NS:: Travels With Nowslimmer

“Yep -- you need to hack that thing and get another 15 or 20 horsepower out of it... < G >

And you can help us time 2-minute eggs!”

“Hugs to you!!!!!!”

“good luck”

“Hi Nowslimmer, I missed all this business while off on vacation. So glad your surgery went well. I hope this helps you feel better and you get to continue your travels.”

“Nowslimmer, glad you're 'wired' for performance now......perhaps you can get a jack to plug your iPod into so your can really rock out.....say, perhaps there's an auto store you can get one of them new-fangled 'chips' at that will give you performance/endurance settings.......”

“Greetings from Valley Hospital in Las Vegas. Having a wonderful vacation. Wish you were here.”

“We're on the way home. Tango is still as beautiful as she was dancing on cocktail tables back in Orlando, as well as on the Florida Trail. She fixed us up with a new, 2-room cabin. She has a real nice place here and has been taking real good care of us. We expect to be back in Florida in a few days.”

“Safe travels Nowslimmer!”

“HUgs & Hello NS!!!!”

“Love ya! Be safe!”

“What is your itinery like heading back to Fla???”

“divinity - We're in an Econo Lodge in Lafayette, LA. 337 261 5111 room 102. Tomorrow morning we'll head east on I-10/12 toward Florida. Love to see you. Can't use my e-mail but I'll check TT in the morning.
last edited: 8/04/07 8:21:49 PM”

“Where you stoppin for the night???”

“hope all goes well on your trip back, so sorry to hear about your surgery. let us know when you get back. will this have any effect on your hiking?”

“Hi, cyndeee. - Hope you're healing Ok.

Yes, I will not be able to carry a backpack, for a while, if ever. But I hope to enjoy the fall colors on Hazel Creek by using a Cart!”

“i'm hoping to make the sispy trip but still not sure. it's slow going but i have started working out at the gym as of last week. think i will go for a walk on the beach today. we are going to take vacation in october and head up to tn and ky and then maybe down the coast of sc and ga.
last edited: 8/05/07 10:58:29 AM”

“Don't let him fool you he was kickin' up his heels when he was here in AZ!!

When are you deadbeats coming to visit??”

“Hi- This is Paul's daughter again. We're back in FL, returned to the hospital because he was feeling shortness of breath and dizziness. They found two blood clots and he is receiving treatment for them right now, an IV with blood thinning medication.

He is in good spirits and says to tell you his black book is almost full with nurses' telephone numbers.”

“Good to know even under adversity he still his priorities straight.”

“I am in intensive care. They told me that the situation is serious.

Last night it took me about four hours to get a turkey sandwich from the nurse. By that time we knew that I was headed for intensive care. So I told her I understood people were better fed there. The sandwich plus appeared in less than five minotes.

"Chow!"
last edited: 8/07/07 3:19:05 PM”

“good luck and please get well soon.”

“Get well NS!”

“So, you cruise hospitals instead of bars now, eh? Get well.”

“the drugs are better”

“omg.....Paul...behave yourself!!!...I hope you get to feelin better soon!!!...it was great to visit with ya!!! I put a trip report on the "Adventures" by Divinity thread of our visit!!!!....
...hugs!!!!!
http://www.thebackpacker.com/trailtalk/thread/33626,3.php
last edited: 8/08/07 3:40:49 AM”

“I'm out of intnsive care.

They found a large blood clot near the top of one leg. It probably broke off the two clots that went to the top of my lungs. Another specialist was added to the case. For now they plan to continue trying to dissolve the clots.

Several groups of my Chines Relatives came to visit me yesterday.”

“Yikes, those blood clots are bad news!”

“Wooo Hoooo!!!....you take care of yourself NS!!!!!!....Lee says hello and for you to get better soon!!!!!!!you should get plenty of exercise in the hospital.....chasing nurses!!!!!
hugs!!!!!”

“I was sprung this morning from the hospital to my daughter's place! I was only in intensive care for one day. The rest of the days I was being tormented by an old man, my roommate, whose mind was long gone. He kept me awake each night by trying to break away. He managed to get out of his bed once and promptly fell on the floor. He had no idea where he was!

The doctors decided to treat my blood clots with chemicals. Melbourne now has an outstanding Heart Treatment Section. It's currently Number 1 in Florida and they are claiming to be No. 1 in the country. So it appears that I am in good hands.”

“I thought maybe you had a sexy nurse taking care of you. ;-)

Good to here you're out of the hospital.”

“Yippie!!!

