So, the second trip of our "Exploring Georgia by Tent" was a little on the wet side. We left on Friday around 4:15 heading north up I-575 to Amicalola Falls. We turn right into Hwy 53 to Jasper and connect to Highway 136 going northeast into the mountains.
Click here to see our Trax-ona-Map
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=woodstock+ga+to+amicalola+falls&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-Address&oe=UTF-8&rlz=1I7ACGW_enUS387US387&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&sa=N&tab=wl
This is a great drive with several places to pull over along the way and look into vast, tree-covered valleys. That's when you can actually see. Our trip into the mountains had limited visibility, sometimes less than 50 ft because of low cloud coverage (fog.) Drew and Kristin were both excited that they got to touch clouds. I was excited that neither fell out the window trying.
Once we checked in at the Lodge (photoshopped pic below since its was dark, foggy and rainy when we got there,) we found a great spot to put up the tent.
It was misting the whole time I put the tent up. Drew and Kristin learned that even lighter fluid can't overcome wet wood, but they used a whole bottle for the lesson. I had noticed there were only two other sites with tents, one with a camper and one with an RV out of 24 total. Just another sign of picking the wrong weekend to camp and hike. As soon as the tent was up and the mattress was inflated (lesson learned from the Adairsville trip) the clouds opened up it got a little wet outside...I now know what 60% chance of rain means:
1. of or relating to a torrent
2. pouring or flowing fast, violently, or heavily
torrential rain
3. abundant, overwhelming, or irrepressible torrential abuse
It sounded like 1000 slingshots pounding the top with marbles.
We started playing a game of Kristin's version of Go-Fish. I still don't know all the rules, but they definitely favor Kristin getting almost all the pairs. Her rules also prove evolution exists because they keep changing based on her need at the moment. Pretty exciting just keeping up with it.
Did I mention it was pouring down outside? Yep, this is about the time Drew informs me it's now or never...bathroom or bust. We all got wet.
Early to bed, early to rise. I woke up at about 4am with the tent beating me in the face. The storm front started pounding us with wind gusts whose sole objective was to clear the mountside. The waves of air would start seemingly miles away and sound like a freight training racing through the treetops. The stakes and poles on the tent held strong, but had me worried for a while.
Oh, by the way, this is Mr. Turkey...we have two. They gobble electronically and randomly during the night. Worst $7.99 (each) investment I've made in a while, but the kids liked them.
At 8am we're the last campers in the park. Not sure what they know, but I'm guessing we need to pack it up. After everything is in the truck, we drive to the falls just to say we saw them during the trip. The falls are the highest in Georgia at 729 feet.
So we're standing at the top and decide to head down the steps to the bottom. That's 438 steps down and 438 back up, if you're counting.
I was a little worried 'cause Kristin has a bad habit of not wanting to exert energy on her own to go up hills (and I'm guessing steps.) But, to her credit, she made it all on her own.
We make it to the bottom and are enjoying the view and the heavens open up....again. I get it, I get it, it was a bad weekend to camp and hike. I'll be more diligent to obey the Weather Channel next time.
Regardless, this was a great trip. We made it back up the steps on our own, even Kristin, and felt awesone after doing it. Proud of the kiddos almost as proud as I am of ME.
KRISTINS THOUGHTS:
MY FAVORITE PART ON THIS TRIP IS WHEN WE WALKED ALL THE WAY DOWN THE STAIRS AND IT STARTED POORING DOWN RAIN.
Next Stop: Cloud Land Canyon State Park
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