February 1st, 2018

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Good Morning,

It’s currently 28 degrees socked in - cloudy and windy. Yesterday’s high was 39 degrees, with an overnight low of 26 degrees. There is currently 5” inches of snow on the ground.

US Highway 441/ Newfound Gap Road from Gatlinburg TN to Cherokee NC is now open, use caution and watch for snow and ice.

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I wandered outside. The cities below complimented the star speckled sky. I waited patiently as the lunar spotlight climbed up and over the ridge. Additional lighting became unnecessary in the newly lit world. Enjoying the scene, I forced myself to tuck-in for the night. I needed to catch up on sleep. The sleep came - swiftly and silently.

The first morning of February would be a moody one. Walking around camp with a mug full of coffee and the glowing lantern, I explored my surroundings. I looked down at my old Casio watch - the sun was rising. The blueish grey hue around the lodge transitioned to a purple haze. Even if I couldn’t see the sunrise, the benefits of being outside persisted. Wandering - I found myself on the porch of the Ritz. I sipped my mug of brown caffeinated nectar, wondering what the day would bring - how the month would unfold…

I rambled on.

Onward,
Seth

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“A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.” - Lao Tzu