Day Trippin' and Dancin' Into the Weekend
Early yesterday morning 7 chartered buses rolled in to Alpine to chaffeur our boys around the Southeast for the much anticipated and much loved Trip Day! Last evening, as Carter and I greeted buses returning, many boys told us it was the most fun day yet. When you’ve been in camp mode for a couple weeks little things like Chick-Fil-A for lunch seem like luxuries.
Speaking of returning, our Chief 2’s also returned safely home last night around 9PM. I’ll be honest, they were a bit smelly debarking the bus. Feet were tired but spirits were high. It sounds like the weather was perfect on the trail (not always the case this time of year in the Appalachian mountains). Cooler temps and no rain made for ideal hiking conditions. Carter and I always look forward to hearing their trail stories when they come to our house for the Chief 2 steak dinner before the end of the term.
The Hunters had a big day in Chattanooga. It’s such a great tourist town that it’s hard to know what to pick for just one day out. We started our day at the iconic Rock City in Lookout Mountain, GA. A walk through the gardens and giant boulders and beautiful vistas left the boys hungry for lunch. Descending down Lookout Mountain, they found their way to Coolidge Park, alongside the Tennessee River, for a catered Chick-Fil-A lunch. Next stop for the largest portion of the afternoon was High Point Climbing facility in downtown Chatt. High Point has dozens of auto belayed climbs for various skill levels and most boys told me it was their favorite part of the day. These guys ended their day taking in an IMAX movie downtown before rolling back into camp for a pizza supper.
Our Trappers and Scouts were off to the famous Dollywood Amusement Park. It’s one of our longer trips but the wait is well worth it. Cabins and counselors spent the day riding roller coasters like the Tennessee Tornado and the Wild Eagle. And maybe even got a little wet on rides like Daredevil Falls and the Smoky Mountain River Rampage. Thankfully, the rain held off all day while they enjoyed the park.
Our Warrior cabins were off for a thrilling day of whitewater rafting on the Nantahala River. After enjoying a sack lunch, they were briefed with safety instructions and off they went. The Nantahala is near Murphy, NC and is a perfect beginner rapids course. The river is cool and refreshing and Nantahala Falls, at the end, provides a big thrill. On their way home they enjoyed a piping hot pizza dinner at a park provided by a local pizza restaurant in Murphy.
For the Braves and first year Chiefs, it was down the Ocoee River. They enjoyed floating down the river, surfing the rapids, and riding the waves. The Ocoee is a dam controlled river of the TVA with more adventurous runs. Both of our rafting trips are guided by the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) one of the oldest and most reputable guide companies on the rivers of the southeast. After their rafting run, these guys headed to The McCallie School in Chattanooga for some swimming and Mr. T’s pizza (a local favorite in Chatty).
The fun continued today as the ladies from Camp Desoto invited our Hunters, Trappers, and Scouts for a night of dinner and dancing at Desoto. Ever the gentlemen, we reciprocated and hosted the older age groups over here. Mrs. Gail served a buffet dinner of chicken fingers, lima beans, mashed potatoes, yeast rolls, and a green salad with diced tomatoes.
From dinner we made our way to the gym for a good, old fashioned dance hosted by our very own Thomas Gallagher and Merrick McCool. They played some fun, modern dance tunes as well as some old school camp line dance favorites. It’s not a Desoto dance without Rockin’ Robin and Elvira! The tennis courts were transformed with benches and yard games. Each age group took turns having a water and cookie break on the courts for some socializing and games. I bet tomorrow’s outgoing mail in the Alpine green box will hold a few more than usual envelopes addressed to PO Box 432 in Mentone!
Thanks for reading and good night for now, Glenn
