We are settling in for our long stay in this lovely setting in the mountains of western Carolina. Anne started work last week and began seeing patients solo in the clinic today. The atmosphere is different in the institutional setting and with patients of a somewhat different culture. Although there are some apprehensions, she anticipates a very positive experience.

Chuck is still learning how to manage this homestead. He fed the horses yesterday for the first time. The three big dogs are now old hat, but always a bit of a challenge. He has even made friends with one of the cats. The other seems not to like men. He quickly prepared the garden last week and planted on June 1 and 2. The garden is large, about 50x50, so we should have sweet corn at the end of summer. The soil seems good, and most importantly the garden is well fenced.

We promised ourselves that we would get out every weekend, and so far we have. Last weekend was beautiful. Chuck had planned a first day hike up Cold Mountain of literary and cinematic fame. At the crest of Shining Rock ridge the peak is 6,030 ft above sea level.

The climb was 5.5 miles long and 2,800 feet vertical, so it helped to keep us in good hiking condition. It started at a trout stream, passed through lovely cove forests and then followed ridge crest first through hardwood and then mixed forest. We encountered balsam fir and red spruce near the summit and finally a lovely tangle of various kinds of rhododendrum, mountain laurel, and blueberries, all coming into bloom. The oaks on top were just leafing out and their small red leaves looked flowery as well.

At the peak we enjoyed vistas of the range we sat on and range after range of ridges around it. The last range to the east was the Blue Ridge.

We returned home via the Blue Ridge Parkway.

On Sunday we attended service at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Franklin and enjoyed a pot luck luncheon there. Afterward we prepared a grilled dinner for our host family and enjoyed watching the sun set over the mountains beyond the back porch. This first week in Syva had been a success.

Anne wants to hike again this weekend, and we will probably climb another grand peak, Clingmans Dome in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This hike will reduce by about 8.5 miles the Appalachian Trail section that we will have to backpack through the park. The Clingman Dome section is in the middle. Completing it will leave two 30 mile sections that we plan to accompish in two three day backpacks later in the year.

A road to near the top of the Dome parallels the A.T. We will drive to the parking area near the top, park, and then bicycle down the access road to the main park road at Newfound Gap. We will leave our bikes there and hike the trail to the summit and then a few feet down to the parking area. We have enjoyed bike hikes in the past and this one looks very feasible. More good exercise.

Best to all from Carolina.