Nine Day Hiking and Campus Visit Trip: Part 5, On Campus and Home
One of several artworks in an alley leading from free public parking in Johnson City, TN to a street of shops and restaurants
CEFR Level B1-B2
Monday-Saturday
Events: Classes, Drive Home
Monday
On Monday, I got up early enough to have breakfast and check out of the hotel, giving myself 45-minutes for the 20-minute drive to campus. I didn’t think I would need the extra time, but I didn’t see any reason to sit and twiddle my thumbs in the hotel room, either.
My feet told me that they would not hurt if I agreed that they would not be used as mountain percussion instruments again that week. I thought it a fair exchange. My knees said they would take it hour by hour, but I better be nice to them during class.
Arriving on campus, I sat in my car and scrolled Substack until 8:45, then walked in for my 9:00 a.m. class. I told the professor that I was sitting in the back and if I stood up, it was because I was old and needed to stretch. He understood.
In-person class is intense, especially when you’ve been working from home for three years. Being out all day is hard! Being “on” socially is exhausting. During lunch, I had to eat out of the back of my car and walk around in the sunshine instead of sitting in the lounge with other students. As much as I wanted to be friendly and get to know people more, I needed time to regulate.
When class ended at 4:30 p.m., I drove to my host family’s house.
We had emailed, texted, and spoken on the phone, but it’s still strange to not meet someone until you show up to stay at their house for a week. Thankfully, upon meeting, we discovered that neither party gives off creepy vibes.
Tuesday-Wednesday
The rest of the week was what you would expect from a week of class. My host family was hospitable and their house comfortable. I came prepared to be a ghost in the background, doing everything in my power to not interfere with their routine. They came prepared to feed me dinner every night and heat up my tea water every morning. I’ve never had someone pack me lunch, but when I came into the kitchen, there was a bag of grapes or homebaked cookies or both for me to take to school. It was unexpectedly thoughtful.
Thursday
Our professor gave us Thursday afternoon off. The only rule was that we couldn’t use the time for class work. My knees no longer hurt, but they still requested that I not use them for mountain percussion again that week. Someone suggested that the class of 15 have lunch together on Thursday. We went to White Duck Taco. I like “normal” tacos, so got the Benji.
I expected people to sit around and talk or to gravitate to small groups going for coffee after lunch. Instead, people ate, talked for a few minutes, then scattered less than an hour after sitting down. I guess they all had things to do. I had an afternoon to kill.
One of several metal sculptures in Founders’ Park, Johnson City, TN
I walked around Founder’s Park, but I didn’t really feel like walking. There was a light drizzle and it was cool. I should have gotten my raincoat, but I couldn’t be bothered. I ended up at The Moon Coffee and Tea House. (It looks much nicer now than the photo at the link. Unfortunately, The Moon doesn't have a website, only an Instagram.) It was packed, which made it noisy, but I found a comfortable seat against a wall and enjoyed a London Fog while scrolling through Substackand Wardrobe Oxygen. I then ordered a hot chocolate, which was delicious and not at all from a powdered mix, and enjoyed it while doing more entertainment reading.
I finally dragged myself up and walked up the street to Johnson’s Literary Depot. There was a bookshop pup, a big white dog with ears as big as her face. She let me pet her, then I went to The Generalist to look for a postcard.
On the way, a wiry man called out, “How’s it goin’, ma’am?” He was wearing a beanie and I couldn’t tell if it was The Moon owner I had spoken to, but I thought it wasn’t. As he neared, he repeated, “How’re you doin’?”
“Who are you?” The thought was unintentionally spoken and he laughed as he turned the corner.
While I was in The Generalist, the same man came striding through. I guess there is a side or back door. The cashier commented that he had shouted at the women as he walked through. He was gone, so we commiserated on the irritation of the confusing experience and then I left.
As I approached my car, the same man came striding from the opposite direction. When he saw me, he called “How’s your day?” Thankfully, he kept walking. If my brain and mouth were quick enough, I would have replied, “It would be better if you stop calling to me.” Then again, it’s probably better my words work on a delay in confusing situations.
Back at the house, we had quesadilla night with the best fresh guacamole I can remember eating.
Friday
We met for class at 9:00 a.m. and were finished by 11:00. I had planned to go to the Cantemus Women’s Choir concert that evening, but we didn’t need to leave until 4:30.
To pass the time, I went to The Philosopher’s House.
