Now Batting Cleanup...Coleman Sundome!

If you regularly read this blog you know that camping is more than a hobby, but a passion of mine. With that said I added a new tent to my lineup...a two-person Coleman Sundome 2

No, my Kelty Salida 2 is fine, I just wanted a tent to use for some car camping and at the Cabin. I decided on the Sundome because it had good reviews, it wasn't too expensive and I had a gift card from Tractor Supply on something I returned, so it paid for half. It comes in at 7.5 pounds and most of that is the tent poles.

As always I like to pitch a tent before I use it and that is what I did Tuesday afternoon. Since it is a free-standing tent it doesn't have to be staked down. Like my REI Flash 1, the instructions are attached to the carry bag which I like better than a separate sheet like my Keltys. On the carry bag, it says 10 minutes set up (but it does say maybe longer on first set-up). 

It is similar to how my Kelty Salida goes up but also had things in common with my six-person Kelty Discovery 6. Like the bigger Kelty, the poles go into sleeves at the top of the tent. The one different thing is there are small metal rods that go into the tent poles. The rain fly is much smaller and it had a small rod that runs down the middle of it, kind of like the one in my REI tent. I will admit it wasn't that hard to put up, but it took longer than 10 minutes.

Oh, one cool thing it came with a gray may that I figured was a doormat (and I was right). I have used trash bags for this in the past. Now with this, I will not use it just with the Sundome, but also with most of my other tents. Inside it is pretty roomy. It also has a vent on the bottom on the back. Now all I need to do is take it out for a camping trip. I think it is going to work pretty well. But first I need to get a trap for a ground cloth...

Like I Always Say If It Was Easy It Would Be Shopping & Not Hunting

It is the weekend before Thanksgiving had means it is time for the new annual tradition...Deer Hunting Season. To be more specific, rifle season, which runs about three weeks in Virginia, West of the Blue Ridge in mid-November. This was my fourth season out as an adult. As I talked about before, I use to hunt as a kid at this same time of the year. I decided to come out of retirement back in 2017 because I love Venison.

Anyway, Dad and I went over on Thursday and we good cool weather I decided to head up and set in the tree stand with my old trusty 30-30 Winchester. While I saw no deer, I did see a nice sunset.

Friday was going to be an early morning as I started out before sun-up. I thought it might be a good day as I caught the glimpse of four or five deer in the yard, eating grass. There wasn't enough light to tell exactly how many, if there were any Bucks (male deer) or shoot if there had been one. Then on the way up, on one of my trails, I startled one in the woods. I started my day at the meadow where we planted a deer plot. I sat for an hour or so before heading back to the tree stand I sat at the day before. Sitting here all I saw were squirrels, both Gray and Ground (Chipmunks). So, before heading back I went back to the field. 

It was long before I heard something over my shoulder and out of the woods came a deer. I looked hard trying to put some bumps on its head, but that was just wishing. Also, shoot any sex wasn't until the following day. It wouldn't have mattered because it wasn't long until it's fawn came down to join here. While it had grown beyond its spots it wasn't fully mature. So, no I wasn't going to shoot Bambi's mom!

So, Saturday I was more hopeful since I could shoot any sex of deer I saw squat. That included sitting in two different tree stands and back to where I saw the deer the day before, but no it was another year of frustration. If it was easy it would be shopping and not hunting...

Anyway, besides my usual fire building and the best view I have every got of the ISS, I wish I would have started my video before I did. Oh, one other thing of interest was Bax went over with us. I finally got to fulfill my promise I made to him before his surgery back in May. He went with us to the other barn and it is close to a three-mile round trip. Let's say he was tired and thirsty by the time we got back. 

Well, that was another fun season in the books. I was once again on the losing end, but I am not done. Bow season starts back after rifle ends and I have been practicing (shooting a bow that is). If I want, I could always hunt squirrels...

Laurel Run & Bays Mountain Falls Highlight A Late Fall Hike

With my ear feeling better it was time to just get out and I decided, on Tuesday, a hike at Laurel Run Park fit the bill.

Since Laurel Run offers the closest hiking destination I decided to get back into the swing of things since my week off. Also, my last visit was in March on the eve of the COVID-19 Pandemic. so I hadn't been here since things went haywire. Since it is late fall this is my first hike where it looked wintertime.

The park hadn't changed much out front but there was something that was different. At the trailhead, there are two bridges. The first is the same, but a new bridge had been installed next to the remains of the old one. The trail also had a new place design and color... a red diamond.

I decided to take the loop up to the Canebreak Mountain Overlook since I didn't on my last trip.

Rewinding back to the new bridge, I was hoping maybe the spot where the trail crosses Laurel Run Creek which can be hard to cross at high water could have gotten a bridge. Well, it didn't, but there is now a small sand bar which makes the crossing easier.

Well, what makes Laurel Run Park special is all the waterfalls. From the park's namesake to Kiner Falls and all of the other waterfalls in-between. It makes for an excellent trip. Once back I did my visit "Down by the Riverside" of the Holston. 

My finally business of the day was heading over to the best of Hawkins County Cascades...Bays Mountain Falls. Like all the falls I saw on this day the flow was average at Bays Mountain, but good all the same.