Georgia Vacation: Adventure Time Part II Amicalola Falls

Toward the beginning of our vacation this year we took a trip up to Amicalola Falls. It's a state park up in north Georgia with, you might've guessed it, some amazing waterfallage. The drive took about an hour and a half, so the kids and Ryan and Kaylyn watched a movie and played.

This is Nate's excited face. As I get old and crotchety and as we have more children, I am losing my game-ness. I am becoming something of a stick-in-the-mud. And visiting Georgia is especially bad because it's the one time a year I see my family, so I want to pay the million dollars, deal with the anxiety of traveling for an entire day with three small children, and then sit down in the middle of the floor at their house and not move the entire time. Nate is an explorer, though, and likes to get out and see. So this year we compromised. Instead of taking a 5 hour trip to Savannah (Nate's first choice) and instead of watching the grass on the front lawn grow (my first choice), we took a trip to explore somewhere he's never been that was a little closer to home. He's excited. Because usually my first choice wins. 

We started out with a stop at the office to grab a map, and a picnic lunch to fuel up for the big hike. The kids ran around and played on the playground and stretched their legs.

It's only 8 miles away from the start of the Appalachian Trail. That's probably Nate's first choice for next time.

You know you've lived in the desert too long when you're taking pictures of the squirrels. I = a tourist.

Poor Bryn had a tough life on this trip. They started during picnic time when she tripped over a tree root and smashed her poor little nose in the sidewalk. She got scraped up and bloodied pretty good. Luckily Grammie's car comes equipped with a first aid kit in the glove box. (P.S. Mom, I forgot to tell you, you're going to want to restock your bandaids. Hee.)

On to the hike. 

There were lots of rocks to scramble over and funny-shaped trees to gawk at. I love the woods. And so do the kids, especially Addison. He was amazed at all the bugs we found and wanted pictures of each one. We'll give him three.

Millipede.

Caterpillar.

Cricket.

After a while of walking up the trail, you get to the meat of the hike. The stairs. 

There are lots of 'em. And they were built by inmates. But we're awesome. So we chugged some water and started off. Oh, and here's where we were headed.

Everybody did great. It was really fun to have Ryan and Kaylyn along. Let's face it. I had finished a year of college before Kaylyn came, and Ryan was born when I was a senior in high school. So it's fun to get to know them a little when I get the chance. I enjoy watching them interact with each other and my kids. Ryan is very laid back. And Kaylyn reminds me a lot of me when I was her age.

The scenery was amazing on the hike up.

Water was seeping out of these rocks.

 As we continued the ascent, I thought I saw rain drops. Then I realized it was my sweat! Sick! I wasn't breathing hard and I'm in reasonably good shape, but man, my sweat glands were functioning at full capacity. In fact, I was a veritable sweat factory. Ahh, humidity. How I've missed you.

Almost there!

And we made it! All the way to the top!

  

 This picture of the whole gang is on a bridge right over the start of the falls.

 We were all ready for level ground by that point. So we made a pit stop, ran around, and played in the stream at the top.

 

It was freezing!

Leah loved dipping her toes in.

And then the very tired Bryn fell in and got all wet.

So it was time to go. Back down the stairs.

The closest thing to a smile that Bryn could muster.

 My legs were definitely quivering by the time we got to the bottom of the stairs, and my calves were sore as heck the next day.

All in all, I'm glad we compromised. It was a grand adventure.