This title is the only Ten-I-See

Hello to my consistent six readers! I'm back (you're welcome). I am writing this post because A. I wanted to keep you updated on my adventures, and B. Because I have a lot of cool pictures to add. So from Tennessee to the world, let's jump into it.

The car was loaded, and the food was being prepared. My dad and I said our goodbyes, as we jumped into the car on the Saturday before Memorial day, ready for our two day drive to Oak Ridge, Tennessee. You see, I was fortunate enough to get an internship with Oak Ridge National Labs for the entire duration of the summer. While I didn't know anybody in Oak Ridge, and I didn't know anything about what I would be working on, I was excited none the less.

After driving on our first day, my dad and I stopped in Memphis, Tennessee. While some towns are a pretty bland city that seems like it could be any old city, Memphis has flair. As we pulled in and parked our car, we were instantly greeted with the smell of barbecue and the sound of jazz. Looking just over the railing of the parking garage, you could see a crowd of people sitting at a restaurant, enjoying their Saturday evening. We ate dinner at the famous Rondevus, walked through the Peabody hotel, and walked up and down Beale street (and boy was that something). All throughout the town, you could smell food, hear laughter, and see... trash. Flair is not always tidy.

Dad in the Peabody Hotel

Beale Street

Stage in Memphis

Upon arriving in Oak Ridge, we drove up to my rental house for the summer. It is a beautifully restored house that was built when Oak Ridge was first founded (around WW II). Dad and I unloaded the few possessions I carried in my car, and jumped right back in to go hiking. We went to Haw Ridge Park for a brief hike, and would return for more time the next day. Haw Ridge is a 30 mile bulb-peninsula sticking out into the river. Eventually, my dad left and I prepared for my first day of work.

Oak Ridge's River

Same spot, but turned right

Haw Ridge on the River

My Living Room

My Kitchen

My bookshelf and desk (sorry no bed its too messy for a pic)

Fun fact: Oak Ridge is one of North America's most desirable locations for rowing competition.

On my first day working at Oak Ridge National Labs (ORNL), I left early to be there with plenty of time to get lost if needed. I didn't get lost, and after passing through the guard gate and arriving on the main campus, I was amazed at the beauty of the lab. It looked like a college campus, and one of the good ones on top of that. A large quad, beautiful grass and buildings surrounded me. I met my mentors, and even a few other interns. However, most of this first week was training, so we'll skip over that.

Green bug friend

Haw Ridge Park

Cool picnic spot

My semi-attempt at the picnic spot using pastels

I drew some water

I left my clock out in the sun

On my second week, I truly began my work on my project. I drove far down the road from main campus into a stout stone building, where I began my work with the drones department. Walking into the lab was like being the kid in a candy store if the candy was worth thousands of dollars a piece. My coworkers are all nice (and beyond intelligent), and I have learned so much in the small amount of time I've been there.

9 of about 50 geese surrounding me

Oak Ridge in the fog

Calhoun's

A delicious dinner I made (don't ask about the whole pizza I ate the next night)

This past weekend has been filled with adventures too. On Saturday, I drove south two hours to the Smokey Mountains. I drove down the scenic path in Cades Cove, and stopped to hike to Abrams' Fall. This was a beautiful 5 mile round trip hike down the mountain-side to find an incredibly voluminous waterfall. When I arrived, there was only one other person there. By the time I left, the area was packed with people, young and old.

Scenic drive in Smokey Mountains

I think this is a google stock photo

Beginning of the Abrams' hike

This hike is apparently the 9th deadliest in America

Abrams' Falls

The crowd when I left

This brings us to today. I went to church, ate lunch with three of my new friends Lois, Charlene, and Merriam, and now I'm writing this. My experience these past two weeks has been amazing. I've seen beautiful sights, met interesting people, and have learned a ton. This isn't to say it's been all good. I've been lonely, and frustrated. I've felt fear. However, sometimes you've just got to keep pushing for the good so the scale will tip back in your favor.

Thanks for the love. Keep your cookies close. Never forget to wash behind the ears.

-Tad Kile

Back for a GRAND Adventure

Hi, howdy, hello everyone! After nearly a year gone, I have another week of adventures to share. Accompanying on this journey was an exciting cast of new and old adventurers: Tad, Reuben, Nevan, Jacob, Caleb, Tanner, Cole, Caleb, Rachael, and Kylie all took part in our heists and hi-jinks. For this Spring Break, we loaded into our cars and took off for the Grand Canyon.

