Welcome to my take on our lady bug, 3 wheel, mile high, fishy, bear encounter, mountain adventure. On Oct. the 24th David took his family on a quick trip to the mountains to see the leaves change to their fall colors. I went on line and found what sounded like a nice state park only 4 hours from home. Little did I know that a 25% incline was a big deal to our old van pulling a 4oft. camper. The entrance to Amicolola Falls is on flat ground but after you pass the ranger station it is all strait up hill for a mile. The van grunted and growned but got us to the top to a wonderful campground that had this big open field right behind our camper. The children had so much fun playing Frisbee and rolling down the hill and later going exploring in the woods.

The colors were so vivid and beautiful.

Aaron up in a tree.

James did not want to walk down the falls (he hurt himself going dirt biking) so he stayed at the top with Krissy.We walked down the 425 steps which are not so bad going down. It is the coming up that was a little bit of a challenge for me. I did it but was a little out of breath and wanted to sit down for a sec. when we got to the top.

At the half way point looking over at the falls.

At the bottom of the falls looking back up at it. My pictures do not do it justest. It was spectacular.

Come on mommy you can do it.

I'm at the bottom step looking up and the kids have all ran way ahead of me.

At the top of Amicalola Falls there is a state owned hotel that is modern and has a great view out over the mountains.

This was the "Lady Bug Camping Trip". There were lady bugs everywhere. All over the outside and by evening all inside the camper. Lawre and Krissy had so much fun playing with them.

There is a lady bug on Krissy's curl.

This nice man came up on the mountain to help fix the tire on the camper. I was not going to go down a 27% grade with out all 4 brakes on the camper fixed. Even with all 4 I did a lot of praying. A sign said 25% but the ranger said it was 27% what ever it was very steep for one whole mile with out any switchbacks.
Pictures out of order.
Daddy got the fire going and we sat around listing to James on the guitar as he and Mary sang to us. After a little while it started to rain so I took the kids in the camper got showers and then the rain stopped so we went back out the fire was big and hot and we made smoors and then off to bed.
On Oct. 26 we drove one hour and forty-five min to the Tennessee Aquarium. We have not been there sense they added the ocean building. Our timing was perfect we were able to see the workers feed the penguins, otters, and dive in the shark tank which was just to cool. Everyone found something of interest that day. We watched the butterfly's brake out of their cocoons, feed sea rays some shrimp, petted fish, laughed and had fun the whole day.



After leaving the aquarium we drove back to Amicolola Falls ( a big black bear ran out right in front of our van. I didn't have time to get the camera but we all got to see it.) and had a fire to make smoors on then we packed up and left on Wed. morning to head back home to unload the camper, do laundry, work in the office and then David and I headed to Maine to spend time with my family. While David was having the camper tire fixed the kids went for a hike in the woods. As they came into the clearing I took this short clip of them.