Christmas Camping December 25, 2009

We wanted to fit in another camping trip this month and with all of our work schedules to consider, we decided Christmas weekend would be the best time. So after opening up stockings and presents, we loaded the RV and headed back to R. Shafer Heard campground on West Point Lake for two nights.

Everyone helped set up camp once we arrived.

Jessie Ann had Ellie duty.

Jessie Ann had been hard at work the week before Christmas making paper chains and snowflakes for a surprise. We didn't know what that surprise was until we looked in the RV on Christmas Day. A winter wonderland in Georgia!

Once everything was set at the campsite, we headed out to walk on some of the trails along the lake. We saw wild turkeys and deer along the way.

The trails were muddy from all the rain we have been getting. Dylan, Sarah Joy and Jessie Ann rode their bikes along the trails and both bike and child were pretty dirty by the end.

We walked around the campground area to see the sun set and then enjoyed our nighttime fire.

After breakfast the next day we headed out to walk across the dam. It was pretty cold and noticed ice over a puddle of water. It was a longer walk than Terry and I thought it would be, but the sky was beautiful and we were together.

Ellie with her eyes on the prize.

Once we got back and had hot coffee or hot chocolate or both, we either read or napped and enjoyed relaxing for a little while.

After dinner the second night Sarah Joy caught this beautiful sunset. It just about sums up our Christmas weekend...wonderful beyond words.

2 for 1 Weekend Away

On Saturday, November 21, 2009, Terry and I got away for a night (2 for 1).

Grammy was visiting from New Hampshire and stayed home with the children.

We camped on our nearby West Point Lake at a campground called R. Shafer Heard. We had a nice spot right on the water.



After setting up the trailer we tried some of the new hikes that have been made around the lake and dam. It was a beautiful day.







We ended up walking, as we figured it, over 8 miles of trails. Three hours later we were tired and ready for a late lunch. We enjoyed some down time with reading. It was so quiet.



That night we watched "Seventeen Again" on Terry's laptop ending a great day. We met up with the family the next morning at Sunday School. We look forward to our next trip in December!

Mountains, Hikes and Apples

On Friday, October 16, 2009, we packed up the RV and headed north to the mountains. We had learned earlier that week that all the campgrounds in the mountains were full and that we should have made reservations many months ahead. We did find a campground (Mckinney Campground, located on Lake Allatoona northwest of Atlanta) that had several walk-in sites available. So we were going to take our chances.
On our way there we took several wrong turns, or just plain missed our turn and we ended up at one point stopping for directions. I ran in and several minutes later came out with the owner of the shop and 6 cans of soda. He wanted to send us off with a cold drink, and I wanted him to meet the family. What a nice start to our wonderful weekend!
When we got to the campground we got in line behind trucks, motor homes, and other campers. Fortunately we did end up with a site, and a very nice one at that. Terry and I were really relieved.
The weather was cooler (high 40's) than what we were used to, but we were excited about being there.
Once we got there we ate our lunches:










After lunch we explored the campground a bit and found where all of our recent rain had flooded one the campground roads.






After inquiring with the park ranger about local hikes, we headed up to Cartersville, GA to get more information at their welcome center...a renovated train depot.






We picked a 4.5 mile hike that would wind us around Pine Mountain and took us, at one point, to a very pretty overlook. The day was overcast but it was still pretty.

















After all that exercise and fresh air and a nice warm meal of vegetable chili and blueberry pie, we were ready to relax. We played cards and then hit the sack.





Ellie was very restless during the night. She finally put her head on Terry's neck and we realized that her teeth were chattering. We didn't think that she would be cold on the floor but she was. We put her in bed with us to warm her up.




Coffee in bed! Reminds us of the two sets of grandparents in the same bed in the movie "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory".





After breakfast on Saturday, we packed a lunch and headed up to Elijay, GA for apples and another hike!



We stopped along the way for a scenic overlook.



Apples!




We purchased four bags of apples, one apple pie and a gallon of cider. We then headed up the road to Amicalola Falls to see the water fall.











After seeing the falls, we then had about 400 plus stairs to ascend to reach the top.






A view from the top.




The is where you can continue to get to the start of the Appalachian Trail. We headed back down the mountain.







Tortellini soup and apple pie!




Our photo bomber!



The kids climbing a tree partly submerged in the high water.




We were thankful for a fire that night, however it was a challenge because the wood was so wet.










Ellie slept with Dylan the second night. She slept soundly and warmly!


What a great trip. We hope to go back next October!