Stone Door

The things we do for love.

I love Rod, I promise I do....

And that is why I agreed to do a huge hike!

The story starts off that he wanted to do a hike to a place called Raven's Point.  I finally agreed that I was willing.  As I started doing a little research, I started to get worried.  There were experienced hikers that were blogging that it was the most challenging hike they had ever done.  Certainly I was getting nervous, but figured I could tough anything out.

Saturday morning finally comes.  Rod, Bear and I pack up.  We had already spent a couple of week looking like fools.  We have been walking our driveway each night.. with our pack on.  I'm sure our neighbors were looking at us like we were crazy hiking done the driveway with backpacks.  Saturday morning the packs weighed approximately 15 pounds for Bear; 25 pounds for me and 35 pounds for Rod.  This included all our water (which Rod and I disagreed over how much to take and I won out and it was a VERY good thing) all our food, tent, blankets, change of clothes, and air mattress (not big ones, more like a kindergarten mat thickness).

We stopped to get one last good meal at IHOP and then headed to Mont Eagle.  When we got to the ranger station to check in for the campsite we were told that Raven Point campsite was already full.  She then proceeded to tell us that 90% of all their rescues were from the bottom of that trail!  Obviously the nervousness that I had was for good reason.  She also told us that just a few week ago they  had to rescue a dog because he hurt his leg on the shifting rocks.  Unfortunately this particular hike was the ONLY one that Rod and I had researched.  We didn't have a backup plan, but the ranger did.  She directed us to another ranger station where we could check in for a different campsite.  When we got to that station we had two options.  One had 3 groups of boy scouts and 15 other campsites all full and the other was only 7 campsites and no groups.  So we chose the other - a place call Saw Mill campsite.  This would be a 5 miles in, and then the same 5 miles back out. 

So one last trip to a restroom with running water and toilets at the ranger station and then we were off.  The first major land mark was a place called Stone Door.  This was only 1 mile into the hike and was an easy flat hike.  We took off the packs and went out to take pictures.  You can see we were not even sweating hardly at this point.

 Bear was not real sure about all these steps down.  About 1/2 way down he decided to stop on a ledge and rest!

This is Rod in the middle - Bear is on the right of him. You can see the picture below where he was standing

Bear on the ledge 1/2 way down the steps at Stone Door

After we left Stone Door and continued down into the gulf, we spent the next mile going down close to 1000 feet.  This is the point that I thought both to myself and I am fairly confident I voiced out loud "tomorrow is going to suck coming back up this when I am tired!".

After the "down the mountain" part, we are about 2 1/2 miles into this hike when we come to a swinging bridge!  We did not know that there were going to be these on the trail and we thought "oh no".  We worried that Bear might decide he doesn't like swinging bridges and refuse to cross.  Nope, not my big boy.  He walked right across like a champ.  We even stopped to take pictures and he was so comfortable that he laid down to wait for us!

We hiked for several hours, taking out time.  Stopping when we felt like it, eating lunch on the trail, taking in the sites.  We didn't see anyone else until just before the campground, it was another couple with their dog Rambo.  (who was a chihuahua of all things).

Once at the campsite we were pleased to see that the sites were large.  We didn't have any chairs or anyplace to sit.  First Rod and Bear walked to the only water source on the entire trail to fill up a couple of the water bottles for Bear.  Bear almost got hurt walking over the rocks.  A rock slid and his foot was hunt and he was crying.  Rod was able to get it unstuck and it seemed to be fine.  We dodged a bullet on that one, because at this point we are 5 miles from the closest road and carrying Bear out would have been almost impossible!

After that we pitched out tent, ate dinner, started a fire (to keep the bugs away) and played some cards.  It was very relaxing.  Since we didn't have chairs and we were tired... it was off to bed when the sun went down.

