Camping Trip May 8th through the 14th

We left Decatur at 4:40 am on Friday morning. We drove through some serious thunderstorms in Tennessee and began to question if we had made the right decision going on this trip. It stopped raining and turned out to be a beautiful day after all.

Cody took a nap somewhere in Tennessee. I woke them up at 4:00 am and he just wasn't finished sleeping yet.

Our campsite in Tellico Plains, TN.
Esther and Matt got there shortly after us and set up right next door.

At the age of 27, I FINALLY found my first 4 leaf clover!

We took advantage of the weather and headed out with Esther and Matt's crew. First we went to Bald River Falls.

Then we went to the Donley Cabin. There were groups of butterflies everywhere!

Donley Cabin

Drive up to Whigg Meadow

Isn't this little guy cute?!!

We stopped a couple times on the Skyway and saw some amazing views.

Bobby found his first Geocache!

When we got back to the KOA, they had the slip-n-slide up and running.
The kids swam and played on the slip-n-slide until it was time to eat.

The next day we went to Tellico Grains for breakfast. Wow! Bobby ate a cherry turnover. I had a blueberry danish. Cody had part of a ham and cheese cressant and a chocolate chip cookie and Brit had a enormous sticky nut bun. I can't wait to go back:)~ CARBS BABY!!

That afternoon, we went to Coker Creek to the fire tower. FYI-there's not really a fire tower!

Bobby was the first of many to climb up on top of the building. He was also the only one who jumped off the building...that's my man:)

Emily and Chandler

Ben, Cody, Britney, Jake and Matt

After we got back to the campground, it rained for a while and we were left with a beautiful rainbow.

After dinner we had a Smore's Party!

We had 21 people in our group!

Sunday morning, Bobby and Dave headed back for home...doggone work! The kids and I were invited to stay with the rest of the group. Cody and I stayed in Esther and Matt's camper and Britney lived in Cathy's Class C. Thanks for taking care of us guys!

We headed to Amicalola Falls State Park in Georgia.

Hike up to Amicalola Falls

Cody spotted a groundhog on the trail. My pictures weren't clear enough to post. (Esther's has a picture of it on her site...go look...it's so cute!)

Amicalola Falls are 729 feet high

Overlook from the top of Amicalola Falls

On Monday, we packed up and headed for South Carolina. On the way we stopped at this wonderful chocolate shop in Dahlonega, GA. Cody picked out root beer flavored lollipops and a huge chocolate covered strawberry. I also bought Bobby a surprise...praline pecans...yum.

I ended up eating the strawberry because Cody didn't like the chocolate. Yeah me!

Yonah Mountain

I can't wait to go back to Helen, GA with Bobby. It is such a cool place!

There's even a haunted house that's open every weekend. Good for the other three members of my family...not so good for me.

That night we set up at Keowee Toxaway State Natural Area in SC
The next day was sunny and warm and a perfect day for Long Shoals Roadside Park.

Baby Cottonmouth

The next day we went to see some waterfalls.

Twin Falls

Hiking to Station Cove Falls.

Cody found a Geocache

On our way home, we stopped at Tallulah Gorge in Georgia.

Esther has some awesome pictures from the trip on her website.

http://roamschool.com/camping/trips/0509/dayone.html