One final shot of Addie coming down the mountain…

And Jeff & Andrew heading back up for one final run…

Andrew, Charlie, & Adam got here yesterday afternoon to spend a couple of days here in the mountains with us. They did a little hiking, and then this morning we met Addie, Lee, June, and Mason to do some snow tubing. I was the official photographer – since my sister Sherri broke her back tubing in the water, I’m a little nervous to try it on land. Here are a couple of pix. More to follow.

We have never lived anywhere that had a fireplace, and usually we are on vacation when it’s too hot to have one, even if there is a fireplace in the room. This was special last night.

The views were beautiful at every single overlook.

Walking back to the car from the final overlook on the north rim, we noticed this small round rock that seemed to be keeping the whole side from collapsing into the creek. Pretty cool.

Today our outing was to do a little hiking in Tallulah Gorge – about half an hour away. The views were just absolutely incredible, looking down into the river running through the gorge, and the waterfalls there. No pictures could begin to do it justice, but here are a couple. I believe I read that this end of the gorge was 750 feet deep. Wow.

Today was to be the coldest day this week, so instead of venturing out for any activities, Jeff & I just stayed inside & worked on our jigsaw puzzle, watched TV, & napped. Pretty perfect vacation day. We did finally get dressed this afternoon & go for a little drive through the mountains. We found Bridal Veil Falls, & Jeff took this picture. You can no longer drive under it, but it was pretty neat walking back there, anyway.

Jeff thought this road name was so funny he had to stop and take a picture 🙂

The trail we hiked today ended at this old, sort of caving in covered bridge. The sun was so bright the pictures didn’t really turn out, but at least you can get an idea. One of us was brave enough – or crazy enough – to walk across that plank to actually go on the covered bridge. It wasn’t me 🙂

While we were hiking down we could see this picture hanging on a tree down by the creek, but it was too far away for us to see what it was. Jeff walked down there to check it out, and it was this memorial cross. We don’t know they story at all, of course, but figure this trail must have held special meaning for this lady.

Our first full day in Dillard, GA, was a great one. We spent the afternoon hiking to Mud Creek Falls, and then along the trail there. The falls were just beautiful, and truly breathtaking. Here I am standing in front of them to show just how big they really were.

We walked on down the trail, where I got this picture of Jeff on the footbridge. Such a great afternoon, and an absolutely gorgeous day to be outside in the mountains.

Yesterday Jeff & I left to spend a vacation week in Dillard, GA – our timeshare vacation over the summer was cancelled, of course, and we had to go somewhere before the end of the year. We didn’t want to go too far, or any place that would be too crowded, so thought we’d give Dillard a try. On our way out of town, though, we stopped by Penland Christmas Tree Farm where Mallory has her first paying job ever, as the hot chocolate server. She looked so cute and her hot chocolate was delicious :-). She was wearing a mask when we got there, but took it off for her photo op.

From there we hit the road for Georgia. I got this picture from our balcony after we got checked in. Beautiful views, and you can hear the church chimes ringing from our room. Very cool.