No camping trip is complete without at least one bathroom story!  This camping trip is no exception.  Bear was made to sleep outside of the tent.  He started whining  in the middle of the night.  I thought it was probably getting close to 4:00 a.m. and I looked for my watch.  I was shocked - it was ONLY midnight.  UGH we still had 5+ hours before daylight.  First Rod went out of the tent and walked Bear.  He marked his 1,000th tree for the day.  More whining.  Then Rod and I talked about if he is scared of the noises and dark (he is an inside baby, remember).  So we finally broke down and brought him into the tent.  30 minutes of him pacing, panting, and whining.  So Rod put him back outside (he was tethered to Rod's pack).  As soon as he put him back outside we hear him dragging the pack into the woods a little way and then a noise that I don't think I could describe right now if I wanted to.  Lets just say.... he had been holding it for a while... apparently Bear does not like to go to the bathroom while on a leash.... 2 minutes later... he was snoring and Rod and I could finally go to sleep!

Day 2:  Morning starts with breakfast.  We had bacon, biscuits, bagels and eggs.  The bacon and biscuits were precooked and we just heated them up.  Rod cooked his eggs on a little stove called a pocket rocket.  It was all good and we were ready to go.  On Saturday we had drank a little over 1/2 our water.  This meant that our packs were lighter by many pounds.  That was a very good thing!  We took back off down the trail.  Just like on Saturday, we didn't rush.  We stopped and rested when we wanted to, ate lunch, and explored. 

The terrain for this hike was certainly different from any that I have been on.  It was not a park setting.  There were boulders we had to cross, ledges on a hillside without any kind of guard rail, and then some easy spots as well.  After about 4 hours we were back at stone door again.

Brandy and Bear at base of Stone Door



Bear at the cool tree photo op!




Rod and Bear - I love this picture



So the trip was 10 miles and as reluctant as I was... in the end... I enjoyed my time alone with my husband - with no phone, no TV, not even a radio.  The only electronic we took was a GPS.  I was tired, had a few aches and pains, but I had a huge feeling of accomplishment at the end.  Without passing anyone on the trail for 9 miles of the 10, we had lots of quiet alone time to talk.  It was certainly a special bonding time!

Jr. Sr. Banquet

Tori goes to a private school that is somewhat narrow in their view of what is acceptable. So that means no dancing and no prom.  They have a banquet that they call Jr./Sr. Banquet.  As a Junior, Tori was able to attend this year.  She went with two friends Paige and Jeffery.  I'm thinking Jeffery was one lucky guy walking in with Tori and Paige on his arm!

The day started with Tori skipping school.  Then Tori, Paige, Michaela, and Rachel went to get their nails done.  Tori had been growing hers out for weeks and they were beautiful.  They looked so good, people thought they were fake.

Next came hair:  Jennifer, Tori's youth pastor, is also a hair dresser.  Tori went to her house and Jennifer made Tori's hair beautiful.  She did a technique that is called threading.  She actually used a needle and thread to "sew" Tori's hair up.  It held amazingly well.

On the way to Jennifer's house, Tori saw a field of flowers.  She decided to pick a bouquet as a "thank you" to Jennifer.  I got over there about 2 hours after Tori did and she asked me to go get her surprise for Jennifer out of the truck.  What Tori didn't realize is that these flowers were not going to make it in the heat in her truck for 15 minutes, much less 2 hours.  But it is always the thought that counts :-)

After nails and hair, it is time for makeup and then pictures.  We headed to Jeffery's house for the pictures.  The setting was great and the girls looked beautiful.  One of my friends said that Tori looked like a Greek goddess in the picture below and I couldn't agree more!

And here is a picture of the luckiest guy of the night with two beautiful young ladies - inside and out!

Their ride:  (since it didn't have A/C... this is why it was a good thing that Jennifer had Tori's hair put up really good)

Tori's new wheels

I guess they do make motorcycles with training wheels... they are just now called spiders or Can-am's.  But Tori was done with training wheels when she was four.  So she only wants two wheels. 

One of her friends was taking a free motorcycle safety course for teens.  Tori asked if she could take it as well.  I might have not thought this whole thing through when I said yes.  I really didn't think she had enough money (or would spend it) to buy a decent bike. 

She came out of the training class graduating 3rd out of 10 in the class.  There were 2 girls and 8 guys so she was pretty pumped on outscoring 6 teenage boys. 

Fast forward a week and one of my co-workers has a motorcycle for sale.  It had a few problems and he sold it to her for below wholesale.  So $1,000 lighter in the pocket, she was 450 pounds heaver in wheels.  She bought a 2003 Honda Shadow.  Obviously there are TONS of rules of when, where, and with who she is allowed to ride with.