A Tradition

Camping at Cades Cove

It has gone on for many decades, this tradition we share,

With our friends from Alabama, and other family members that go there,

It’s the annual camping trip to the Great Smokey Mountains each fall,

Always the third weekend in October; always TN vs AL in football,

Sometimes the weather is sunny, warm, and bright,

Sometimes it is literally freezing at night,

We camp in the National Park Campground,

Next to the 11- mile Cades Cove Loop we go around,

The leaves are usually at their colorful best,

The natural beauty is stunning, and our busy lives take a rest,

We pitch our tents: it is quite primitive,

Without hot water or showers, some visitors are tentative,

Near the bathrooms, of course- there’s plumbing at least,

We bring lots of food and gather together for a feast,

The wildlife is plentiful:  deer, wild turkey, and bear,

One time an overpopulation of skunk gave us a scare,

The goal is to see a Black Mama bear with her cubs,

If we are lucky, we will find them eating acorns and grubs,

The campfires we have are quite thrilling each night,

Roasting marshmallows and making smores, a camper’s delight,

As we pack up the camping stove, sleeping bags and tent,

We wonder where all the time just went,

The four-day weekend went by much too fast,

We wanted our experience to last and last,

But we will all take another trip around the sun,

Before we return there again to have more fun!

We head back home to NC with campfire smoke in our clothes,

This tradition will continue for many more decades, I suppose.

Tammy Harvey

Written:  9/5/2017