In The Middle of Everywhere

A fire is crackling ferociously right now, right here beside me.  There’s an honor system here at Douthat State Park, where you pay for the firewood that you use at your campsite.  It’s the same at most state parks, I’m sure, but, I kindof feel that it should be included, free of charge, with the graveled campsite that I’m paying $30 for this evening.  I mean, really, the site has a 60-foot turning radius and electric hookup for free, as well as a picnic table, but I’m getting nickel-and-dimed for firewood. That’s crazy.  Anyhoo, let’s just keep that sentiment among us here in cyberspace, shall we?  If word gets out that I was the reason that lakeside campground took in underwhelming firewood revenue, I wouldn’t have but so many people on the ‘potential narc’ list. 

It’s been 5 years since I last drove out Douthat Road after quitting work here to go to the Peace Corps.  It’s been five years of ups and downs, change, growth, you name it, and I have to admit, it’s great to be back.  Some faces have changed, but I still have some great friends here who I worked with and haven’t kept up with very well.  People have had babies, gotten married, divorced, gotten fat and thin, gotten promoted, fired, and rehired.  I guess it’s just good to come back to a place where some things have stayed the same, to remind you that faces will change, and processes may be different, and the lakeside restaurant might be allowing for unlimited returns to the salad bar at the same bargain price of $6.99, but, the trails still roll aimlessly through the same hollows, black rat snakes still haunt the same laurel thickets, and bluegill are still frenetically swimming the same holes, around the same punky corpses of locust and longleaf pine trees. 

I admit that I feel foolish having left this place and these mountains when I did, given all the changes and where I am now, but I don’t think I would have ever seen the true beauty of this place and life here had I not gotten away from it.  Certainly hindsight a rosy picture without all of the negative parts of a place, but time, and distance show me that this little chunk of the mountains is a true gem.  If you live within driving distance of Douthat, or any other remote Appalachian park or public area, take the time to go out, set up a tent on an absurdly large patch of gravel, light a ridiculously large fire with (arguably) stolen firewood, and sit, listen to your neighbors talk passionately about absolutely nothing, and fall asleep with the sound of cicadas and treefrogs in your ears.