I was planning a backpacking trip to Roanoke with a buddy of mine when our plans were altered by unforeseen circumstances. Not wanting to completely forgo my outdoor plans I opted to hit up a local campground near the base of Pilot Mountain.
Day 1: I walked the campground and nearby trails with my dogs followed by fishing with a little luck catching sunfish.
As the sun set I warmed by the campfire to replace the night chill, and took in the full moon.
Day 2: Essentially a repeat of Day 1. After dinner I threw a tree stump on the fire and sat back to relax. About 15 minutes later an Eastern Bark Centipede popped out and frantically searched for a way out of the firepit. Knowing that some centipedes wield a powerful bite, I lured him off the stump with a piece of wood and turned him loose.
Day 3: I moved to a different campground, went for a run up a mountain I ran a marathon on a few months ago, made dinner and shot the breeze. In the morning, as we packed, I rigged up an impromptu rope swing for my niece, and the lot of us closed out our trip swinging and spinning.
Be it by myself or with friends, camping out of a car or backpacking across a mountain range, I love spending time outdoors.