Summer Travels #2 Dancing, Forests, Water, and Memories

We hit the road again on June 14th for the second part of our summer travels. Our first stop was this place in Chattanooga.

I love spending time in the HUGE homeschool section. It is all organized by subject. They also have several large bins outside the store that have free books. From the free bins this trip, I got Horizon's 2nd grade writing curriculum, Writing Strands workbooks, and some readers for Jackson. If you are ever near one and like books, it is worth stopping. The best part was when I returned to the vehicle. Johnny kept the boys outside and fed them so I could browse with no interruptions. When I came out, they had set chairs in front of the camper and both boys had toy scenes going on in the parking lot. I promise-we have no shame! 

We actually set the camper up at Thunder Rock in TN. Within minutes, the boys were jumping in the river!

 Can you guess who each breakfast belongs to?

Once breakfast disappeared, the table began filling up with things for our next adventure. We rode the trail to the Whitewater Center.

This is a pretty realistic picture of the distance that is usually between us...I cannot get over the strength the boys have gained. They just keep going and going...

And if you didn't notice, they rode over in their swimming trunks. They were ready to hit their favorite swimming spot bright and early!

The guys (along with Blaze-the son of Roxe, the campground host) paddled from our campsite to the dam. If you have ever went white water rafting on the Ocoee River, where you start is where they paddled to. Roxe and I drove over to the dam to pick them and the boats up. HOWEVER, after they played for a while, they decided they would paddle back UP the river. I figured it would be great exercise, so they took off. They were successful.

 Just in case you didn't know how big an actual paddle board is!

 John Gannon often uses his board as a launching pad for Jackson to enter the water safely!

 Blaze hitched a ride with John Gannon part of the way.

 Jackson has expressed that he is ready to learn to roll his kayak!

 This is harder than it looks!

 The plan for the way back...

 While they were paddling back up the river, Johnny was doing his thing on the river.

 The boys, Blaze, and I paddled a section of the Toccoa River. Johnny picked us up in Copperhill, TN.

 There were also plenty of "normal play" going on in TN.

If you read Summer Travels #1 you may remember the barn dance. Johnny avoided all the fun and only danced a slow song with me. SO, I can only imagine the stress he was feeling as we enjoyed "Pickin' in the Park" one evening and this little couple started dancing. I wasn't going to ask, but I sure wanted to!

Well, guess what? He did it. Fast and slow, we did it all with lots of laughs. We just made up our own stuff and went with it. Who cares what all those people sitting on their rumps think! I asked this little lady to snap a picture of us. Bless her. She took about ten selfies. I worry she may have some eye damage from the flash from the camera at close range. She couldn't get the concept to look at the screen. But, after several attempts at offering her instruction, she finally got this shot!

This is the little couple that was dancing at the beginning and did so the entire time. Of course, since we were the only other couple that joined in, we connected and chatted afterwards! Their advice: always enjoy yourself and have fun!

Our friends, the Jolley's, joined us in TN for a few days. The four boys had a blast playing and adventuring together. And of course, we always enjoy the company of friends when we travel. As a matter of fact, we made friends with a couple from Indiana (Kara and Scott) our last trip. It worked out that they were able to be there this trip as well. And our friend, Ted from Knoxville was there as well.

After TN, we moved on to North Carolina. We have friends that live by us (Brian and Tessa Grammer) that are living in NC for the summer. We, including the Jolley's, all enjoyed a cookout one evening.

 When the charcoal got ready for food, they guys noticed the clips that hold the grate were missing.

 So, those brains and muscles went right to work to come up with a solution. After a few busted concrete blocks strategically placed

 the problem was solved!

Tessa introduced us to a swimming area and rope swing near them on Fontanna Lake. She posed beautifully as she descended into the lake!

 This is one of my favorites. It looks like he is flying through the air!

The following day, the boys wanted to paddle the Nantahala river. Jackson was insistent that he wanted to paddle and not just ride. When three of us are in the boat, he has to sit in the very back and there isn't room for him to paddle. SO, for the first time, John and Jackson manned their own boat down the river. 

And just in case you wonder what safety looks like...Dad is right there to help out "just in case."

 It turns out, they paddled really well together.

They paddled really well together until roughly the last mile. When they got to the beach before the falls, Jackson was pulling his life jacket off and unbuckling the top part of his wet suit. He was ranting about John always yelling instructions "Do this, Do that!" John gets out of the boat ranting that Jackson wouldn't paddle when he told him to. Brotherly love! Johnny and John took the falls together.

 This doesn't look good! They did flip in the falls. But, they were both back on top of the capsized boat within seconds and paddled over to an eddy. John Gannon liked the experience and is still talking about it.

He paddled the ducky on down to where we get them out. Johnny paddled his kayak while Jackson and I walked around and crossed over on the bridge.

After paddling, we enjoyed a picnic I packed and the boys invented a game. "I'll blindfold you and lead you around." This could have been disastrous I suppose, but it actually resulted in a lot of fun and laughs!

We wanted to explore a new area of North Carolina. After the cookout with the Grammer, we left that night with the intentions of getting closer to that area so our drive would be shortened the next day. We stayed overnight in a Walmart parking lot. They allow this. However, they have signs posting that it isn't allowed. We assume that is due to the fact they would have grounds to ask people to leave if they needed to. The corporate office issued a statement that it is allowed at all Walmart locations unless local management prohibits it. We use an online site that identifies which ones allow it. HOWEVER, guess who noticed the sign. Yes, Mr. Rules and Safety himself. I am glad it was the following morning!