Glad you are back to the civilized world...and TT!”

“Nowslimmer glad to here your back up and running!”

“

“I thought maybe you had a sexy nurse taking care of you. ;-)

Good to here you're out of the hospital.”
lumberzac

Thanks. Yes, I did: Nurse Ninja!”

“Hey NS Hope all is well now. It all works out! Yo bear!”

“did I read somewhere that whilst in his travels, NS wears no underpants?”

“I think it was something you dreamed about, ENS.”

“Thanks, Nimblefoot. I didn't want to point out to him that aikijitsu techniques work against all sizes. Besides, he was just joking.”

“He was? Really?”

“This is temporary storage. It will be proof read, corrected and continued. Thank you for waiting.

Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008 Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2000 - My Melbourne daughter helped me pack and get the car loaded into the early hours of the morning. She finally left and I stayed up for an all-nighter. After a gas stop I hit the Interstate at 5:30 A.M. I had restricted my pill intake in an attempt to stay awake, while on the road.
I headed for Lake Norman State Park, NW of Davidson, NC. I planed to see HPM and Treebait there and, hopefully, their daughter. I did dose a few times and woke from the noise of the tires hitting the road lane bumpers. Finally, in Columbia, SC, I woke within one half of inch from a dividerwall located in the middle of the Interstate. I have now identified another pill that makes me sleepy! I should have stopped for the night, but I wanted to see my TT friends. I did not dose off again, but had a difficult time with lots of traffic in Charlotte, NC. Then, I could not locate Lake Norman SP. I finally gave up and started West. Then I saw a Lake Norman, 7 miles, sign and gave it a try. There did not seem to be many signs. It was like they did not want people to locate the place. But this time I found it.

Turns out my TT friends had not been there looking for me, and I set-up a tent with the aid of the car's headlights. Before hitting the sack, sleeping bag, I swore I would never drive that far again in one day for anything.

I picked Lake Norman SP for their firewood. The price was up to $3.00 for all the firewood you needed for your campfire. There have two wood shelters with oak scrapes and leftovers from furniture building. What I wanted and collected two plastice of the shortest pieces up to about 3-inches. These normally burn real well in my Siera Zip Stove, which burns wood scrapes, acorns, pine cones, etc. This I do at the developed campsites. In the backcountry I collect the fuel. Almost always there is plenty around the campfire ring.

I slept like a rock. In the morning I drove to a bathroon. I should have asked for a campsite for Disabled folks. It was right next to the bathroom. I returned to the campsite and was eating a Gauva Sweet Roll in the car. It was a frosty morning. I looked out and a beautiful girl appeared at my car window. It was Treebait and HPM was approaching. It was 9 A.M. I offered to share some additional rolls with them. Only HPM would take one. I was so happy they came. It was great to see and visit with them, even if the little one was not with them. Something was mentioned about her going to school.

After they left I took my time breaking camp and packing the car. It was 11:30 A.M. as I drove away. Some of the trip was slow going and I arrived at Cataloochee Campground in GSMNP at about 4:45 P.M. The C.G. was full!

Some guy named Smith writes a newsletter about his trips, etc., in GSMNP. He wrote one pushing Cataloochee with the Elk in place of a trip to Cades Cove. The Park has been doing the same thing, pushing Cataloochee. I chewed Smith out for his actions, but the damage has been done. Cataloochee is now crowded like Cades Cove, but it doesn't have the roads or facilities for it.

And now the decision has been made. After almost seven years the Park has decided to keep the Elk. Oh unhappy day! It was probably that they had a good year with births. Twenty three elk were born. Six died or were killed ,and one was shipped elsewhere for medical reasons. Sixteen survived. But what about all the deer that were killed to prevent them from possibly carrying bugs and other things that might have been harmful to the Elk? I would rather see the deer than the Elk.

I learned that Big Creek had 10 vacant sites just 10 minutes prior. I drove the dirt road for 16 miles, got a site and settled in for two days. It did fill all sites during the evening. Along the dirt road I passed a number of familar landmards that brought back lots of memories.

To Be Continued.”

“your my inspiration.”

“Fri. and Sat., 10-3 and 10-4
I stayed at Big Creek for Friday and Saturday nights. I was right near a pathway to the parking lot and the bathroom. Everything in the developed campgrounds is now gravel. Like Treebait told us, without a ground cloth the gravel can put holes in the bottom of the tent. Well, during the nights I could hear everyone that walked to the bathroom. The noise level was so high it sounded like they were walking across my tent pad. (Big Creek is a tent only campground and has only 12-campsites.)

