It is Like Coming Home Again

This is the thought that Jerry and I both had at the same time when we saw the sign for Koomer Ridge Campground last week. It had been almost two years since we had been to the Red River Gorge area. Since Jerry was hiking the AT last year we missed out on our annual spring camping trip with friends that we been doing for almost 25 years – wait we can’t be that old!
We had planned to leave on Tuesday but woke up to wet, chilly weather. After checking the forecast for Slade KY I decided to wait until Wednesday. Jerry was anxious to get there but decided to wait also.
When we arrived on Wednesday the campground host said that Tuesday was a completely miserable day. Yea, for a good decision!
So we arrived on Wednesday. Our friend Jim pulled in right behind us. We settled in campsites next to each other.
The next few days were, sunny, windy, rainy, chilly – it’s hard to remember which days were what. There was a sunrise or two and at least one sunset that we saw. Looked for the space station a couple of times but it was just too cloudy to see it.
Jay came over on Thursday and the three men did their ‘guy hike’ thing. Seems like the Pinch-m-tight trail was true to its name – only Jim could make it through.
Thursday brought Joan and Dave. Friday brought Christy, Karen, Nick and 9 month old Ethan – go Ethan, your first of many camping trips! Saturday saw Christy, Joan and Dave leaving. Nick and Ethan also hit the road back home. Joanna and Mike came and later in the day Sheila arrived with Micah and Toby.
We made a trip towards Whitleton Arch by way of the lower trail – saw a lot of spring wild flowers. We took Ethan to see our favorite Frog Pond. This hike we later repeated with Sheila, Toy and Micah. The boys seemed to totally enjoy it. They ended up with wet feet but also a tadpole, salamander, and frog eggs in their net.
We enjoyed campfires, saw a few lightning bugs, had some good camp food, talked a lot, hiked some, played a little dominoes, laid in our sleeping bags and listened to the wind and rain, lightning and thunder, enjoyed the campground with very few people around, watched a guy with his leaf blower cleaning the campsites in a national forest – talk about job security, talked about going back in a week or two to watch the progression of the wild flowers.
It was good to be there and we are grateful for the opportunity to once again enjoy the wonders of nature so close to home.