We arrived at our location, Brevard, NC. We camped at a wonderful place called Davidson River. There was a trail system from the campground into town. We explored town one evening while we were waiting on our laundry to finish.

 And guess what? They had live music and a street dance!

That is where these 2 fabulous pictures were made! When Johnny grabbed me, I put my arm on him and he felt like a furnace! I asked him about it and he made some comment about how he has to release his nervous energy some how! He quickly cooled off and just enjoyed it!

 Have I ever mentioned how much I love him and our life?

Check out the stiffness in this picture. I promise we are a sight to behold. No rhythm--just smiles and wonderful memories!

Here are some of our biking adventure pictures from Brevard/Davidson River Campground.

 The boys paddled down the river while Johnny ran the trail beside them. I was on standby for a call to come pick them up when they got to wherever they were going to get out. I enjoyed reading and listening to homeschooling podcasts. I filled up several pages in a notebook of great ideas!

 They actually paddled until they couldn't paddle any longer.

 I got the call to come get them.  And wouldn't you guess. They paddled all the way to town and were waiting on me in the parking lot of the ice cream stand!

 I figured since they had gotten so much exercise the last few days, they could splurge and enjoy 3 scoops each! Really, I thought there would be leftovers that we could enjoy. Boy, was I wrong!

And of course, there was swimming.

 If you ever wonder why you don't see me in the water a lot over in "this part of the country," it is because the water is ICE COLD! After standing in this for 60 seconds, my feet are numb! Often when Jackson gets out is is shivering uncontrollably!

One day, we did some hiking in the rain. We explored 2 different trails that each led to waterfalls. The boys thought I looked like a kite in my rain attire!

 Sometimes, you just have to get off the trail to enjoy the sites!

God is such an amazing Creator! These waterfall trails were only 4 miles up from the campground we stayed in. AND, just another mile and we landed here...

 Yes, a 60 foot natural rock slide!

 On the way back, we enjoyed looking at all the trout. Fishermen, don't get too excited! This was at a fish hatchery we explored.

Jackson seized an opportunity to do some gem mining. 

After exploring Brevard, we went back to the Nantahala area. During our visit several days earlier, Tessa had told us where to find another rope swing that was higher than the one she introduced us to. Man was she right. Jackson and Johnny were the only two brave enough for that adventure. Can you tell from these pictures how high in the air it was???

 This was our decent down the trail during one of our rope swimming adventures.

 We had to paddle across the lake to get to the higher rope swing.

 I hitched a ride on the paddle board. The clear water and views on Fontanna Lake are indeed beautiful!

 John is becoming more and more proficient on his board.

We found this wild man during one of our adventures in that area!

JG tricking out the rope swing!

We discovered a friend at our campsite at Tsali. John Gannon lectured us about the differences between a box turtle and a water turtle, highlighting the hinged bottom shell.

By this point, Johnny had developed an ear infection. We initially thought it might be swimmers ear, but it ended up swelling and draining mess. So, we figured he needed a dr. visit at home. We went back to TN to sneak in a few more adventures before this trip ended. The boys made some nature art. This is one of John's creations.

 Jackson constructed a spear for fishing and gave us a demonstration of how he would use it!

 Our friend, Ted, met us back in TN. One morning when the boys woke up, Ted took a chair over and chatted with them. I asked Ted what wisdom he would share with us. He encouraged us to travel while our boys are home and not put it off. He also said to study a foreign language. He stated that he wished he would have done so.

 Jackson enjoyed chopping wood with the ax.

 The boys wanted to take a dip at Smiley's while the river level was a little higher and stronger.

 We enjoyed a beautiful sunset at Boyd's Gap. As the Bible states, there is so much evidence of a God just looking at creation!

Ted told us about a trail that went from Chickamauga Dam into downtown Chattanooga. So on the way home, we stopped and rode the trail. We didn't know if Jack would have the endurance to do the entire 16 mile round trip. BUT--he did! We enjoyed lunch in downtown and the boys played in the water features and then we biked back to the dam. We put in many miles on the bikes after exploring downtown in addition to the trail.

 On one section downtown, there is a glass bridge. John noticed and decided he didn't trust it at all.

 You can see how he rode this part!

After that adventure, we went on another up Raccoon Mountain to explore. We made a stop at the Visitor's Center and picked up some bike trail maps. This is the view from the top

 They were up for more riding. Me--RELAXING!

 Sometimes, when you ride--you crash!

 But, you just get right back up!

 It was not too long, and I had another participant in my relaxation adventure! He started reading a survival adventure book out loud to me that we picked up while in a gift shop.

 And before you knew it, we had a third party join us. He wrote me a sweet letter as we all listened to John read and talk about what choices we would make as the adventure unfolded in the book.

Eventually, we made the decent down Raccoon Mountain and drove a little toward home. We rented a movie and spent the night at the Scottsboro, AL truckstop. On Tuesday morning we arrived home, unpacked and Johnny headed to the dr. 7 days of antibiotic ear drops and then a return visit. Hopefully his ear drum isn't ruptured. They couldn't see it due to all the mess in his ear!

Another successful adventure is in the books for June 14-June 27! We are eagerly awaiting our next one!

Live a Meaningful Life!