We explored Cove Lake State Park on bikes and in kayaks. Both were fun. They have a paved bike path that makes for enjoyable pedaling. We’d have kayaked much longer if the weather had been a little better. It was a great lake for kayaking (a big lake and no big boats).
Author Archives: deanorolls
Exploring Norris Dam State Park (Rocky Top, TN)
We used Norris Dam State Park as our home base to explore the surrounding area. They have two campgrounds (east side vs. west side) and I chose the bad one when I booked it [sad face emoji]. Regardless, we explored the park and got some hiking in. We also got to relax with Preston (and …
Continue reading “Exploring Norris Dam State Park (Rocky Top, TN)”
How I Got Healthy
13 years ago, I was headed down a dark path and knew I needed to make changes. A picture is worth a thousand words. I can SEE I am healthier (and I FEEL better). I dove in and did a bunch of bloodwork to make sure I wasn’t fooling myself. The bloodwork is very nerdy …
Music City Bikeway REDUX (Nashville Tennessee’s Best Bike Ride)
The last time I did this ride (with Preston) I was untrained and “bulking” and surrendered a few miles from the finish line. I recently tried it again. REDUX! I was still untrained but I’d dropped about 20 pounds. I finished it with ease. Then, recently, I did it again with Max (his first time). …
Continue reading “Music City Bikeway REDUX (Nashville Tennessee’s Best Bike Ride)”
Hiking Big South Fork – Twin Arches, Needle Arch and Slave Falls
We loved hiking all around Big South Fork. We spent a day at Twin Arches. They were enormous! I can’t believe these are in Tennessee. I was arch-struck! So many ‘that’s what she said’ jokes! After Emily broke her toes on the first hike, she wanted to persevere and finish the day’s 2nd hike. We …
Continue reading “Hiking Big South Fork – Twin Arches, Needle Arch and Slave Falls”
Awesome Hiking at Honey Creek Loop Trail and Overlook (in Big South Fork Nat’l River and Rec Area)
Best. Hike. Of. The. Year. Honey Creek Loop Trail (in Big South Fork) was only listed as 4.2 miles. Regardless, it took us almost 5 hours because 1) there was so much to see along the way, 2) the hiking was very hard/technical, 3) the trail was very hard to follow, and 4) a lot …
DISASTERS At Big South Fork – Emily Broke Her Toe(s) and I Almost Lost My Drone
Disasters! It was our BEST trip of the year and our WORST trip of the year. A tree root reached up and hooked Emily’s foot and she wound up with some broken toes. My drone decided to go on an unplanned trip and almost wound up in the Big South Fork River. It wasn’t all …
Continue reading “DISASTERS At Big South Fork – Emily Broke Her Toe(s) and I Almost Lost My Drone”
Hanging Out In La Jolla and San Diego, CA – Grinde Family Trip
We spent a week with family in San Diego exploring up and down the coastline (see previous 5 videos). We stayed in a house in La Jolla. It was our home base and where I watched the cousins perform many pool acrobatics. Thanks, Mimi and Pops for shacking up the whole clan for a fun …
Continue reading “Hanging Out In La Jolla and San Diego, CA – Grinde Family Trip”
Tourist-ing in San Diego, CA (Tourist Stuff)
We did as much ‘tourist-ing’ while in San Diego, CA as we could fit in. We ate at Liberty Public Market several times and everyone enjoyed it. We went from a house in town down a tunnel inside the La Jolla Sea Cave. We watched an exciting ‘bases loaded at the bottom of the ninth’ …
Continue reading “Tourist-ing in San Diego, CA (Tourist Stuff)”
San Diego Zoo (San Diego, CA)
My second visit to one of the best zoos in the nation (if not the best). It takes a full day to see it all (and I’m still not sure we did). That darn reptile house will continue to give me food for nightmares for years to come (again). [rattlesnakes are as scared of you …
