A Blank Page Waiting For New Adventures….

Optimystique is sold. Our lives are now a blank page just waiting to see what we decide to do next.  Sort of exciting and yet….

For now we’re back at the lake … WAY early for us, but for the FIRST TIME in my life, I get to see my pear and star magnolia trees in bloom!  For someone whose theme song is “When Was the Last Time, You Did Something For the First Time” (Darius Rucker), it is unsettling to have no real “plan” … yet I get to see my trees flower … for the 1st time!

Optimystique is now “Meander” and is currently in transit to Key West to start another Great Loop!  She’s a great boat and I’m sure Lynn & Carolyn will have many memorable experiences with her, just as we enjoyed.  🙂

Even though it was my idea and David enjoyed The Great Loop as much as I did – we’re both tired of the ongoing maintenance required on a constantly moving boat.  Since I don’t do most of the maintenance, our compromise included several months back at the lake after Optimystique was sold.

… or at least until its not warm enough for David to wear his shorts in central Illinois – which means adventures will continue.

Neither of us see our futures without another boat.  We just don’t know what that boat looks like.  Before we can envision another adventure and another boat, first we need to decide what that adventure IS!

In the meantime, we wandered north from Florida, a road trip seemed like a good transition to lake life – and allowed for the lake to warm up a bit.  We spent spring break at on Lake Hartwell, South Carolina with family – it’s warmer there in early April than central Illinois which was still getting SNOW!  Ro even braved the 62 degree water to go kneeboarding!

It seems there are waterfalls in the SC/GA border area. BOY is that an understatement!  We hiked the Yellow Branch Falls trail.  A muddy muddy trail must mean water splashing over the falls and we were not disappointed – sure could have used my hiking boots and poles crossing that stream over and over!  Next time!

The Lazy Hiker Brewing Company has been on my bucket list since son Billy’s college roommates’ parents opened it in 2015.  As luck would have it, The Lazy Hiker is 69 miles northwest of Lake Hartwell in Franklin, North Carolina …. ROAD TRIP!

What a great spot – we want to return when it’s warmer to visit “The Yard” – their live music venue that’s appropriately located in the brewery back yard! David proclaimed the beer very tasty and got a t-shirt as well as a case of Trail Mate Golden Ale.

You can visit The Lazy Hiker Brewing Co when you’re hiking the Appalachian Trail since the trail is 11 miles from the brewery and through hikers tend to congregate there to enjoy the comfortable warm and dry lounge area (and cold beer).  Be sure to check out the huge banner with all the 2019 hiker signatures!  Not hiking the trail?  Stop anyway & tell Tommy & Robin that we sent you!

From there, we learned from other boating friends that Tellico Plains, Tennessee was just across the Cherohala Skyway (huh?) from Robbinsville, NC.  Tellico Plains is a tiny town where our friends’ (from Kansas of all places) son decided to open a bakery … just shy of literally the middle of nowhere. Tellico Grains Bakery in Tellico Plains, Tennessee!

Good news is this tiny bakery has flourished and is currently selling bread to Whole Foods in Knoxville as well as several area restaurants.  And it has the most amazing cinnamon rolls, sandwiches and wood fired pizza in the tri-state area.  Just don’t show up on Sunday or Monday or you’ll be out of luck as they’re closed.

The Cherohala Skyway would have been an amazing drive, but just like cruising, the weather decided we would only get to enjoy a bit of it – the rest of the 50-ish mile drive was literally in the clouds. Still very dramatic. A few photos …

The lack of scenery just means we’ll have to return and do it again.  FYI, Cherohala comes from a combination of the two national forests it spans across the mountains — Cherokee and Natahala National Forests.

Now we’re back at the lake trying to meld two independent households into one and watching as spring unfolds … nuthatches run down the tree singing their song, great blue herons are fishing, white pelicans are still migrating through & friends say the eagles are soaring although we haven’t seen them yet…   Life is good!