Miko and Me: Doin' The JR Thang

Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Doin' The JR Thang

Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area has hundreds of miles of trails, resides in two states (Kentucky and Tennessee), three Visitor Centers, a 600 foot deep gorge that runs through it and the edge of it is only a couple of blocks from Kathy's house. Most importantly there is a Junior Ranger program. Perhaps even more importantly is the fact that this is going to be Kathy's very first ever attempt at being a Junior Ranger. A most important milestone indeed. After watching the movie, finishing the book, going up the mountain to look over the gorge, I have to tell you that I felt immense pride as Kathy raised her right hand and took her Junior Ranger oath. Another Junior Ranger is born.

Check out the color of the water!!!

As we traveled around the area, we crossed and heard about the Obed river. Turns out it is called the Obed Wild and Scenic River and ….wait for it....another Junior Ranger opportunity. We checked out all of the sights and did all of the JR tasks needed to become badge worthy. It took us most of the afternoon. What we didn't take into account was that the Ranger Station was on Eastern Time while we were operating on Central Time. As a consequence, we got back to the Ranger Station fifteen minutes after they closed. What a bummer. But wait, what is it we see? Taped on the front door is a large envelope with our names on it. Inside were two Junior Ranger badges and bonus...two Obed Wild and Scenic River patches. Kudos to Ranger Leo who was so thoughtful to do this for us.

Northrop Falls is also very close to Kathy's house and we took Miko and meandered over to walk the trail. It was a fairly easy trail in Colditz Cove State Natural Area that passes towering rock walls and leads to a seventy foot waterfall. Fun, fun, fun trail as we had to do a little rock scrambling to make the loop.