, which by the way was the main reason I made it up there. I got down in an hour and a half.

The weather was superb, in the sixties. I was very impressed by the clean state park and the nice visitors center. I will definitely be back.

Back from the dead

Well not quite, I never actually died, and if I did who would be writing all this right this minute? It must be the meds, I'm overdosed I guess. What on earth is all this about you might ask! Well, I'm recovering from my second bout with severe sore throat and miscellaneous cold symptoms. Frankly I'm tired of it and let's hope this is the last for this season, of this kind of misery. I had big plans for last weekend. I ended up in bed most of the time so my lovely wife Lisa had to do all those planned chores. Not a bad deal you might say. If it wasn't for the damned sore throat and the fact that I couldn't get any sleep worth anything. Anway, Lisa shamppooed the whole carpet by herself. I did manage to get my vehicle serviced but Lisa had to do the grocery shopping and the house cleaning solo. I guess I owe her one know.

Not much else going on. No fly tying, no fishing, no movies, hardly any reading and no hiking. I am thinking about doing Frozen Head State Park for a hike soon and I want to go see Clint's new movie Gran Torino. If I can just stay away from the germs and viruses out there.