Something In Between.

Caves!!!!!!!

Hello! I am BayMax, your personal healthcare companion. Jk it's me. Thanks for reading! Please vote/comment/anything!!!!! If you're wondering why I haven't updated I have been on Twitter and yeah...... You can spend days on there without knowing it........ I'm sorry but check me out on there @dreamer9923
Love y'all!
Dreamer9923
----------------------------------------------
Blog Entry 23

We drove through the country with a couple trivial (but fun don't get me wrong) stops along the way. We visited monuments and took hikes in state parks. It's been so fun.

I was sitting upside down on the ground with my feet on the seat. I stared at the road map of the Kentucky, Tennessee area. I held it studying it carefully trying to find a stop that peaked someone's interest.

Chris, who was sitting on the seat next to my feet, was napping. He looked so peaceful. He had been driving through the night and passed out right after his shift. I but my lip as I tried to refocus on the map. I kept glancing at his puppy face as we bounced along the road.

"I found something!" I said excitedly. "What?" Lucas asked from the driver's seat. "Dollywood and the Pigeon Forge area. We can park and set up camp in the Smokey Mountain State Park area and we can get one-day tickets, maybe hike and see a show in Pigeon Forge." I pulled out my phone to check out some shows. "Sounds cool." Daniel said barely looking up from making out with Kara. "Yeah." Lucas agreed not taking his eyes off the road. Keith was out too, but I knew he would be ok with anything hiking or amusement park related.

"Ok then. It's decided. Pigeon Forge it is." I said. Lucas put the address into the GPS and followed the electronic voice as it guided us down the road.

The Great Pumpkin bounced up and down on the road waking Chris. He looked around startled. He rubbed his eyes and gave me a lopsided smile. "Pigeon Forge?" he questioned as he read the GPS. "Yep." I said excited. "what about the caves?" he questioned looking at the boys. "Wouldn't it be better if we did Mammoth Cave in Kentucky then Pigeon Forge?" he asked. "What are the caves?" I questioned excitedly. "we go every trip. Mammoth Cave is one of America's first tourist attractions. It's a giant cave system with amazing scenery. It's one of our favorite spots. Pigeon Forge sounds awesome but the caves are a definite." He said still wiping the sleep from his eyes. "Then it's settled caves then Pigeon Forge." I said happily. He grabbed my ankle and gave it a light squeeze. I smiled. "ok then! To the caves we go!"
-/-

We pulled into the visitors center at around 9 am. The boys pulled an all nighter to get us here with enough time to get as many hikes in as possible. I pulled on my dark green hiking pants and a tshirt. I slipped on my hiking boots and grabbed my rain jacket because it gets cold underground.

Chris grabbed my hand and we walked into the building. The sun was in the sky covered by a couple of clouds. It was going to be a perfect day.

Our group walked up to the ranger's desk and started to look through the list of trails as we waited in line. "Anything look interesting?" Kara said looking over my shoulder. "Yeah everything." I answered happily. I admired how awesome she looked as she walked to join Daniel at a nature display. He took her hand so naturally it was amazing. She looked stunning in the clothes we bought her at an outlet mall. She had on pale blue jeggings, hiking boots, a heavy sweater and a bandana in her 2 day old braided hair. She smiled warmly as she flipped through a trail guide brochure with Daniel. I envied her beautiful black hair and piercing blue eyes. The only

Chris and I finally made it to the front of the line. The older gentleman smiled as we stepped up to the counter. "Hello. What can I do for you folks today?" He said genuinely. "What are your most popular tours or hikes that a group of" Chris took a minute to count "six could complete before sundown." He said staring intently at the map analyzing the trails. "We do offer many popular guided tours that are very popular. Our lantern tours are quite popular and our Ghosts of Mammoth Cave tour is also quite popular. I would go to those because many people do want to do those and there can only be a limited amount of people in each tour. I've marked a couple of other trails including those tours that you may peak your group's interest in this map. Is that all you need?" he said kindly. "Yes. Thank you sir." We said in unison. "Of course. If you folks need anything else, please let me or any of our park Rangers know. Have a great day!" He smiled and we left the counter. We walked towards group.

