Camping and Boating Watts Barr Lake

June 19 thru 23

The original plan for this trip was to stay at the new Watts Barr Jellystone Campground. We were going to enjoy the waterpark, swimming pool, and go boating on the lake. I had been suffering with a persistent cough for a month. I went to the doctor June 12. I got treated with prednisone.

I was back for a yearly physical June 18 and a recheck. I wasn't better. I was given antibiotic.

I was back again Thursday June 19th for having worsened. Finally out of exhaustion and the need for a good rest I stayed home. The rest of the family went ahead. It was an hour or less away.

I spent the time resting in bed, on the couch and stayed inside. I stayed out of the heat and allergens.

I was told I will have to see a lung specialist now since the condition did not respond to prednisone.

I had a lonely, but restful couple days at home. Finally on Saturday I was feeling some better.

I went and had a mani pedi which helped me cheer up a bit. I saw a mouse in the hallway on my way to the nail salon. I chased it with the cats. I tried to whip it with a broom. It only made things worse as it ran into my bedroom. I called Kenny and made arrangements for him to come get me. I would not have to face sleeping in that house with a mouse on the loose!

I joked and told friend Phil that I signed the deed to the house over to the rat and left!

I spent Saturday and Sunday night at the campground in Loudon with Kenny and my family.

I didn't do anything on Saturday as it was late, but we did get out on the lake on Sunday. I had never been boating or swimming on Watts Barr Lake before. It didn't seem too appealing at first. It ended up being better than anticipated. We saw lots of wildlife and had a great time.

We saw gar fish, bass jumping, a bald eagle, cormorants, wood ducks, ospreys, and one black cow!

The water was perfect on a hot 95 degree day in the blazing sun. I am loving our pontoon boat which can hold 13 people! We had packed sunscreen, toys, lunch, snacks and plenty to drink. We spent a lot of the time swimming in an out of the way cove. Floating on tubes. Towing the tube behind the boat. It was exactly what I needed. It was relaxing! I was outside finally, but avoiding the heat and excessive pollen. I learned my lesson too. I had insisted on mowing our son Jared's lawn. I felt Kenny was treating me like I didn't know how to do anything. It never occurred to me he was trying to take care of me and protect me against dust and anything that might set off my lungs. All that grass and dust didn't cause the problem, but it sure didn't improve the situation. I won't be mowing anymore.

We went to Calhoun's on the river in Lenoir City for dinner which was nice too.

I got down to the campground Saturday evening just before supper. Operation Midnight Hammer went down around that time. It was on the news regarding the bombing of three nuclear sites in Iran by US by B-2 stealth bombers and a coordinated strike by our navy using tomahawk missiles. My son in law is military and filled us in that Iran was less than a month away from having a nuke. I can't think of anything much worse than that for our world. I saw a video from 1979 Iran and how they have gone away backward since then especially regarding women's rights. I pray the Lord will come on back soon as this world is far too crazy for me these days.

Below: left to right Michael, Adam, Tessa and Crystal. Kids napping on their daddy.
Below: some sort of st johns wort blooming on the shore of the cove.
Below: in the distance the Kingston Steam plant. This section of the lake was pretty, but full of debris in the form of wood.

above: 16 year old grandson Michael in the tube
Above: a better photo of the pretty cove where we went to get away from the boating crowd.
Above: Papaw Kenny and our family
Above: trumpet vine close up. One of a few Summer flowers we saw today.