The GC Crew

We left on Saturday at a dark and lovely 4 AM in three cars filled to the brim with people, food, and gear. I'll spare you the details of how the next 14 hours went, but I'm sure you can guess (it was long and we drove through New Mexico). We arrived at our campsite which was one mile outside of the Grand Canyon National Park, set up our tents and crashed. It was late in the evening hours before we expected to wake up when we received a sharp wake up call. Perhaps not sharp but cold. Really, really cold. While we did come prepared with all levels of 30 degree sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and warm clothes to sleep in, we were not prepared for the intense levels of cold that happened that night.

On Sunday we had a leisurely rise, packed our lunches, and headed towards the Grand Canyon for our light hiking day. Upon arrival the sight of the Grand Canyon was more than beautiful. It was overwhelming. In cartoons, it is common to see a character's jaw hit the floor when seeing something beautiful or surprising. The only thing stopping my jaw from hitting the floor was the simple fact that human biology would not allow it. The Canyon was magnificent, beautiful, gargantuan, and all together incomprehensible.

We began our hike along the south rim, stopping for pictures every so often, and trying to figure out just how big the darn monument was. We stopped a few miles into the hike to have a short worship service, to pray, and to take in the size of God's creation. After that, we spent hours looking around the South Rim before heading back to camp and cooking up some tasty pancakes.

The small point in the middle at the end of the trail will be our destination tomorrow

Panaroma of the Grand Canyon

Classic View of GC

Nevan falling off of tall places again

The sheer size of the Canyon was impossible to determine with the eye

Tanner on the overlook rock

Rachael on the overlook rock

Monday, unlike Sunday, was an early start, big hiking day. Four of us left before 6 AM to see the sunrise, and the rest of us left an hour later. We met at the trail head of Bright Angel Trail at 8:30, and began our hike down to Plateau Point 6 miles away and 3300 feet down. The hike down was easy, cool, pleasant, and beautiful. The Indian Garden popped out as a lush green valley in the middle of a scorching desert. Finally the Plateau Point overlooked the river itself slowly cutting into the Canyon. While the hike into the Canyon was beautiful, the hike out was less so. The temperature jumped from 60 to the high 80s while we ate our lunch at the plateau, and our water seemed to vanish much more quickly than it had before. While pictures can never do the Grand Canyon justice, and the eye can still struggle to understand the scale, the hike back up to the top taught my legs just how massive the Canyon was.

What was once a small strip of rock along the canyon is now a massive cliff face

Deeper in the Canyon

Looking forward to our destination

The Halo of the Canyon

Desert View inside the Canyon 

Plateau Point

The Colorado River

More of the Colorado River

Tired

Tired 

Tired

Tired

LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Looking at where we started

Indian Garden

Stream that gives the garden life

Amazing Colors from a clear sky

To recover from Monday, we had a light and easy Tuesday. Most of us who did not see sunrise the previous morning woke up early to watch it. which consisted of finding a spot along the Canyon, sitting, and reading a book. The light breeze brushed along the cliff side, the talkative families ran to and fro, and the Canyon stood still. It reminded us just how big it was in every sight, and in every stinking pain in every stinking muscle on our bodies.

Sunrise over the Canyon

Reuben at Sunrise (Feat. Jacob)

Early Morning at Powell Point

CALEB IS A PRAIRIE DOG

My view from where we were reading

Wednesday, we packed up camp and drove back to Albuquerque. Because we had three cars, we took liberty in what we did. One set of people visited the Petrified Forest on the way, another group stopped in the retro Owl Cafe, and a different set went to a cliff side restaurant that evening. The interesting new piece of information I learned about Albuquerque was that they have GORGEOUS pink trees that bloom this time of year. A very lucky sight to see.

Albuquerque's pink trees

On Thursday we drove to Carlsbad and hiked through Carlsbad Cavern. Though I had been to a cave before, I had never had the chance to exit through a natural entrance which was a unique experience. We drove to our final campsite at Brantley Lake, and enjoyed one last night under the immaculate stars before driving back on Friday.

Carlsbad Cavern's "Doll Theatre"

Two rocks barely seperated

Natural Exit/Entrance to the Cavern

Setting Sun on Brantley

The wind was a bit strong at Brantley Lake

Trail to the Lake

Last spot of day disappears over the lake

Setting up camp

That's about it. We went, we saw, we hiked, we felt much pain in our bodies. It was a fantastic time. Hope you have a great week, and I will be sure to keep you updated on any future adventures.

Smell a flower

-Tad Kile