They all turned to see what the news was. "Lantern tour, Ghost tour and we'll see what else we can fit in but I want to be on the road by 1 because I want to make sure we set up camp at Smokey Mountain State Park before dark." Chris said with a smile. "Ok!" The group answered happy to have a structured plan. We walked over to the area where the Lantern tour would start. The tour guide, a twenty year old with flaming red curls, was handing out old, black old-fashioned lanterns.

Chris grabbed one for the two of us and we congregated with the group that was slowly forming. There where 3 families there. That we're all from the the same school in Indiana. From what I pieced together from eavesdropping, the Hunts, the Doyles and the Arbuckles were all vacationing separately and they somehow met up. The girls Bridget, Emma and Rebecca were all in the same class in school and the little boys Patrick and Rob were in the same class also. The kids ran around and it was the cutest thing ever.

The tour guide/Ranger finally escaped Keith's relentless flirting and began the tour. "If you would all please follow me. Watch your step and try not to be separated from the group. It may get dark in some areas to be sure to stay close to a lantern at all times. Please keep voices down as there are rocks that may fall if hit with large vibrations. Thank you and please follow me." she smiled and trekked into the cave. I gave Chris's hand a squeeze as we plunged into the darkness of the cave.

\ / IN AND OUT OF THE
\ / CAVE BY ME!!!! I have too
\_/ much time on my hands :(

The light stung my eyes as we resurfaced. The sun was high in the sky and it was almost 11.

"That was beautiful!" I said recalling the colors reflecting off the wet rocks and the sculpted rock formations. "No wonder you guys come here every summer!" I said awestruck. "Yeah." Chris said. He laughed at my awed expression. "But" he said shopping for suspense. "But?" I question curious as to what he could find to 'but' about that beautiful cave. "But it's not as beautiful as you." He said a smile on his face. He chuckled at his own clicheness. I blushed 50 shades of awwwwwwww.

He pulled me into a kiss in the middle of the path. The 3 families just exited the cave after a series of photos no doubt. The little boys fake barfed which made the two of us laugh. We pulled apart still holding hands. We ran to catch up with the group. I slipped on the slick pavement but of course Chris caught me. We both laughed as we ran down the slick pavement towards the Ghost tour.

We finally caught up to the group and Keith was still trying to charm the poor Ranger. He managed to get her name which is Candy but other than that no luck. I feel really bad but it was funny to watch. We walked to the park wide bus system stop to wait for the bus to the area where the Ghost Tour started.

It was a 20 minute ride and I hate buses so I took a nap on Chris's shoulder.

"Kitty?" Chris said softly, gently shaking me awake.

"Yeah?" I said rubbing my eyes. I wanted to drift back to sleep but I knew we were here.

"We're here sleepyhead." He laughed at my groggy expression as I slipped into the walkway.

Kara and Daniel were kissing in their seat and Keith was trying to part them. He ended up hitting Daniel with a trail guide and he grudgingly parted with Kara who looked just as disappointed. He grabbed the trail guide out of Keith's hand and hit Keith over the head with it as he lead Kara out of the bench by the hand.

We walked to the mouth of the Ghost Tour. The Ranger was an older gentleman. He motioned for us to move forward and we descended once more into the dark caves. I held onto Chris's hand as we began the slow trek downward.

-/-

The sun stung my eyes as the afternoon sun appeared above us. It was almost 2 and we were all tired so we decided to hit the road.

"Which was your favorite ghost story?" Chris asked smirking. "The one about the woman who died looking for her dead husband who got lost in the caves." I said absentmindedly. I was so tired I was ready to sleep in the van.

Chris and I walked in silence back to the bus.

After the bus ride back to the parking lot, we all piled into the Great Pumpkin. Keith climbed into the driver's seat as Lucas programmed the GPS in the passenger's seat.

I settled in next to Chris and let sleep wash over me. He put a muscular arm around my shoulders and pulled me in. He kissed me on my head as I drifted into a comfortable state of unconsciousness as we sped down the bumpy road towards Pigeon Forge.