Creeper Trail - 2nd Trip

My friends in NC loved biking on the Creeper Trail so much we came up for a second trip. Although, we had a few more surprises this time around, mainly snow!  It was a cold wintery day with a snow covered While Top but everyone still seemed to have a great time and wants to come again.  By the end, my fingers and toes were frozen but we all made it back in one piece.  We also visited the Carter Family Fold for a second time and got our dancing in.  It was a fun weekend with great company!

The Proposal (not mine - maybe one day)

Have any of you seen the movie, The Proposal?  Well, there is a scene in the movie that is hilarious.  Sandra Bullock is out in the woods with her future grandmother-in-law and they are doing a ritual type dance around a fire.  Catie did the same dance once for my mom and myself, it was the funniest thing and we laughed so hard we cried.  Well, this past fall when my mom and I took the kids camping we  re-enacted the dance.  I wish I had a video to show you but David, Mary, and Sarah got the biggest kick out of dancing around in the woods and my mom and I had a hoot being silly. 

Newest Lifelong Goal - AT

Mama Dunn Sr. and I went to Virgina to see a friend who recently returned home from a mission for our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, from Brazil.  On our way home, we drove within miles of Harper's Ferry - which is famous due to John Brown - and it is the headquarters for the Appalachain Trail Conservancy.  I have recently been reading up on the AT and hiking the trail in its entirety.  I have always loved hiking and would love to hike the whole trail.  At first, I wanted to be a thru hiker, someone who hikes the whole trail at one time.  After reading and considering my lifestyle, I quickly realized this would not be feasible, so my latest goal is to be a section hiker and hike the trail throughout my life and eventually hike the whole thing, approximately 2,200 miles.  I hiked my first section in March - pictures to come.  We stopped at the headquarters and bought my first few maps of the trail and snapped a few pictures.  It was rather exciting.  I love goals and planning - thinking about either of these makes me giddy. 

North Carolina State Fair

Sarah and I were able to spend a day at the State Fair and see all the fun animals.  There was one tent with sheep that we went into and this really cute eleven year old let Sarah get into the cage with the sheep.  She loved it.  I also found a little shed/house that I want to attempt to build some day with my own two hands!!  I better start learning carpentry now! =)

Mt. Mitchell

Mt. Mitchell is the tallest mountain east of the Mississippi River standing at 6,683 feet.  I had the chance to summit the mountain on a beautiful October day with a few friends from NC.  We made the 11 mile round trip trek in about 7 and half hours.  The fall colors were in full bloom and the sun was out and shining.  We could not have asked for a more lovely day to climb the mountain.  My favorite quote of the trip, "after a half mile, I knew this was going to be bad." My friend Jonathon said that after we got back to the bottom.  We all made it and had smiling faces on top.  It is so wonderful to be able to enjoy the beautiful creations God has provided us - I feel such a peace and calm when I am out in the woods!

RAGNAR 2011

I am back - at least for now! =) Hopefully, I will get us caught back up to at least the beginning of this year.  Back in September, my family ran our third Ragnar race up in Washington D.C.  It was a wonderful experience - aside from the a lack of sleep, sore muslces, running in rain, etc.  =) It was just as much fun as the rest we have run together.  I know it sounds crazy to run for a straight 30 hours, but being together and cheering everyone on while they run, gives me a thrill that is hard to explain.  We accomplished another 200 miles and enjoyed the beautiful sights we got to see.  Here are a few pictures for your enjoyment!!

Major Hiatus

HEY HEY HEY!! Well, I have been away for several months and have provided no updates to my adventurous life since my trip to Washington D.C. back in September.  I have so much to report on but this is just going to be a teaser as I do not have time to provide real and adequate information and pictures!! These are the events you have to look forward to reading about:

D.C. Ragnar - Camping with the kids - Summiting Mt. Mitchell - NC State Fair - AT endeavor - Biking the Creeper Trail in the snow - Halloween - Thanksgiving - Elizabeth's Madrigal Dinner - Matthias' National Race - NC Zoo - Christmas in TN - D.C. Trip (again) - Biking the American Tobacco Trail in Durham - Christopher's Mission Preparations

Wow, that took all my energy just to write that list! It has been a busy few months and the next few are going to be the same, but it is great.  I always seems to get more done when I am busy and have lots going on! For those who read, I hope you are all doing wonderful and I look forward to adding pictures of all of my adventures.  Even with all these fun things I have been able to do, taking care of David, Mary, and Sarah continues to be the most adventurous.  Bye for now!!