This is a place where people understand tea. I told the woman what I generally like and she asked questions like, “Do you like florals?” After we talked a bit, she took down a jar of tea and waved the caramel scent towards me. Yum! She made me a tea latte that had just enough sugar to smooth the flavor but not so much to make the tea sweet. I also had a blackberry “pop tart” from Lazy Lady Baking Co. That was too good to use the description “pop tart."
Next, I visit the public library to ask the children’s librarian what is popular with second-grade girls. She gave me a stack of books and I ended up reading the entirety of Swim Team by Jonnie Christmas and then Sydney and Taylor Take a Flying Leap by Jacqueline Davies.
Jacob’s Nature Park
This sign is not by the road so if you’re watching where you’re driving, you probably won’t see it
Feeling revived, a typical result of reading fiction, I drove to Jacob’s Park. It is hard to find if you don’t have someone looking for the parking while you drive. The parking is right next to someone’s house and looks like their driveway parking if you don’t see the park’s sign. I started down the trail, but the ground was muddy and the grass wet and I didn’t feel like getting my good sneakers muddy or like putting on my hiking shoes. I didn’t feel like walking, actually. So I didn’t.
How do you get to Jacob’s Park?
The view from Jacob’s Park parking, looking the way the GPS erroneously took me in May 2026
If you go to Jacob’s Nature Park, the brown park road signs are incomprehensible. They took me down into a neighborhood and then vanished. A few handmade signs got me farther, then they stranded me on another tiny residential street. The GPS took me to a spot of main road that had buildings on one side and forest on the other with no entrance or parking or signs.
This photo was taken while standing in the park’s parking lot, which is big enough for about 4-5 vehicles, and looking in the direction the GPS took me. Across the street from the parking lot are apartments. As you can see in the photo, if you reach the lighted sign at the church, then you’ve gone too far.
What can you do in Erwin, TN?
Then I went to Erwin and ordered a chocolate milk shake from Sam’s Snoball Paradise. It was the kind of milkshake that either has ice chunks in it or the ice cream was old and had ice crystals in it. I prefer milkshakes that don’t use ice and ice cream without ice crystals.
Next, I wandered towards the public library, which looks like it is in an old train station. I needed to blow my nose, so I knocked on the restroom door. When I opened the door, someone called, “Just a minute!” The man standing there said, “Oh, I should have told you.” I quickly wandered away, discovering a tissue box on the other side of the building.
I found Sasquatch!
Leaving the library, I discovered Sasquatch. I then entered Union Street Gallery (no website, just a Facebook page) where the owner offered to take my photo with the mural. Afterwards, she did her very best to sell me something. I like small, privately-owned shops, but I always feel bad when I don’t buy something, especially when the owner or clerk is friendly. Sometimes, the anxiety over knowing I won’t buy anything keeps me from even going in to look.
On my way back to the car, I stopped at Una Fetta (no website, just a Facebook page) to ask about gift cards. My plan had been to take my host family out to dinner to thank them for opening their home and feeding me all week. The timing didn’t work out, so instead I made sure the restaurant could meet the family’s food restrictions and sent them a gift card.
Cantemus Women's Choir
Arriving back at the house, I had a few minutes to regroup before leaving for the concert. The concert was beautiful. The choir blended well. The program was varied. The venue was a church. My knees were not looking forward to more uncomfortable stretching from chairs/pews designed for taller people. I contemplated standing against the back wall, but the soles of my feet still remembered their weekend use as percussion mallets. Seeing no one with infants, I gratefully took the rocking chair as my place.
Friends, if you ever have a say in seating, please incorporate some that is lower to the ground and some that is higher than average. Seats with shorter depth will be fought over by people under five feet (152.4 cm) tall. Diversity of seating will cause your shorter and taller neighbors to thank you. Contrary to popular declaration, tall and deep seating is not cozy or comfortable for all.
Saturday
I was on the road by 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, a Dunkin’ caramel latte in my hand, a tank full of gas in my car, and Wuthering Heights on Libby. Thankfully, I-81 ran smoothly. I saw two multi-vehicle accidents on the southbound side. If I had driven straight through, it would have been a 4.5 hour drive, but I stopped a couple of times. I got home around 2:30 and spent the next hour and a half unpacking and getting settled.
The on-campus time was encouraging. Distance education is a blessing, but I miss the regular conversation. I’m glad I added on the hiking. All my gratitude goes to my host family.
It was a good trip, but I’m happy to be home.