The last several months have been crazy at work. Anyone with a job can relate to work craziness, right? <smile> I really love my job. It is literally the best company I have ever worked for and we have some really amazing people in our company. We get through the daily grind with a hefty dose of teamwork!
In the middle of last week I was stressed and I told Marty, “We should go to Brevard this Saturday to see if we can see a white squirrel.” He said, “Sure.”
Ladies, marry a man who will drive almost 3 hours to a small town to search for white squirrels. A town you have visited several times over the years and never been able to see a white squirrel. I really didn’t think that we would see a white squirrel, but I wanted to give it another try.
Going in search of a white squirrel is an easier quest than hiking 50 miles on the AT, though. <laughter> I figure after saying yes to the 50 mile backpacking trip, looking for a white squirrel was easy peasy.
Life is really good. I found someone who loves to do all the crazy little things I love to do. We had a great afternoon watching the white squirrels of Brevard.
We didn’t get to Brevard until noon last Saturday. We pulled into the parking lot of Franklin Park and I got a work call as we were getting out of the car. As I was talking, Marty saw a white squirrel and came to tell me, “There’s a white squirrel.” I literally said, “There’s a white squirrel, I’ll call you back,” to the coworker on the phone. Click. Luckily when I called back she understood. She loves wild life, too and when I explained that we had come to Brevard, North Carolina in search of white squirrels several times in the past, but had never seen one until now. She replied, “I need to see a picture!” She loves nature as much as I do.
We walked around town with Ghost for a few hours and we saw about 7 or 8 white squirrels. It was amazing! These are not albino squirrels, they are leucistic white squirrels. Leucustic white squirrels have normal colored eyes. It is a genetic mutation that causes them to have white fur and not the lack of pigmentation that is found in albino squirrels.
On our way back home, we visited Chimney Rock State Park. It was our first visit since Hurricane Helene ripped through western North Carolina. The devastation in Lake Lure and Chimney Rock Village is still very visible even after more than a year. Marty took pictures while I was driving, but there was too much glare from the car windows and many did not come out very well.
From the top of Chimney Rock and its many lookouts, you can see the devastation and where the new roads have been built to replace the washed out roads. We went to the top of Chimney Rock, saw Devil’s head and climbed up to Exclamation Point. It’s mostly stairs built into the mountain with very little traditional trail. The views are gorgeous.
Devil’s Head is a very interesting rock formation. It absolutely looks like a Devil’s head! We made it all the way to Exclamation Point where the wind almost blew us over. <giggle>
I have so much to be thankful for as we head into the week of Thanksgiving. I’ve got a great job, an amazing family and the best dog in the world. As I look back on the last year, I see how God has done so many amazing things in my life. So many of my dreams have come true. I’m looking forward to all the adventures we are planning in the next year. It’s amazing when our dreaming and planning finally come to life on the water or on the trail.
Next Friday, Sean, Marty, the pups and I are going to go cut our Christmas tree. It’s become a family tradition. I’m really excited! We usually get hot chocolate along the way, but this year we will be making our own keto hot cocoa to bring along. We got a plaid Christmas bow tie for Ghost and a plaid Christmas flower for Ammy. It probably seems silly to many, but it really is a lot of fun. I wish that everyone could enjoy this little piece of the Christmas season in the mountains of North Carolina.
My Little Red Bike 