Saturday morning I drove to Hartford and Newport. The rafting industry has become quite large with Hartford a center for the local area. The George Walters hydro-electric plant at Waterville is the oldest hydro-electric plant in the country. The plant people used to welcome walk-in visitors. They were happy to see anyone and would give each visitor a tour of the place. Now, because of all the white-water rafters, they have a large fence around their property with signs saying, "Keep Out!"

Water for the plant comes from Lake Waterville, about eight miles away to the south and the lake is abouut 800 feet above the plant. Way back shortly after the year 1900 they constructed a tunnel from the plant to the lake. The rafters have to time their trips to the operations of the plant. They raft when the plant is producing electric power with their one to three generators.. The water discharge raises the creek level and really moves fast producing lots of white water as it flow over rocks in the creek's path.

Several years ago they build what appears to be a water tower on a nearby mountain. It can be seen from at least one spot along the road and from as far away as the Balsam Mountain Trail at the other end of the Big Creek Valley. Actually, it serves as a release valve at the same level as Lake Waterville. When they initiate or discontinue generation of power, they open or close some of the flood gates. This can cause shock waves in the water. So they are absorbed in the water tower structure, which allows the water to rise or lower as needed.

At Hartford no restaurants were open as the rafting season was over. So I drove further along I-40. At the Tennessee Welcome Center I stopped to obtain a new road map. Then I continued to Newport and went into the Waffle House for breakfast. Bacon, eggs, coffee, potatoes and toast set me back $9.15, including a $2 tip. But it was interesting. Times are getting rough! So there was a doorman who opened the door and greeted all the customers. The entire staff of six people or more, also, greeted every customer. It was a struggle to eat between answering all their questions; Is everything OK? Would you like some more coffee? Would you like some more water? But would it was nice to see that they were learning that w/o customers, they would not have jobs!

In Newport I bought some things at the Super Walmart. I remember when the store was built.I bought an asortment of batteries, but the prices were so high, I looked elsewhere for a six volt battery. I finally found one for $3.25, a very reasonable price. I drove past the old Walmart located in a small strip mall. The store was still empty, or empty again! This is a problem across the country. Some areas have forced Walmart to improve their plans for new structures to make them more attractive 30 to 40 years along, when Walmart moves elsewhere.

I turned on I-40, returned to 321 and then on Cosby. There I learned that my very ,good friend, Bill Polly, died abour 4-months ago. He and his wife had sold their Creekside Market about two years ago. Some of you may remember a rainy, backpacking trip starting along Gabes Mountain Trail with the first night at CS#34. I asked folks, if possible, to please stop and say hello to Bill for me. If they even made a purchase, so much the better. I explained that Bill, the manager at Cook's Campground and Motel, used to park my car free and give me free shuttles to and from trailheads. Also, they had a Rec. Room with a small, pool table and Bill and I would play for hours each evening, whenever I was staying in the campground. A number of you did stop and some of you even made purchases. Well, I thank you again. Your efforts surprised Bill and made him quite happy.

I stopped and gave my condolences to Bill's wife, Alice. She is doing well. Several years ago she had open heart surgery and I visited her in the hospital on Christmas Day.

Mountain Mama's previous place looked real nice. It had a new roof and a large, attractive entrance including different steps. I learned that they had been able to sell it. Someone from Newport, with plenty of money, bought it and converted it into a private lodge and occasional retreat site. John and his wife moved back to Florida.

- To Be Continued -
last edited: 10/22/08 7:50:18 AM”

“My daughter and granddaughter will be returning from Europe tomorrow. They have had a great trip including a week on a beautifule island of Portugal, a month or more in summer school for law students in Spain, a 4-day weekend in Paris, Rome and a boat trip to Greece and Turkey.

Florida has turned too hot, what with gobal warming and all. My plans are to hit the cooler, high areas of GSMNP for about 7-weeks., visit relatives, etc., in Minnesota, spend about seven weeks near Eagle River, Wisc., in Nicolet Nat. Forest, and on the way home, a couple of days in Breaks International Park on the border of KY and Virginia. Should get home in early November.

If anu of you want to join me along the route, please use the Internet.”

“I will plan on using the internet to vicariously join you if you post the pics. Sounds like a great trip.”

“Have a great trip NS!!!!”

“Have a great trip and if I can meet up with ya I will. BTW, if you are escaping the heat, Florida actually had milder temps than the rest of the southeast and midwest. Or course that bubble of High pressure will move on out of here soon.”

“have a good trip”